Chronic Pelvic Pain

Chronic Pelvic Pain

What is Chronic Pelvic Pain and how is it treated?

Pain in the abdominal area that is experienced for more than 6 months is termed as Chronic Pelvic Pain. The pain need not be following a regular pattern as such and it may manifest itself during a particular activity or period like urinating, eating or menstruation.

In short, it is persistent, acyclic pain mild to severe pain near the abdominal area that is experienced for more than six months.

What are the symptoms of Chronic Pelvic Pain?

While the pain in the pelvic area is itself a characteristic symptom of Chronic Pelvic pain, there are a variety of symptoms that are associated with this condition which can be any one of the following:

  • A dull intermittent pain
  • A steady & severe pain
  • An un-even heaviness within the pelvis
  • Regular pain while urinating or eating.
  • Pain experienced when sat for a prolonged period.







    Causes of Chronic Pelvic Pain:

    The pelvic area is one of the most complicated places in the human body with bones, muscles, reproductive system, digestive system, nerves, blood vessels and even urinary system at crossroads with each other. So, pain or inflammation in any of this system can trigger pelvic pain. Which is why it is difficult to pinpoint the exact location of pain for the patient or even for the Doctor to zero-in on the cause without looking deeply into it.

    The pain may be due to multiple conditions in some cases or due to a single condition which is identified based after the diagnosis. Some of the common medical conditions which can cause this Chronic Pelvic Pain are:

    • Endometriosis
    • Fibroids
    • Bladder or Bowel dysfunction
    • Ovarian remnants
    • Adenomyosis
    • Urinary Tract Infection
    • Interstitial Cystitis
    • Pelvic Inflammatory Condition

    Diagnosis for Chronic Pelvic Pain:

    Diagnosis of Chronic Pelvic Pain starts with the Doctor going through the history of your condition and performing a physical examination. Based on the physical examination the subsequent test plan is chalked out: blood test, urological test, X-rays are some of the common tests performed. The procedure like Pelvic Ultrasound examination can be used to detect pelvic masses as cysts, fibroids, and Laparoscopy help in detecting conditions like Endometriosis and Pelvic inflammatory disease.

    How is Chronic Pelvic Pain treated?

    As Chronic Pelvic Pain is caused can be caused by different conditions, the treatment is based on the condition that is responsible for the pain. Following are some of the treatment options:

    Physical Therapy:

    Physical therapy like stretching exercises, massages and relaxation techniques can help in relieving the pain in women with pelvic floor pain and abdominal myofascial pain. Treatments like Acupressure, Acupuncture and nerve stimulation can help in cases like dysmenorrhea. There are also techniques that can teach patients ways to cope up with the pain associated with the pelvic area.

    Medications:

    Hormonal treatment can be helpful for women who experience pain during a particular phase of menstruation. Antibiotics are helpful if the infections are responsible for the pain and sometimes Anti-depressants can also be helpful.

    Surgery Methods:

    Surgical procedures like Laparoscopy, Hysterectomy, can also be recommended by the doctor if the pain is identified to be caused by the medical conditions that can be treated with these procedures.
    Chronic Pelvic Pain can be easily treated by identifying the right cause for the pain if the problem is reported to the doctor without any further delay. So if you are suffering from an unexplained Chronic Pain make sure to get it checked as soon as possible by the specialist.

    Got further queries or wish to consult an expert?

    You can contact consult Dr.Neelima Mantri, here: https://www.drneelimamantri.com/