Pelvic Pain
A women’s health issue, pelvic pain is discomfort that is experienced on the pelvic bone, tailbone, pubis region, buttocks, rectum, or vagina, and even into the upper legs.
Data demonstrates that nearly 1 in 3 woman over 55 will suffer from a moderate to severe pelvic condition and more than half will have some experience with pelvic dysfunction. The numbers of women who need early diagnosis and treatment of pelvic conditions are staggering.
Talk to your gynecologist or urologist if you’re experiencing new or abnormal pelvic discomfort. Some of the medical diagnoses associated with pelvic pain are Dyspareunia, Vulvitis/vulvar vestibulitis, Vaginismus, and Interstitial cystitis.
Common causes of pelvic pain include:
- Trauma in or around the pelvis
- Pelvic, abdominal, or low back surgery
- Fractured coccyx
- Irritable bowel syndrome
- Chronic constipation
- Pelvic inflammatory disease
- Frequent urinary tract infections
- Endometriosis
- Pregnancy and Childbirth
There are non-invasive physical therapy solutions to address pelvic pain. The program your therapist customizes for you may include some of the following therapies:
- Biofeedback for relaxation/downtraining of pelvic floor muscles
- Biofeedback for uptraining and neuromuscular reeducation
- Manual therapy for pelvis/coccyx realignment
- Internal massage to pelvic floor trigger points
- External massage for lower abdominal or lower lumbar tightness/adhesions
- Gentle electrical stimulation to relax muscles or retrain muscular contraction
- Pain management strategies (visual imagery, TENS, breathing techniques)
- Dilator training
- Home exercise programs