What is pelvic pain?
Pelvic pain is pain felt in the lower abdomen or perineum. It can be dull, crampy, or sharp pain. It can sometimes radiate to your lower back, buttocks or thighs. Pelvic pain can be caused by issues in the reproductive, urinary, gastrointestinal, or musculoskeletal systems.
A thorough medical examination is needed to determine the cause(s) of your pain. In many cases, there are ways that physical therapy can be helpful. Physical therapy can help when the following issues are present: pelvic muscle weakness or dysfunction, issues with the joints of the pelvis, post-surgical pain, urinary dysfunction or incontinence, history of multiple pelvic/abdominal surgeries, extensive scar tissue in abdomen or pelvis. Ask your doctor if physical therapy can help you.
What About Chronic Conditions?
In the presence of chronic medical conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, or chronic constipation, physical therapy can be effective to treat the muscular components of your pain in conjunction with other medical interventions recommended by your physician. Muscle tightness and/or weakness and dysfunction of the muscles that control urination or bowel movements can be issues with these chronic conditions that contribute to pelvic pain and can be improved with physical therapy treatment.
If you experience any of the following, Snyder Physical Therapy can help!
- Pelvic pain
- Low back pain
- Pain with intercourse
- Pain during or after pregnancy
- Unintended loss of urine
- Difficulty urinating
- Increased urgency
- Post-surgical pain
- Pain with specific movements
