15 Oct Treating Pelvic Pain
Pelvic pain can be very frustrating to deal with. There are many different causes of pelvic pain ranging from urologic to gynecologic concerns. Gastrointestinal disorders, renal colic, endometriosis, and ovarian issues are all potential causes of pelvic pain. Diagnosing pelvic pain can take months and many tests. If at the end of all these tests, nothing concrete is found, it can be very disheartening for the patient. Fortunately, there is now a wider variety of ways to treat pelvic pain.
Pelvic pain is challenging to treat because many conditions mimic the same symptoms of chronic pelvic pain. Some of these conditions include myofascial pain, peripheral nerve neuritis, ilioinguinal nerve issues. When a specific nerve is thought to be the cause of the pain, diagnostic nerve blocks can be used. Using a nerve block on the suspecting nerve allows physicians to determine whether or not that nerve was, in fact, the source of the pain. If so, physicians are better able to treat the specific nerve. If not, physicians can continue searching for the cause of the pain to get a more precise diagnosis.
The pubic symphysis can also be the cause of pelvic pain. Pain deriving from the pubic symphysis can be debilitating. In these cases, injections are sometimes able to help minimize pain. In the case of pelvic pain arising from the retroperitoneal space, nerve blocks can be performed on clusters of various nerves in the region. This essentially blocks feeling, and thus pain, so it is more bearable for the patient.
Pain in the pelvis can be acute or chronic. In either case, it is incredibly uncomfortable for the patient, and at times it can feel debilitating. Patients may feel embarrassed to speak to their doctors about pelvic pain, which can lead to it being undiagnosed and untreated for more extended periods. There are so many different causes of pelvic pain; it may take longer than desired to find the root cause of the pain. However, pinpointing a specific diagnosis is necessary before beginning treatment. Certain diagnoses may be unique to males or females. Whatever the diagnosis, it is important to seek help from a physician as soon as possible. In rare cases, pelvic pain may be a sign of a diagnosis that can lead to permanent damage in the future.
Pelvic pain can be embarrassing to talk about. In addition, the pain can be very difficult to diagnose and can lead to hopelessness when many treatments have been tried unsuccessfully. Pelvic pain is important to diagnose and treat accurately, so there are no negative lasting impacts. Fortunately, advances in medicine have led to alternative forms of treatment that no longer require surgery. Nerve blocks and injections have allowed physicians to help treat severe pelvic pain that was previously untreatable without surgery. These methods are more conservative and offer less risk of complications. Pelvic pain should be taken seriously in men and women. While it can take time to diagnose, there is hope that with the correct diagnosis and treatment, patients can live a pain-free life.