Can lower disc issues lead to urinary frequency and orgasm pain?

[Anonymous]

Would love to know what the hell is wrong with me.
After testing negative for UTIs and kidney stones, and having imaging involving
kidney and bladder ultrasound
vaginal and ovarian ultrasound
CMP
Urinalysis and micro-urinalysis
non-contrast abdomen and pelvic CT scan
hourlong uro-gyn internal rectal and vaginal exam (not fun) to feel for prolapse, fibroids, fistulas, and more
and a uroflow test
Vaginal swab to see if I have some kind of STD, vaginosis, or yeast (no)
Estrogen levels tested (normal)

The only thing they can come up with is that I have vulvodynia and pelvic floor dysfunction with a severely degenerated disc.
My symptoms are the constant urge to urinate (abates when I take gummies, but obviously not a long term solution) and intense vulvar pain with orgasm followed by the urge to pee.

I am now being referred to PT and a vulvar specialist. It's messing with my sex life and with my sleep. I have also been offered a cystoscopy with urodynamic testing which involves a catheter, but because I have such severe vulvodynia I may need to be put under (!) so the dr. isn't keen and isn't convinced it's even my bladder given my back and orgasm issues.

Has anyone been through this? What the hell?

[Anonymous]

Oh man OP. Really sounds like my perimenopause.

I assume you have had a lower lumbar CT? I had all your symptoms and tests + completely normal lumbar CT and Xray. My pcp was the one who suggested HRT during perimenopause and fixed everything. I never had a hot flash or any other what I would call typical symptoms of menopause.

[Anonymous]

When my dad injured his back, they were concerned about cauda equina. I’m no expert, but some of the symptoms sound similar.
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/22132-cauda-equina-syndrome

[Anonymous]

The nerves in that area are funny so you can get “referred pain” that’s very hard to trace back. You might just have to treat the symptoms.

[Anonymous]

My constant need to pee was a perimenopause thing fixed by an estradiol patch + mirena iud (which i already had) and intrarosa prasterone vaginal suppositories. The interose stopped the constant need to pee instantly.

I also have unrelated back/disc issues because getting old sucks.