Pelvic Health Support

Find Treatment Near Me
Member Content
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors
Menu

Pelvic Pain

/ Conditions Main / By

Pelvic Pain

Coccydynia (Tailbone Pain)
About
  • Pain in/around the area of the coccyx, also called the tailbone
Potential Causes
  • Childbirth
  • Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI)
  • Poor posture
  • Ageing
  • Being overweight/underweight
  • Infection/cancer (Both very rare)
  •  
Symptoms
  • Pain when pressure is applied to the tailbone
  • Immediate and severe pain when moving from sitting to standing position
  • Pain during bowel movements
  • Pain during sex
  • Deep ache in the region of the tailbone
  •  
Diagnosis
  • Medical history: To find out if you’ve had any particular past/recent injury, prolonged labor or an injury while giving birth
  • Physical exam: To check for obvious fracture, deformity, mass or an abscess (infection)
  • Lateral X-ray/CT scan: To check for fracture
  • MRI/Bone scan: If deemed necessary to check for inflammation/spine tumour
Treatment
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): Ibuprofen/Naproxen
  • Therapeutic sitting cushion: To take the pressure off the tailbone when sitting
  • Pelvic physiotherapy: To include exercise to stretch the ligaments and strengthen the supporting muscles
  • Coccygeal manipulation: To move the coccyx back into its proper position and relieve pain
  • Multidisciplinary chronic pain rehabilitation program
  • Heat application
  • Massage therapy
  • Coccygectomy: Surgery to remove the coccyx (Severe cases only)
  •  
PELVIC CONGESTION SYNDROME
About
  • Chronic condition associated with painful varicose veins in the abdomen, thighs, buttock region or genital area
  • Also known as Pelvic Venous Insufficiency (PVI)
  • Can be the source of pain in up to 30% of women who have chronic pelvic pain 
  •  
Potential Causes
  • Multiple pregnancies increase the chance as a result of pelvic structural and hormonal changes
    • Rise in estrogen levels during pregnancy can weaken the blood vessel walls 
    •  
Symptoms
  • Dull pain and ache that can increase:
    • When standing for a period of time
    • During/after sexual intercourse
    • In the evenings
    • Days prior to menstruation
    • In the late stages of pregnancy
  • Painful menstruation (dysmenorrhea)
  • Abnormal bleeding during menstruation
  • Backache
  • Depression
  • Fatigue
  • Varicose veins around the vulva, buttocks and legs
  • Abnormal vaginal discharge
  • Swelling of the vulva/vagina
  • Abdominal tenderness
  • Increased urination
  • Irritable bowel symptoms
  •  
Diagnosis
  • Abdominal/Pelvic Ultrasound: Can help eliminate other common causes of chronic pelvic pain
  • CT/MRI scan: To visualize any abnormal veins within the pelvis
  • Venogram: Can identify the abnormal varicose veins and the reversal of blood flow within the affected veins
  •  
Treatment
  • Oral Medications
    • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
    • Chronic pain medications (gabapentin, amitriptyline)
  • Pelvic Vein Embolization (PVE): Minimally invasive surgical procedure that blocks off certain varicose veins that are believed to be the source of pain
    • Small coils/plugs are placed to block blood flow into the ovarian vein, which reduces the pressure within the enlarged pelvic veins
    •  
    •  
  •  
PELVIC FLOOR DYSFUNCTION (PFD)
About
  • Pelvic Floor
    • A group of muscles in the pelvic region, supporting the organs in the pelvis
    • 1 in 4 women are affected by a condition associated with PFD
  • 2 Types
    • Hypotonic PFD: Pelvic floor muscles that are too weak and do not provide enough support for the bowels, bladder and/or uterus
      • Associated Conditions: Incontinence, Pelvic Organ Prolapse
    • Hypertonic PFD: Pelvic floor muscles that are too tense and unable to relax
      • Associated Conditions: Dyspareunia (painful sex), Vulvodynia, Pudendal Neuralgia, Chronic Prostatitis/CPPS
  •  
Potential Causes
