Abdominal Pain
We’ve all felt pain in our stomach area at some time. Usually, it isn’t cause for alarm. But abdominal pain can be a sign of a medical emergency.
“Abdominal pain” is a broad category that includes many types of pain. Your pain may be sharp or dull. It may be in one specific place. Or, you may feel it over a large area. It may be cramplike. It may come in waves. What you feel depends on the problem you’re having. Abdominal pain can be caused by something simple, like a pulled muscle or a food you ate. But severe pain, or pain you can’t explain, may be a sign of a serious issue. Appendicitis and bowel obstruction are examples of problems that need immediate medical care. If you have pain that doesn’t feel normal, don’t ignore it. See your doctor. Get emergency treatment if you need immediate help.
What causes pelvic pain?
Pelvic pain is frequently associated with women and problems in their reproductive tract. But pelvic pain encompasses all the structures in your lower abdomen, including nerves, connective tissues, muscles, and your urinary and digestive systems. Additionally, men can develop a condition called chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
When your pain lasts three to six months, you have chronic pelvic pain. Chronic pelvic pain may be associated with an ongoing medical condition. However, it also develops when the acute pain caused by the original underlying condition or injury affects your nerves and lowers your threshold for pain.
These are only a few examples of the many possible causes of pelvic pain:
- Prostatitis
- Recurrent urinary tract infections
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Interstitial cystitis
- Fibromyalgia
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Endometriosis
- Uterine fibroids
- Ovarian cysts
- Piriformis syndrome
- Pudendal neuralgia
You can also develop chronic pelvic pain following an injury to your back or pelvic region.
What other symptoms occur with pelvic pain?
The gynecological problems that cause pelvic pain often result in abnormal uterine bleeding or changes in menstrual periods. Depending on the underlying cause of your pelvic pain, you may experience problems such as nausea, constipation, and frequent urination or difficulty urinating.
You may also develop abdominal bloating and aching muscles. When a nerve is involved, it’s common to have symptoms such as pain, tingling, or numbness along the nerve.
How is pelvic pain treated?
The team at the University Pain and Spine Center can help you get relief from pelvic pain no matter what condition causes the problem. They offer numerous treatments that effectively relieve inflammation, promote healing, and go directly to the source of your pain: the nerves transmitting pain signals to your brain.
Treatments such as spinal cord stimulation and nerve blocks stop the nerve signals from reaching your brain. The underlying condition is still there, but your pain significantly diminishes.
These are a few examples of your treatment options for alleviating pelvic pain:
- Epidural steroid injections
- Sympathetic nerve blocks (stellate ganglion block)
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Radiofrequency neurotomy
- Dorsal root ganglion stimulation
- Trigger point injections
- Platelet-rich plasma injections
- Stem cell injections
- Myofascial release
After reviewing your medical history and performing a thorough examination, your University Pain Medicine Center doctor determines which treatment is best for you.
To learn more about your treatment options for pelvic pain, call the University Pain and Spine Center, or book an appointment online.