Causes - Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain is a very debilitating condition. Generally it is the term used to describe any pain condition that has been present in the pelvic floor, lower abdominal or pelvic region for 6 months or under certain conditions less than 6 months. It includes:

• Urologic chronic pelvic pain
  • Bladder pain
  • Urethral pain
  • Scrotal pain
  • Penile pain
• Pudendal neuralgia or pudendal neuropathy or the less common pudendal nerve entrapment

• Vulvar vestibulitis, generalised, provoked or unprovoked 
• Vaginal pain, labial pain, clitoral pain
• Interstitial cystitis
• Vaginismus (excessive vaginal tension)
• Proctodynia (rectal pain) 
• Anismus (excessive anal tension)

It is possible with all of these pelvic pain disorders that the pelvic floor muscles hold a negative tension or are over active and need to be released. Generally they respond well to manual therapy and breathing release techniques as well as learning how to voluntarily release the pelvic floor and changing the holding patterns in the body in general. The multidisciplinary team is important as topical and oral medication may be necessary and diagnostic procedures may be indicated, less often surgery is indicated and is hopefully avoided as conservative treatment should work.