What is Pelvic Pain?
Pelvic Pain is described as pain in the lower abdomen, pelvis, or perineum and is considered to be chronic when symptoms have been present for more than six months. The pain may be described as aching or burning in the area of the perineum or abdomen.
What causes pelvic pain?
Pelvic pain can be caused by problems such as pelvic joint dysfunction, muscle imbalance within the muscles of the pelvic floor, trunk, and/or pelvis, incoordination in the muscles related to bowel and bladder function, tender points in the muscles of the pelvic floor, pressure in one or more nerves in the pelvis, an weakness in the muscles of the pelvis and pelvic floor. Pelvic pain can also be related to the presence of scar tissue after abdominal or pelvic surgery. There can be organic disease processes related to pelvic pain as well; therefore, it is important to consult your physician to fully determine the cause of your pain.
What are the symptoms of pelvic pain?
Symptoms of pelvic pain, in addition to pain in the lower abdomen and pelvis, may include: pain in the hip or buttock, pain in the tailbone, limited sitting tolerance, pain in the joints of the pelvis, pain with sexual intercourse, tender points in the muscles of the abdomen, reduced range of motion in the hips and lumbar spine, urinary frequency, urgency, or incontinence, painful bowel movements, constipation and/or straining with bowel movements.
How can physical therapy help?
Physical therapists are trained to evaluate and treat joint dysfunction, muscle tightness, weakness, or imbalance in muscle groups, and nerve entrapment – all potential signs of pelvic pain. Physical therapists trained specifically in the area of pelvic health can identify the possible generators of pelvic pain and develop a treatment plan specific to the patient suffering from pelvic pain. A physical therapist trained in this area my utilize hands on techniques to address muscle tightness or targeted exercises to improve muscle strength and reduce faulty patterns of muscle recruitment. Other treatment strategies may include biofeedback, retraining of incoordinated muscles, postural training, and strengthening of the abdominal core muscles.
Physical Therapy techniques for joint and soft tissue dysfunction may include:
- Exercise
- Education
- Manual techniques
- Modalities, including: ultrasound, electrical stimulation, biofeedback, and heat or cold.
These techniques are part of a physical therapist program designed to reduce tightness, dysfunction, weakness, and pain in the pelvis.
At Fauquier Health Outpatient Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, our pelvic physical therapy team has completed extensive training in pelvic physical therapy through the American Physical Therapy Association’s section on Women’s Health. Our therapists utilize a variety of techniques as well as education to ensure each patient’s needs are addressed. All pelvic floor treatments are conducted one-on –one in a private setting.
If you feel you may benefit from this service and would like to hear more, please call us at 540-316-2680. Or click on the button below to ask a question.
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Hello,
ReplyDeleteI have been suffering with pelvic pain for over four years now. I have done all the traditional testing and the doctors have found nothing wrong that they can physically see. I also have had spinal injections for the pain, but to no avail. What you wrote about in your short paragraphs explained almost exactly what I have.
I live in the Los Angeles Area. More like the San Fernando Valley, such as Sherman Oaks, Studio City, or Burbank. Would you happen to know of any therapist in my area I would be able to call? I have found only one in my medical network which is Kaiser Permanente and she is about one hour away from my home. Also, I realize that I would need to see a specialized physical therapist about three times per week and with her schedule she can only fit me in one to two times per month which would be a waste of both of our times. I am now just living on pain medication and anti-depressants until I can find the proper help I need. Thank you very much for reading my post and thank you in advance for any consideration you may pass my way.
Thank you for your comments and question.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you would definitely benefit from an examination by a physical therapist (PT) who specializes in pelvic physical therapy. The PT will be able to perform a comprehensive examination your pelvic floor muscles and general biomechanics of the pelvic girdle region to determine if there may be musculoskeletal problems contributing to your pelvic pain. Then the therapist will then develop an individualized treatment plan with you to treat any abnormal findings identified during the exam.
The best resource for you would be the Women’s Health Section of the American Physical Therapy Association. The web site is: http://www.womenshealthapta.org
Go to the “Member Service” tab and you will be able to bring up a tab for “Directories” and then a tab for “PT locator”. You should then be able to find a therapist in your zip code area who specializes in pelvic PT. If you are still having problems finding a PT, I recommend calling the Women’s Health section itself. They are a wonderful resource for both providers and consumers. The national office phone number is: 1-800-999-APTA ext 3229.
I hope this was helpful and met your needs.
Sincerely,
Kristen L. Pierce, PT, DPT, cert. MDT