Abdominal/Pelvic Pain
Abdominal/pelvic pain can be described, just to name a few, as sharp, dull-aching, throbbing, cramping, or pressure-like when it arises. When this pain persist over the course of a considerable amount of time, it is classified as chronic pain, which can be an indicator of a present underlying issue.
Causes of chronic abdominal or pelvic pain
Common causes of chronic abdominal or pelvic pain include:
- Endometriosis: occurs when the endometrial lining grows outside the uterus, which can cause scar tissue and adhesions.
- Irritable Bowel Syndrome: a disorder affecting the muscle contractions of the bowel. The symptoms of IBS, such as bloating, constipation or diarrhea, can cause pelvic pain.
- Crohn’s Disease and Ulcerative Colitis: chronic inflammatory bowel diseases which are characterized by inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Interstitial Cystitis: recurring pain in the bladder, and a frequent urge to urinate.
- Celiac Disease: an autoimmune disorder that is triggered by eating gluten (wheat, barley, rye and other grains). This immune reaction creates inflammation that damages the small intestine’s lining over time.
Diagnosis of chronic abdominal or pelvic pain
Our physicians are board certified, and are dedicated to giving you a comprehensive exam that will aid in diagnosing the cause of your symptoms. Using advanced diagnostic techniques, our doctors will find out the reason for your pain, and then get you on the road to better health right away. Here are a few steps our physicians use when completing their comprehensive exams:
- We take your complete medical history to identify or rule out possible causes of your pain
- We conduct a thorough physical exam
- We carefully review your symptoms, including how you would describe the pain (burning, achy, dull, etc.) and whether certain positions or activities make the pain feel better or worse
- We may order diagnostic tests, including MRI or CT scan, to help us diagnose your chronic pain
Once we have an accurate diagnosis, we will work together with you to create a treatment plan that will effectively address your chronic abdominal or pelvic pain.
Possible treatments for chronic abdominal or pelvic pain
Treatments that we offer for chronic abdominal pain include:
- Biofeedback
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Intrathecal Pumps
- Radiofrequency ablation
- Trigger point injection
- Epidural steroid injection
- Alternative therapies
- Medication management
Are you or a loved one living with lower back pain?
Are you or a loved one living with abdominal or pelvic pain? You don’t have to live in chronic daily pain. Pain and Spine Specialists can help—give our board-certified doctors a call today at 301-703-8767 (Maryland) or 724-603-3560 (Pittsburgh area).