  • Pelvic floor muscles are either too weak (hypotonic) or too tight (hypertonic) as a result of
    • Childbirth
    • Old age
    • Obesity
    • Straining
    • Traumatic injury to the pelvic region and/or tailbone
    • Nerve damage
    • Pelvic surgery
  •  
Symptoms
  • Hypotonic PFD
    • Urinary Incontinence
    • Pelvic Organ Prolapse
  • Hypertonic PFD
    • Constipation/straining pain with bowel movements
    • Painful sex (also known as dyspareunia)
    • Urgency/painful urination
    • Urinary frequency
    • Slow flow of urine
    • Pain/pressure in the pelvic region, genitals or rectum
    • Pelvic muscle spasms
    • Unexplained lower back pain
  •  
  •  
    •  
Diagnosis
  • Medical history: To address past and current health issues
  • Physical exam: Pelvic muscle floor control is checked for weakness, spasms or knots
  • Pelvic Muscle Control Test: Surface electrodes (self-adhesive pads) are placed on the perineum (the area between the vagina and rectum in women and between the testicles and rectum in men) or sacrum (the triangular bone at the base of your spine)
  • Uroflow Test: To determine if the flow of urine is weak
  • Anorectal Manometry: Measures how well the rectum and anal sphincter are working by testing the pressures, muscle strength and coordination
  • Defecating Proctogram: Special video x-ray to record muscle movement as you attempt to push the thick liquid you’re given through an enema out of the rectum
  •  
Treatment
  • Pelvic Physiotherapy: Internal and external assessment treated with exercise and programs that help manage pain and discomfort in the pelvic region
  • Biofeedback
    • With the help of a pelvic physiotherapist, you learn how to relax/contract your pelvic muscles through video and special sensors
    • Muscle activity is observed and feedback is provided to help improve your coordination
    • Provides improvement for more than 75% of those with PFD
  • Relaxation Techniques: Yoga, Meditation, Warm baths
  • Oral Medication: Muscle relaxants to prevent your muscles from contracting
  • Botox Injections: To relax the pelvic floor muscles
  • Surgery: If your PFD is the result of a rectal prolapse/rectocele
  •  
Pelvic Girdle pain (PGP)
About
  • Pelvic pain in pregnancy
  • Stiffness of your pelvic joints/joints moving unevenly at either the front/back of your pelvis
  • Affects up to 1 in 5 women
  • Also referred to as Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD)
  •  
Causes
  • Uneven pelvic joints can lead to the pelvic girdle becoming less stable and therefore painful
  • The extra weight and the change in the way you sit/stand puts additional strain on the pelvis
  • Women who are more inclined to get PGP
    • History of lower back/pelvic girdle pain
    • Previous injury to the pelvis
    • PGP in a previous pregnancy
    • Physically demanding job
    • Overweight
    • Multiple birth pregnancy
  •  
  •  
Symptoms
  • Pain over the pubic bone 
  • Lower back pain
  • Pain in the area between your vagina and anus (perineum)
  • Pain spreading to your thighs
  • A clicking/grinding in the pelvic area
  • Worsened pain from movement
  •  
Diagnosis
  • Assessment of your posture, back and hip movements by a pelvic physiotherapist to rule out other causes and determine if you have PGP
Treatment
  • Pelvic Physiotherapy: To relieve/ease pain, improve muscle function and improve your pelvic joint position and stability
  • TENs machine: Delivers small electrical impulses through electrodes that have adhesive pads to attach them to the skin
  • Pelvic support belt: Can alleviate pressure by supporting the abdominal and lower back area
  • Hydrotherapy
  • Exercise to strengthen your pelvic floor, stomach, back and hip muscles
  • Warm baths
  • Ice/heat application
  • Deep tissue massage
PERSISTENT GENITAL AROUSAL DISORDER (PGAD)/GENITOPELVIC DYSESTHESIA (GPD)
About
  • Men and women with this condition become sexually aroused without any sexual activity/stimulation
  • Can last for hours, days or weeks at a time
  • Also called PSAS (Persistent Sexual Arousal Syndrome)
Potential Causes
  • Unknown
  • Some researchers believe it may be related to restless leg syndrome as a similar type of disorder (and should be called Restless Genital Syndrome)
  • Pinching/compressing the pudendal nerve, which helps you feel sensations around your genitals, is thought to cause PGAD/GPD
  • Anxiety, depression, bipolar 1 disorder, OCD and other similar conditions are common to exist alongside PGAD/GPD
    • It’s unclear if these conditions cause PGAD/GPD, or are caused by PGAD/GPD
Symptoms
  • Spontaneous and intense physiological sexual arousal
  • Genital fullness/swelling and sensitivity that can persist for hours/days
  • Symptoms do not decrease with orgasm and might require multiple orgasms over hours/days to resolve
  • The persistent genital arousal can also be triggered by a non-sexual stimuli/no apparent stimulus at all
  • Increased anxiety and distress
Diagnosis
  • Medical history and medication record
  • Physical exam of the genital area
  • Testing to measure blood flow to your genitals before, during and after sexual arousal
  • Neurological testing: To determine if nerve damage may be causing the condition
  • Psychological assessment and testing
Treatment
  • Pelvic physiotherapy: With biofeedback and combined with Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
  • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS): Uses electrical currents to help relieve nerve pain
  • Oral Medications: Tricyclic antidepressants and Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
  • Botulinum toxin injections
  • Hypnotherapy
PUDENDAL NEURALGIA
About
  • Long-term pelvic pain that originates from damage/irritation of the pudendal nerve – a main nerve in the pelvis
  • Supplies areas including the
    • Lower buttocks
    • Area between the buttocks and genitals (perineum)
    • Area around the anus and rectum
    • Vulva, labia and clitoris in women
    • Scrotum and penis in men
  •  
Potential Causes
  • Compression of the pudendal nerve by nearby muscles/tissue – sometimes called pudendal nerve entrapment or Alcock canal syndrome
  • Prolonged sitting, cycling, horseback riding or constipation (usually for months or years) – can cause repeated minor damage to the pelvic area
  • Pelvic surgery
  • Broken pelvis
  • Damage to the pudendal nerve during childbirth
  • A growth pressing on the pudendal nerve
  •  
Symptoms
  • Pelvic pain (any of the areas supplied by the pudendal nerve can be affected), which can feel like a burning, crushing, shooting or prickling sensation
    • Can develop gradually, suddenly or be constant
  • Numbness and pins and needles in the pelvic area
  • Increased sensitivity to pain
  • Feeling as though there’s swelling or an object in your perineum
  • Needing to go the toilet frequently or suddenly
  • Pain during sex
  • Difficulty reaching orgasm
  • Erectile dysfunction in men
  •  
Diagnosis
  • Vaginal/Rectal exam: To see if the pain occurs when pressure is applied to the pudendal nerve
  • MRI scan: To check for problems such as a trapped pudendal nerve and to rule out other possible causes
  • Nerve studies: A small device inserted into the rectum is used to stimulate nearby nerves with mild electrical impulses to check how well the nerves are working
  • Nerve block injections: Painkilling medication is injected around the pudendal nerve to lessen/eradicate pain
  •  
Treatment
  • Nerve pain medication
  • Pelvic physiotherapy: Learn exercises to relax your pelvic floor muscles and other muscles that can irritate the pudendal nerve
  • Painkilling injections: Local anaesthetic and steroid medication for temporary relief
  • Decompression surgery: Tissue removal (if there is any) to keep it from pressing on the pudendal nerve
  • Nerve stimulation: A small device is surgically implanted under the skin to deliver mild electrical impulses to the nerve and interrupt pain signals sent to the brain
  • Avoid things that make the pain worse ie: cycling, prolonged sitting
  • Stay regular