What's Causing Your Pelvic Pain?

Is your pelvic pain making it hard to get through the day? Many women experience pelvic health issues connected to their pelvic floor, which connects to the spine and can be the source of a number of different kinds of debilitating pain.

At One Accord Physical Therapy in Casa Grande, Phoenix, Mesa, and Gilbert, Arizona, our team of professional physical therapists can help diagnose and treat the source of your pelvic pain.

What causes pelvic pain?

While some cases of pelvic pain can be caused by your digestive, reproductive, or urinary systems, in many cases chronic pelvic pain originates from the muscles and connective tissue (ligaments) in your pelvic floor structure. Common causes of pelvic pain that should be investigated include:

• Reproductive issues. Endometriosis and adenomyosis both are cellular growth issues that can cause pain when the uterine lining’s cells grow in the wrong place.They can bind tissues together, causing cramps and pelvic pain. Uterine fibroids can also cause pelvic pain.
• Urinary tract issues. Urinary tract infections and bladder inflammation (cystitis) can also cause significant pelvic pain. UTIs can be treated with antibiotics, but bladder infections may require more care as there is often no infection to cure – just irritation.
• Bowel issues. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other intestinal issues can present as pelvic pain, with pain radiating from the lower bowel throughout the pelvic region. 
• Sexually transmitted diseases: STDs can cause pelvic pain and lead to pelvic inflammatory disease. Scar tissue left behind from a serious infection can cause chronic pelvic pain. 
• Pelvic floor issues. Pelvic support issues involve muscles and ligaments that may be stretched or spasming. Levator syndrome includes spasms of a specific muscle called the levator ani, which can cause intense bouts of pain that last around 20 minutes. 

How can pelvic pain be treated?

Pelvic pain caused by infection can be treated with antibiotics, and pain itself can be treated with anti-inflammatories and pain relievers. However, if you have pelvic floor dysfunction caused by muscle and ligament problems, or issues with the connection between the pelvis and the spine, you can most likely benefit from physical therapy.

Our team will study your medical history and symptoms and create a unique plan designed to help you live a pain-free life. Your plan can include exercises, functional training, soft tissue and joint mobilization, gentle spinal manipulation, and even dry needling of the soft tissues in your pelvis.

If you need help with pelvic pain or other pelvic floor issues, contact one of our Arizona locations in Mesa, Gilbert, Phoenix, or Casa Grande to book an appointment today.