What is Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome?
Have you spent months or years trying to figure out the cause of your abdominal wall or pelvic pain? You may have a pinched cutaneous nerve. Also known as a trapped, inflamed, or pinched nerve, anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome, or ACNES, can occur anywhere in the upper or lower abdomen, as well as in the groin and cause groin pain. Dr. Jacob is an expert at diagnosing and surgically treating ACNES in NYC and the surrounding areas.
A tear in the external oblique fascia or nearby scar tissue can trap or pinch a nearby or penetrating unnamed nerve branch.
The pain is usually constant, and worse when the spot of the pain location is pressed on or with certain movements. The pain can radiate or be in one spot.
Imaging is usually normal.
Management of ACNES Symptoms
Injections with numbing medicine will help temporarily, but can really help with making the diagnosis.
Treatment can be with nerve ablation by a pain management specialist, or with surgery by a general or neurosurgeon.
Patient Testimonials
"Caring and compassionate, sees his patients through to full recovery. Amazing and supportive through fear, questions and concerns.. Highly recommend."
"Dr. Jacobs removed a large painful hernia mesh in my abdomen. He was caring, professional, honest and concerned about my recovery. He’s a top notch surgeon and a kind person. Recommend him highly."
ACNES Surgery
The main goal of surgery is to find the pinched nerve … and resect it (remove it). Sometimes, however, the portion of the nerve that is involved is not easily found as it is inside the rectus muscle, so you need an experienced surgeon to perform the procedure in order to optimize a successful outcome.
The surgery is an outpatient procedure with a rapid recovery and return to work.
The positive response rate approaches 90% improvement. Risks include the possibility that the pain will not improve, new pain may form, bleeding and bruising might happen in rare cases, infection, skin numbness, muscle weakness, and recurrent or ongoing symptoms.
Watch Dr. Jacob discuss ACNES and its role in the large differential diagnosis list of causes of groin pain:
