How Chronic Pelvic Pain Affects Both Men and Women

Many people experience intermittent pelvic pain associated with a variety of acute conditions or temporary fluctuations, like bloating after a heavy meal or being at a certain time in their menstrual cycle (for women). For other people, pelvic pain lingers. When pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis lasts more than six months, it is considered chronic pelvic pain, which can interfere with the person’s comfort, mobility, and overall quality of life — but we can help. At Pain Zero, our experienced team of Central Ohio pain management specialists is highly knowledgeable in the complexity of pelvic pain diagnosis and treatment, having helped many patients just like you find the relief from pelvic pain they deserve. In this blog, we’ll take a closer look at how pelvic pain can affect both men and women, what some of the most common causes of pelvic pain are, and how pelvic pain may be improved without surgery. 

 

What causes pelvic pain?  

Pelvic pain refers to a broad range of symptoms affecting the lower abdominal/pelvic region of both men and women. Pelvic pain may be sharp or dull, consistent or fluctuating, stabbing or aching — and everything in between. Some cases of pelvic pain have an obvious cause, like trauma or eating a large meal, while other times, there may not be a direct trigger for abdominal pain. While this list is not exhaustive, some of the most common causes of acute and/or chronic pelvic pain include:  

• Hernia 
• Pancreatitis
• Constipation 
• Fibromyalgia 
• Appendicitis 
• Diverticulitis or Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Gastrointestinal disorders
• UTI 
• Urological conditions 
• Gynecological conditions (women) 
• Menstruation (women) 
• Ovarian cysts or uterine fibroids (women) 
• BPH (men) 
• Penile or testicular conditions (men) 
• Anal or rectal pain

 

The side effects of chronic pelvic pain 

Both men and women can develop chronic pelvic pain that disrupts their daily lives in more ways than one. Some of the life-altering side effects of living with daily pelvic pain include:  

• Pain and discomfort 
• Difficulty sitting or standing for long periods of time 
• Poor sleep 
• Inability to eat certain foods 
• Constant bloat or gassiness 
• Constipation or diarrhea 
• Pain with sexual intercourse 
• Depression and anxiety 
• Limited mobility 
• Inability to exercise 

 

How is pelvic pain treated?  

The first step in getting reliable relief from your chronic pelvic pain is to schedule a consultation and evaluation at Pain Zero. During this appointment, one of our pain specialists will perform a thorough evaluation, discuss your symptoms and health history, and determine the likely cause of your pain. Based on these findings, a personalized treatment plan will be created and implemented. In many cases, pelvic pain can be relieved without the need for surgery, using treatments and tools including:  

• Dietary/nutritional changes 
• Lifestyle modifications 
• Increasing physical activity 
• Supplements 
• Prescription medications
• Physical therapy 
• Interventional therapy
• BOTOX
• Neuromodulation

For patients with more extensive or complex cases of pelvic pain, or when pelvic pain does not respond to more conservative therapies, we can recommend the most appropriate minimally invasive procedure to be performed by one of our pain management providers. 

 

Send pelvic pain packing with a pain management specialist in Central Ohio 

If you are tired of living with chronic pelvic pain but want to avoid surgery, we are here to help. To learn more about your options for nonsurgical pelvic pain treatments, call Pain Zero in Columbus, OH to schedule your private consultation with one of our distinguished pain management practitioners today.