Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain, which is pain felt in the lower part of the abdomen and pelvis, can refer to symptoms that come from different systems in the body. When most people think that only women can suffer from pelvic pain, any person of any age can suffer from painful symptoms. While many pain sensations are short-lived, but nonetheless painful, and You can treat it with at-home methods, there are times that pelvic pain can be excruciating and also chronic. The Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists in the Reno, Sparks and Carson City areas are able to address all symptoms of pelvic pain as well as determine the causes and best course of treatment. 

Treatment Options

What is Pelvic Pain? 

Pelvic pain refers to any pain felt from the belly button to the pelvic floor. Pain can range from a sharp pain to a persistent, dull ache. The organs associated with pelvic pain include:

• Women’s reproductive system (uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes)
• Prostate
• Rectum
• Appendix 
• Bladder

Around one out of every three women will experience pelvic pain at some point in their life. While You could expect it, i.e. during childbirth, chronic pain is not normal. As less common, men can also experience pelvic pain, usually as a result of advanced prostatitis. 

Conditions We Manage

While pelvic pain isn’t always an emergency situation, it’s important to seek immediate help from a medical professional should the pain be sudden and severe, it disrupts your daily life, or becomes worse over time. 

What Causes Pelvic Pain?

Due to the fact that there are many different organs located in the pelvic region of the body, there are several potential causes of pelvic pain. The most common causes include:

• Infection: pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is the most common pelvic infection and is an infection of the uterus, ovaries, or fallopian tubes. A likely cause is bacteria from a sexually transmitted disease (STD) that travels into the reproductive organs and causes an injection. Most women only begin to experience symptoms in the later stages of the infection. Additional infections that can lead to pelvic pain can take place in the kidneys, bladder, or urethra. 
• Ectopic pregnancy: this condition, where a fertilized egg implants outside of the uterus (most often in the fallopian tubes) can lead to severe pelvic pain as well as complications. Surgical care is required to remedy this condition and alleviate pain. 

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• Ovarian cysts: these fluid-filled sacs located within the ovaries generally cause pain during a female’s menstrual cycle. Most cysts usually dissolve on their own, but Sometimes, if the cysts do not dissolve, surgery is needed, grow in size, or cause excruciating pain. 
• Endometriosis: this is a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus onto other reproductive organs. It can cause severe pain in the pelvis and make it harder to get pregnant. Endometriosis can start at a person’s first menstrual period and last until menopause, meaning that pain can be chronic.
• Sexually transmitted infections (STIs): infections such as chlamydia and gonorrhea can lead to PID

While women experience the majority of pelvic pain issues, men can also experience pelvic pain. The most common reasons why a male will experience pelvic pain include an urinary tract infection, (UTI), kidney stones, STDs and a hernia. 

There is also the possibility that pelvic pain is considered neuropathic, which means that there is no specific reason for the pain. This, in addition to the aforementioned health conditions, is what makes partnering with a training pain management specialist so crucial for treating both the cause of pain as well as the symptoms. 

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How is Pelvic Pain Treated?

Receiving an accurate diagnosis for your particular type of pelvic pain (as there are many potential causes) is crucial for determining the best course of treatment. In addition to your provider performing an exam and reviewing your medical history, additional tests such as a CT scan, ultrasound and lab testing (for blood and urine) might be necessary to get a complete picture of the source of pain. 

Treatment options vary depending on the cause of pain, but the most common treatment options include: 

• Medications: non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs), antidepressants, and neuropathic medications are helpful for treating pain, and antibiotics might also be necessary if an infection is present
• Physical therapy: this is a minimally invasive treatment that can help with chronic pelvic pain. Partnering with a trained physical therapist can help to restore strength, flexibility, and function to the pelvic region’s muscles and joints, which has proven helpful when no other clear cause of pain has been found (i.e. infection or pelvic fracture). Hot and cold therapy, ultrasound therapy and stretching have also provided patients with needed pain relief. 
• Biofeedback: learning how to recognize and manage some of the body’s functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure, can help to reduce chronic pain symptoms. The major benefit is that you can do this anywhere and at any time.

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• Nerve blocks: while neuropathic pain is challenging to treat, the majority of women who received a pudendal nerve block, hypogastric plexus block and a ilioinguinal nerve block found relief from their pelvic pain and groin symptoms. A nerve block is an injection of medication near the affected nerve that blocks the brain from receiving pain sensation, thereby reducing pain. 
• Spinal cord stimulator: for patients who haven’t been able to find needed relief for their chronic pain, a spinal cord stimulator is a great solution. Dubbed the “pacemaker for pain,” a spinal cord stimulator is a minimally-invasive treatment where small leads are placed into the epidural space near the source of chronic pain impulses and which deliver electrical current that essentially replaces feeling of pain with a tingling sensation. 

If you are suffering from pelvic pain that has become chronic and interfering with your quality of life, the Nevada Advanced Pain Specialists in the Reno, Sparks and Carson City areas can help. Please schedule an appointment today so that we may learn about your symptoms and work together to find a comfortable and efficient solution.