Have you ever had a sharp pain in your lower abdomen and all of a sudden you cannot move? Or maybe you’ve had it for a while, and it keeps you from living your life normally. If you have, you have most likely experiencing pelvic pain.
We can call it chronic pelvic pain when it lasts longer than half a year.
Our bodies cannot all be different and so different women will feel pelvic pain differently. Some feel a sharp pain that is there for a few minutes, and then it disappears. Some may feel it at one spot and others may feel it spread out in their abdomen.
While other women may feel it going about their days, others may only feel it when they are on their periods, during sexual intercourse or when trying to lift a heavy object. Some will even feel it while urinating. It is also not uncommon to have the pain emanating from the vulva, this kind of pain has been named vulvodynia.
Up to know the research jury is still out on how pelvic pain comes into being. But most of the time, it is due to problems with organs in and around your pelvic areas. Here are few health problems that may be the cause of the pain.
- Rectal irritation – the cause for this is yet to be known, but it results in pain, constipation, bloating and even diarrhea.
- Endometriosis – when uterial tissues start growing elsewhere, you end up with endometriosis. The two main symptoms of this condition are pain and fertility issues.
- Pelvic floor disorders – this occurs when the tissues and muscles that make up the pelvis are weak or injured.
- Fibroids – these are tumors (non-cancerous) that grow on the uterine walls
First of all, when you realize you have chronic pelvic pain, you should visit a doctor. The doctor will then quiz you a little about your symptoms and perform a physical examination to see if there are any abnormalities. After this, they can then do any of the following tests or a few of them together.
- Blood tests
- Cystoscopy
- A pelvic (MRI) scan – this enables them to see the inside of the pelvis
- Colonoscopy
- Pelvic laparoscopy
The treatment options will depend on the emanating point of the pain, how often you feel it and how strong or mild it is. Any of the following may be recommended.
- Medication – depending on your pain you may get a prescription for painkillers, muscle relaxants or anti-inflammatory drugs.
- Lifestyle changes – for instance changing what you eat, exercising more, staying away from too much alcohol and other positive health changes may help deal with the pain.
- Physiotherapy – the therapy helps relax muscle and tissues. It is useful when pain comes from these areas.
Final thoughts
Suffering pelvic pain can cause a strain in one’s quality of life. If you have chronic pain, it is critical that you see a doctor. A gynecologist can also help. The only problem with diagnosis is that there are a myriad of causes and each has their own type of tests. But the treatment options can help a great deal.
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