When should I see a medical professional regarding chronic pelvic pain?
If you experience pain in your pelvic region, below your belly button and between your hip, for six months or longer that constitutes chronic pain and you should make an appointment to come into our Harrisonburg office right away. Come see us if you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms:
- Steady, severe pain
- Intermittent pain (comes in spurts)
- Aching
- Cramping
- Pressure felt deep within your pelvis
- Intercourse is painful
- Pain felt while urinating or during bowel movements
- Pain felt when you sit for a long time
Ignoring chronic pelvic pain can lead to your symptoms getting even worse and further disrupting your everyday life.
What causes chronic pelvic pain?
There are several potential causes of chronic pelvic pain. When you come meet with one of our practitioners, we will do a thorough physical exam and perform tests as necessary to help determine if there’s an underlying condition or psychological factors that might be causing your chronic pain.
Some common causes of chronic pelvic pains include:
- Chronic pelvic inflammatory disease Infections, most often sexually transmitted, can lead to scarring of your pelvic organs.
- Ovarian remnant: If you’ve had a surgical procedure removing your uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes, a small portion of your ovaries left inside could have resulted in cysts.
- Fibroids: These benign growths in your uterus can cause pressure in your lower abdomen.
- Irritable bowel syndrome: Symptoms linked to IBS, such as bloating, constipation or diarrhea, can be a source of pelvic pain.
- Psychological factors: Emotional pain can often accentuate physical pain. Factors like depression, chronic stress or a history of sexual or physical abuse can increase the likelihood that you’ll suffer from chronic pelvic pain.
- Your practitioner has the tools to help diagnose what is causing your condition, including:
-Pelvic exam
-Ultrasound
-Lab Tests
-Other Imaging Tests (CT, MRI, X-Ray)
What should I bring to my first appointment?
Keep a journal detailing your pain and symptoms, when they occur and how long they last. This can help them determine the root cause. Write down any questions you have about your pain and condition.
How do you treat chronic pelvic pain?
Your healthcare team of nurse-midwives and physicians will take everything into account regarding your condition, including your medical history and your symptoms to develop a treatment plan that’s right for you.
When dealing with chronic pelvic pains, treatment might involve hormone treatment or physical therapy methods to help relieve your pain and eliminate the cause.