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Understanding Pelvic Pain

Dec 23, 2020 | Texas Partners Healthcare Group

Many Issues Can Lead to Pelvic Pain

Chronic pain impacts millions of Americans every single year. Whether from an underlying health condition or the long-term results of a traumatic injury, chronic pain can come in many forms. While back pain is often the most common type of chronic pain, other types of pain can be just as impactful. Just ask those living with pelvic pain.

Pelvic pain can affect both men and women, but it can often be hard to determine its severity. In many cases, it is an ordinary pain (such as menstrual cramps in women). However, it can also be indicative of something more serious, such as appendicitis or an issue with your reproductive organs.

This pain occurs in the pelvis region, which begins at your belly button and ends right above your thighs. However, this pain can extend further than just your pelvis, traveling down your legs and elsewhere.

Pelvic pain can be the result of something either minor or severe. That is why you need to contact an experienced pain management doctor to determine the cause of your pain. Doing so will allow them to create a personalized treatment plan to help you find pain relief. If you suffer from pelvic pain, give our Frisco pain management clinic at Texas Partners Healthcare Group a call today. 

What is Pelvic Pain? 

As we mentioned earlier, pelvic pain is not nearly as common as back pain. Your pelvis is in the lower abdomen. It is the region between your belly button and just above your thighs and includes your reproductive organs. The level of pain people experience differs from case to case. For some, this pain comes and goes. For others, it’s constant.

Even further, this pain can travel beyond your pelvis, causing pain and discomfort in your buttocks, lower back, and thighs. Some people may only experience pelvic pain when engaging in certain activities, such as urinating or during sexual activity.

When people think of pelvic pain, they often think about women and their reproductive organs. However, men can suffer from this pain, as well. While reproductive organs might be the cause of your pain, other issues, such as infections or an injury to your pelvic bone, could be to blame.

Each case of pelvic pain differs from the next, which is why it’s crucial to reach out to the trusted pain management doctors at Texas Partners Healthcare Group. They can pinpoint the cause of your pain and create a treatment plan to help you find pain relief.

Symptoms 

There are various symptoms of pelvic pain, some of which include:

In women, symptoms include:

When to See a Doctor

Some causes of pelvic pain are natural, especially in women (menstrual cramps). There is no cause for concern in these instances, as the pain will go away in due time and cause no long-term damage. However, pelvic pain could be a sign that something more serious is wrong.

When your pain occurs suddenly and is excruciating or very sharp, it is often a medical emergency, and you should seek medical attention right away. Additionally, if your pain persists for an extended period, something might be wrong. In both cases, you should reach out to a trusted pain management doctor so they can find the cause of this pain.

Causes of Pelvic Pain

As we mentioned earlier, people often associate pelvic pain with women and their reproductive organs. In many cases, some causes are common (such as menstrual cramps in women). There is no need to worry about this pain. However, if the pain feels more intense or lasts longer than usual, it could be the result of something else entirely.

Often, issues with reproductive organs in the pelvic region (uterus, ovaries, cervix, vagina, fallopian tubes, etc.) cause this pain in women. For men, it could be an issue with their sex organs or even their prostate.

In both cases, this pain can be the result of a damaged pelvic bone or an infection. Injuries to your digestive, reproductive, or urinary systems can also lead to pelvic pain. While the causes vary from case to case, there are several that affect both men and women, such as:

Some conditions are specific to women, however, such as:

Treatments

The treatment for pelvic pain varies depending on the cause of your condition. Your pain management doctor will run a host of tests to determine the cause of your pain. Once known, they can develop an effective pain management plan to help you find pain relief.

Some common treatments your doctor might use include:

While many cases of pelvic pain are not a cause for concern, some are the result of something serious. If you suffer from chronic pelvic pain, contact our Frisco pain management center at Texas Partners Healthcare Group today to learn what your options are.