What is pelvic pain?
Your pelvis is the area between your hips, covering everything between your belly button and your groin. The bony pelvis is where the bottom of your spine (coccyx) meets your sacrum and hips. Pelvic pain is a common problem.
In women, pelvic pain is frequently due to gynecological conditions like painful periods (dysmenorrhea) and endometriosis. In men, pelvic pain could be due to prostate conditions. Pelvic pain can also be a result of infection or disease in the organs within the pelvic area, such as your urinary tract or bowels.
Musculoskeletal conditions are another common cause of pelvic pain.
What musculoskeletal conditions cause pelvic pain?
Some musculoskeletal conditions that affect the pelvis are due to pain radiating down into the pelvic region from your spine. Sciatica is an example of this type of pelvic pain, where pressure on the sciatic nerve that travels from your spine down each leg, causing low back, pelvis, and leg pain.
Hip pain - which is frequently due to osteoarthritis - can radiate up and across your pelvis. Osteoarthritis often affects the sacroiliac (SI) joints, too. You have two SI joints in your pelvis, either side of the bottom of your spine.
How is pelvic pain diagnosed?
To begin the diagnostic process, Dr. Piska assesses your symptoms and conducts a physical exam. She also reviews your medical history. Diagnostic tests on your blood or urine might help diagnose problems like urinary tract infections (UTIs) and gynecological issues. A blood test can also measure the rheumatoid factor levels in your blood.
Other tests you might need to undergo if you have pelvic pain include:
- Pelvic X-rays
- Sexually transmitted disease (STD) tests
- Diagnostic laparoscopy
- Hysteroscopy
- Ultrasound scan
- CT scan of the pelvic area
Lower endoscopy exams such as colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy might be necessary to rule out conditions of your rectum and colon, as well.
How is pelvic pain treated?
If your pelvic pain is due to an infection or other disease affecting your organs, you might need to take antibiotics or other medications. If the pain is musculoskeletal, Dr. Piska offers a range of effective treatment options, depending on the cause of your pain.
Physical therapy can be useful in treating most musculoskeletal conditions. Other treatments include a variety of injectables that use steroid medication and anesthetics, to address the cause of your pain. Examples include epidural steroid injections and sacroiliac joint injections.
If you have chronic pelvic pain that doesn’t respond to other approaches, Dr. Piska can implant a Freedom™ spinal cord stimulation device.
To get relief from pelvic pain, call Advanced Pain Specialists, or schedule an appointment online today.
