Abdominal or Pelvic Pain Specialists

Causes Of Abdominal or 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 persists 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. 

General causes can be: 

• 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 intestines lining over time. 

Causes Specific to Men: 

• Prostate Cancer: a type of cancer that occurs in the prostate, which is a walnut sized gland that produces seminal fluid. Pelvic pain can also happen when the cancer has spread to the bones. 

• Prostatitis: Inflammation that causes swelling of the prostate. Other areas near the prostate can also swell, resulting in pelvic/abdominal pain, and can lead to difficult or even painful urination. 

Causes Specific to Women: 

• Endometriosis: occurs when the endometrial lining grows outside the uterus, which can cause scar tissue and adhesions. 

• Ovarian Cancer: the growth of cancerous cells on the organs that produce eggs, known as the ovaries. Ovarian cancer frequently goes undetected until it has spread to the pelvis and abdominal area, at which point pain can start. 

• Cervical Cancer: a malignant tumor of the cervix, located at the lower part of the uterus and connects to the vagina. 

• Uterine Fibroids: noncancerous growths of the uterus. These fibroids can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, prolonged periods, and pelvic pain. 

Symptoms Associated with Abdominal or Pelvic Pain 

Numerous symptoms can be related to pelvic pain, such as: 

• Fevor or chills 
• Bloating or gas 
• Constipation or diarrhea 
• Vaginal bleeding 
• Menstrual cramps 
• Pain in the hip or groin area 

Risk Factors 

Anyone is at risk for developing pelvic pain. Many conditions that lead to pelvic or abdominal pain can be genetic in nature or caused by other contributing circumstances that a person has no control over. The following are some of those factors. 

• Irregular periods 
• Heavy or long menstrual flows 
• History of endometriosis or miscarriages 
• Diagnosis of anxiety or depression 

Diagnosis of 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. We have treatment locations in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

Treatment Options 

• Biofeedback: The idea behind Biofeedback is that people can gain control over what are typically considered involuntary functions, and therefore gain control over their health. These involuntary functions are things like blood pressure and heart rate. If you are able to have more control over your body then you will be able to regulate the functions that trigger pain. 

• Spinal Cord Stimulation: This is a procedure that delivers small electrical signals to the spinal cord through the nerves, to mask the pain signals. A spinal cord stimulator may be an option when other traditional pain management options have not worked. 

• Radiofrequency Ablation: RFA is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat to minimize and stop pain signals from moving throughout the body. Nerve endings that cause pain are “burned” so the pain signals are not sent to the brain. 

• Trigger Point Injection: TPI is a procedure used to treat areas where spasms and inflammation occur in the skeletal muscle. A trigger point injection is delivered directly to the trigger point in the body. 

• Epidural Steroid Injection: ESIs deliver anesthetic and steroid medication directly to the epidural space in the back. Epidural steroid injections numb the inflamed nerves and prevent pain signals from being sent to the brain. 

• Alternative Therapies: For those who would like to try, alternative therapies can be easily integrated with traditional treatments to manage their pain. These therapies can minimize the need for opioid medication for many. 

• Medication Management: Managing medication is a critical aspect of treating chronic pain. Medication management is provided by the pain management specialists monitoring your care to ensure that you are on the right medications, at the appropriate dosage.