Pelvic Pain: Causes, Symptoms & Treatments

Infections, anomalies in internal organs, or pain from the pelvic bones can all cause pelvic pain in both men and women. Treatment is determined by the underlying cause.

Although pelvic pain is commonly associated with pain in the region of a woman’s internal reproductive organs, it can also occur in men and be caused by a variety of factors. Pelvic pain can be a sign of infection or it can be caused by pain in the pelvic bone or non-reproductive organs like the bladder or colon. On the other hand, pelvic pain in women can be an indication of a problem with one of the reproductive organs in the pelvic area (uterus, ovaries, fallopian tubes, cervix, or vagina).

Some of the common causes of pelvic pain in both men and women include:

• Appendicitis
• Bladder problems (such as urinary tract infections)
• Diseases transmitted through sexual contact
• Infection of the kidneys or kidney stones
• Intestinal problems (such as diverticulitis or colitis)
• Nerve disorders (such as pinched nerves of the spine)
• Hernia
• Pelvic dysfunctions (such as tightness and spasm of pelvic muscles)
• Pelvic fractures
• Pain that is caused by the mind (pain related to stress or psychological traumas from the past)

When it comes to women, the causes of pelvic pain can result through few more factors like:

• Pregnancy
• Ectopic pregnancy is a term used to describe a pregnancy
• Miscarriage
• Inflammation of the cervix
• Ovulation
• Cramps during menstruation
• Ovarian cysts and other ovarian problems
• Fibroids
• Endometriosis
• Cancer is a disease that affects both (cervix, uterus, or ovaries)

While some of the signs seem usual, you should consider seeing a doctor when:

• Menstrual cramps are getting worse suddenly.
• There’s bleeding, spotting, or discharge from the cervix
• Urination is painful or difficult or there is blood in it
• You experience diarrhoea or constipation constantly
• Bowel movement reveals blood.
• Vaginal pain with intercourse
• Scrotal and penile pain
• You have sudden/constant chills or fever
• Pain in the hip or bad cramps constantly

When determining the source of pelvic pain, your doctor will consider the symptoms as well as your medical history. In addition to that, a physical examination and/or other tests may also be used to determine the source of pelvic pain.

Based on the above, there are different options for treating pelvic pain. 2 of the common treatments are:

1. lidocaine infusion for pelvic pain: Lidocaine is a local anaesthetic similar to the anaesthetic that dentists use to numb your gums. It works by calming nerves that are firing when they should not be, thereby reducing your pain. The lidocaine infusion is administered directly into the vein and takes 45-60 minutes to complete. Once through, patients experience pain relief effectively but this is temporary.

2. Radiofrequency treatment: Another treatment option is radiofrequency wherein to block a small patch of nerve tissue from generating pain signals; radiofrequency ablation employs an electric current to burn it up. It is used by doctors to treat patients suffering from chronic pain, particularly in the lower back, neck, and arthritic joints. This again is a temporary solution and the effect lasts only for a few days.

In addition to the above and some other primary treatments including physiotherapy, neurostimulation (spinal cord stimulation) and antibiotics which are time-consuming; there is a new cutting-edge regenerative injection treatment which is known as PRP Treatment. PRP treatment can provide sustainable pain relief by healing the damaged tissues that cause pain and instability and is found to be quite effective. However, the patient should seek a pain specialist who has experience in diagnosing as well as treating this condition.

If you’re in Dublin or Galway and are troubled by chronic pelvic pain, visiting me would be a good start. I have been treating patients successfully for over decades, I understand how you are feeling and assess what will help you. My treatment is holistic and my goal is to make you feel better sustainably.  Since PRP works in tandem with the natural healing process of your body to strengthen pelvic ligaments, it promotes new growth. My course of treatment is non-invasive and in some cases, you won’t need to undergo general anaesthesia, hospitalization, or any extensive recovery process.

With my experience, I can assure you that PRP therapy will give you much-needed relief from the pelvic pain that you are suffering from and will be with you throughout the process.