.. . n Chronic Pelvic Pain Get Better?

Have you been dealing with months or even years of lingering pain in your genitals, tailbone or abdomen? If so you know how frustrating it can be to get to the root cause of the problem. Why did this pain start? Will it ever end? What’s really wrong?

 

What is Chronic Pelvic Pain?

 

Chronic pelvic pain is defined as pain in the abdomen or pelvis that lasts longer than 3-6 months and is not caused by an underlying condition (such as endometriosis). Believe it or not, it actually affects up to 1 in 7 American women ages 18-50. The pain is often located in the genitals but can also include other areas such as :

 

• Women: vulva, vagina, perineum
• Men: penis, scrotum, testicles, perineum
• Anus or tailbone
• Low back pain

 

The Who and What of Chronic Pelvic Pain

 

How common is pelvic pain?

 

• 1 in 7 American women ages 18-50

 

• 61% of these women have no formal diagnosis

 

What are the causes?

The causes can vary greatly. Ranging from underlying disease to emotional problems or trauma.

Some of these causes include: 

• • • Nerve entrapment

• • • Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Constipation

• • • Chronic yeast infections

• • • Hemorrhoids

• • • Endometriosis

• • • History of trauma

• • • Ectopic pregnancy

 

Pelvic Pain is a general term, and it includes several specific diagnoses. People experiencing chronic pelvic pain may not fall into a formal category for diagnosis.

 

Common Conditions that fall under the Umbrella of Pelvic Pain:

• Vulvodynia- Pain around the opening of your vagina
• Vaginismus- the involuntary tensing or contracting of vaginal muscles. This often happens when anticipating vaginal penetration.
• Pain with penetration (dyspareunia)
• Groin pain
• Coccyx pain (tailbone pain)
• Pudendal neuralgia- pain in the lower buttocks, vulva, perineum that may feel like a burning, crushing, shooting, or prickling sensation.
• Painful bladder syndrome (interstitial cystitis)
• Sacroiliac pain
• Perineal Pain

How is Chronic Pain Treated?

Many patients go through medical interventions without first seeking more conservative care. Medical interventions may include: 

• • Antibiotics
  • NSAIDs

• • Opioids

• • Hormonal therapy including oral contraceptives

• • Muscle relaxants/tranquilizers

• • Tri-cyclic antidepressants

• • Vaginal local medications

• • Pudendal nerve blocks

 

Surgical interventions could include:

• • Laparascopy
    

• • Excision surgery
    

• • Pudendal nerve decompression

• • Vestibulectomy

• • Hysterectomy

 

Because of the complexity of treating chronic pelvic pain, a multidisciplinary approach can bring forth the best results for patients, and can vary depending upon their symptoms.

 

So what do we do as pelvic therapists to treat pelvic pain? 

There are many tools to help reduce pelvic pain and restore function. First your pelvic floor therapist may suggest pelvic floor muscle strengthening, relaxing or improved coordination. Then they may offer manual therapy. This includes trigger point and soft tissue massage, myofascial release. They may suggest use of a dilator or pelvic wand. Another tool your therapist may help you with is stress reduction, social support and dietary considerations. No one person is the same, so no one pain treatment will fit across the board. Working closely with a therapist assures you that your individual needs, habits, and lived experiences are all taken into consideration when coming up with a plan of care formulated specifically for you.

 

Treating Your Whole Body, Not Just Your Diagnosis

 

At Form and Function we know you are more than your diagnosis. You are a whole person, with a busy life and deserve to manage it pain free. With the intimate nature of pelvic pain it is important to look at the whole person and not JUST a diagnosis. If you’ve been dealing with irritation and pain in your genitals for years and recently got diagnosed with “vulvodynia,” you know that there are many layers to your pelvic pain beyond the physical experience. Giving you the time and space to talk about those details helps us learn the full depth of impact. With this, we can come up with a plan to help you overcome your pelvic pain. We are here to HELP. If you are curious what an initial session looks like with us, head over to this blog.

Taking the first steps towards wellness with pelvic therapy

If you have questions or concerns about if women’s health occupational therapy could be beneficial for you, please don’t hesitate to ask. We’d love to take the time to chat with you about what your experience has been and what you’re looking for. Here’s how you can schedule your free 20-minute phone consultation.

Taking the time and steps necessary to correct your pelvic pain can restore not only your physical sense of well being, but also your emotional well being and confidence in your body. We are here to walk with you on that journey!