Abdominal pain can be caused by something simple, like a pulled muscle or a food you ate. But severe pain, or pain you can’t explain, may be a sign of a serious issue. Appendicitis and bowel obstruction are examples of problems that need immediate medical care. If you have pain that doesn’t feel normal, don’t ignore it. See your doctor. Get emergency treatment if you need immediate help.

In some cases, abdominal pain may overlap with conditions that also cause pelvic pain, requiring a thorough and integrated evaluation to determine the root cause.

What Causes Pelvic Pain?

Pelvic pain is frequently associated with women and problems in their reproductive tract. But the term encompasses all the structures in your lower abdomen, including nerves, connective tissues, muscles, and your urinary and digestive systems. Additionally, men can develop a condition called chronic pelvic pain syndrome.

When your pain lasts three to six months, you have chronic pelvic pain. Chronic pelvic pain may be associated with an ongoing medical condition. However, it also develops when the acute pain caused by the original underlying condition or injury affects your nerves and lowers your threshold for pain.

These are only a few examples of the many possible causes of pelvic pain:

• Prostatitis
• Recurrent urinary tract infections
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Interstitial cystitis
• Fibromyalgia
• Pelvic inflammatory disease
• Endometriosis
• Uterine fibroids
• Ovarian cysts
• Piriformis syndrome

Pudendal neuralgia relieves inflammation, promotes healing, and goes directly to the source of your pain: the nerves transmitting pain signals to your brain.

Treatments such as spinal cord stimulation and nerve blocks stop the nerve signals from reaching your brain. The underlying condition is still there, but your pain significantly diminishes.

These are a few examples of your treatment options for alleviating pelvic pain:

• Epidural steroid injections
• Pudendal nerve block
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Radiofrequency neurotomy
• Dorsal root ganglion stimulation
• Trigger point injections
• Platelet-rich plasma injections

You can also develop chronic pelvic pain following an injury to your back or pelvic region.

What Other Symptoms Occur with Pelvic Pain?

The gynecological problems that cause pelvic pain often result in abnormal uterine bleeding or changes in menstrual periods. Depending on the underlying cause, you may experience problems such as nausea, constipation, and frequent urination or difficulty urinating.

You may also develop abdominal bloating and aching muscles. When a nerve is involved—such as in pudendal neuralgia—it’s common to have symptoms such as pain, tingling, or numbness along the affected nerve pathway.

How is Pelvic Pain Treated?

The team at the University Pain and Spine Center can help you get relief from pelvic pain no matter what condition causes the problem. They offer numerous treatments that effectively relieve inflammation, promote healing, and go directly to the source of your pain: the nerves transmitting pain signals to your brain.

For patients with nerve-related pelvic pain or conditions like pudendal neuralgia, advanced therapies such as spinal cord stimulation and nerve blocks are available. These treatments stop the nerve signals from reaching your brain. The underlying condition is still there, but your pain significantly diminishes.

These are a few examples of your treatment options for alleviating pelvic pain:

• Epidural steroid injections
• Pudendal nerve block
• Spinal cord stimulation
• Radiofrequency neurotomy
• Dorsal root ganglion stimulation
• Trigger point injections
• Platelet-rich plasma injections (PRP injections)

After reviewing your medical history and performing a thorough examination, your University Pain and Spine Center doctor determines which treatment is best for you.