CCRM FERTILITY OF PARK RIDGE, IL
Chronic pelvic pain in Park Ridge, IL
What is chronic pelvic pain?
Chronic pelvic pain is defined as severe pain that lies below the umbilicus for at least six months. This pain can cause disruption in daily lifestyle functioning and may require treatment.
Fibroid symptoms vary from woman to woman, but they include:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding (normal menses last up to 7 days).
- Pelvic or abdominal pain.
- Pelvic pressure on the bladder which can cause the bladder to feel full with little urine or require frequent urination.
- Pressure on the rectum, and in some can cause constipation or difficulty with bowel movements.
- Lower back pain.
- Pain during sexual intercourse.
- Difficulty achieving pregnancy.
- Pelvic or abdominal swelling or bloating.
- Potential complications during pregnancy, including
- Preterm labor or preterm Contractions.
- Fetus in breech presentation requiring cesarean section.
What causes chronic pelvic pain?
There are several entities that can be a cause of chronic pelvic pain. Several major body systems comprise of causes of chronic pelvic pain. These are most commonly the gynecologic, urologic, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, psychological and neurologic systems. In each system there are several causes as well. Below is a list of probable causes by body systems, in no particular order for cause of pain.
Probable causes of pelvic pain
Urologic
- Interstitial cystitis or painful bladder syndrome: Chronic inflammation of the bladder causing pain, urgency and frequency.
- Urinary tract infections: If recurrent, can cause chronic pain.
Musculoskeletal
- Pelvic myofascial pain: Pain occurring from the pelvic floor muscles that involuntary spasm, usually during intercourse or from prolonged periods of sitting.
- How it’s treated: Pelvic floor physical therapy may be recommended to help identify the muscles involved and provide feedback for pelvic relaxation. Trigger point injections may also be recommended. A small amount of local anesthetic is injected into the muscle at the site of tenderness. A few treatments may be necessary to see a significant improvement.
Gastrointestinal
- Inflammatory bowel disease: Abdominal pain and altered bowel habits with potentially rectal bleeding; 2 disease processes—ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease.
- Irritable bowel syndrome: Changed bowel habits with or without diarrhea and/or constipation with chronic abdominal pain in the absence of any other cause.
Psychologic
- Depression: No exact correlation with chronic pelvic pain, but may stressful events in the presence of depression may worsen pelvic pain.
- Prior physical or sexual abuse: May alter brain signals of pain and cause pelvic pain especially during stress.
Neurologic
- Neuropathic pain: Dysfunction of the nervous system in the absence of any other cause.
How is chronic pelvic pain diagnosed?
Diagnosing the cause of chronic pelvic pain is difficult because the pain may be due to one or a combination of causes of chronic pain. Therefore, diagnosing the cause of chronic pelvic pain can take a few months.
The most important steps in diagnosing the cause of chronic pelvic pain is obtaining a medical history and performing a physical exam. To aid in the diagnosis of your chronic pelvic pain, other tools, such as lab tests and radiologic imaging, may be added to your evaluation along with a questionnaire.
How is chronic pelvic pain treated in Park Ridge, IL?
Chronic pelvic pain is difficult to diagnose and treat since there can be a single cause or multiple causes. Some of these causes are diagnoses of exclusion, so treatment can be empiric with or without resolution of symptoms. A step by step treatment plan will be made when you see your physician for a consultation, however, time is necessary to help treat chronic pelvic pain.
Treatment plans may vary based on age and childbearing plans.
CCRM Fertility of Park Ridge
1700 Luther Lane, Suite 3150
Park Ridge, IL 60068
Phone: (847) 593-1040
Fax: (630) 428-0336
Hours
Monday – Thursday: 6:00am – 4:00pm
Friday: 6:00am – 3:00pm