Effective Relief from Pelvic Pain in West Hills
Both women and men are affected by pelvic pain. Pelvic pain that continues for more than 3 months is considered chronic. Pain lasting less than 3 months is considered acute. 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, poor coordination in the muscles related to bowel and bladder function, tender points in the muscles of the pelvic floor, pressure on one or more nerves in the pelvis, and weakness in the muscles of the pelvis and pelvic floor. Pelvic pain can also be related to scar tissue after abdominal or pelvic surgery.
Pelvic pain is a generalized term to categorize pain in the pelvic region that can have many causes. The contents of the pelvis typically include the female or male genitalia as well as the corresponding reproductive organs, the bladder, the lower abdominal wall and corresponding nerve and muscle groups. Pain can originate from any of these structures for a number of reasons. Given the complexity of these anatomic structures, identifying the actual cause of the pain and then treating it can be challenging.
Some common causes of chronic pelvic pain include:
- Lower back problems
- Adenomyosis
- Vulvodynia
- Endometriosis
- Post surgical pain
- Pudendal neuralgia
- Pelvic floor dysfunction
Treatment
The most important factor when treating pain is treating the actual underlying cause of the pain. We encourage patients to first seek treatment with specialists in the field who subspecialize in the treatment of the underlying disorder. It is vital to do so as a generalist may not have the depth of understanding of some these complex disorders, nor have the time and means to actually address them. It is not uncommon that one despite having seen many subspecialists and undergone many test and various treatments to still have pain.
An interventional pain specialist can be involved in both the treatment for diagnostic injections as well as for the treatment of chronic unresolved pain.
Some treatments that are potentially diagnostic and therapeutic include:
- pudendal nerve blocks
- hypogastric plexus or ganglion impar blocks
- pulsed radiofrequency treatments for nerve related pains such as ilioinguinal neuralgia or other neuralgias
- neuroablative procedures, which include radiofrequency ablation or phenol or alcohol injections,
- pelvic neuromodulation (spinal cord stimulation)
In seeking treatment for pelvic pain it is also important to seek specialists that have the knowledge and experience to treat these conditions. At the California Spine and Pain Institute, our specialists are recognized for their understanding of, and multiple treatment options for chronic pelvic pain.
