Pelvic Pain Centre
A multi-professional team approach
Chronic pelvic pain is pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis that lasts more than 6 months. Chronic pain can come and go, or it can be constant. Sometimes chronic pelvic pain follows a regular cycle, it might occur during menstrual periods, before or after eating, during urination, bowel movements or sex. It affects both males and females. Men can experience chronic discomfort or pain in the groin, genitals, perineum or bladder. They may have pain on urination and ejaculation.
Many feel anxious about the situation. Chronic pelvic pain is as common as low back pain and migraine, and significantly affects quality of life and the ability to carry out everyday activities. Chronic pelvic pain patients are often dismissed too easily and their complaints are trivialised.
What causes chronic pelvic pain?
Whether the pain is acute or chronic, it is important to have it diagnosed and appropriately treated.
Pelvic pain can be caused by a variety of conditions including endometriosis, adhesions, irritable bowel syndrome, painful bladder syndrome and musculoskeletal conditions. It can be difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of pain. For some people with chronic pelvic pain, no cause is found.
Diagnosis of pelvic pain
At our Pelvic Pain Centre, Dr Wartan who has been running Chronic Pelvic Pain Multidisciplinary and Multiprofessional Clinics since 2004, offers:
- expert assessment
- a full medical history of your pain, pelvic organs function and impact of pain on your daily life
- a thorough clinical examination including the pelvic floor
- seamless access to appropriate radiological investigations
Treatment of pelvic pain
The goal of treatment is to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life. Dr Wartan, with her expertise in the field of chronic pelvic pain and her multi-professional team including a highly-experienced women’s health physiotherapist and counsellor, will be able to offer:
- a full explanation of the pain
- an individual management plan, including various methods of treatments
- multimodal painkillers regimes including access to latest medications
- pudendal nerve block
- various relevant nerve blocks
- abdominal muscle blocks
- piriformis and other relevant blocks for the posterior pelvic wall and lower back which frequently are associated with pelvic pain
- specialist pelvic physical therapy
- counselling when pain has an impact on your mood
A young lady attended the Pelvic Pain Clinic with ongoing unilateral cramping lower abdominal pain radiating down the inner thigh, experienced since her teens. She was diagnosed with Endometriosis and had laparoscopic treatment of the condition but the pain restarted again a year later. Other treatments including Mirena coil and medications failed to help her pain. She had a demanding job and was struggling; her quality of life was poor.
Following a comprehensive medical history analysis, she received a thorough examination of the abdomen, pelvic floor and the spine. A diagnosis of chronic pelvic pain was reached with pain generators including myofascial abdominal wall and pelvic floor pain as well as viscero-somatic hyperalgesia with central nervous system sensitisation.
A detailed patient tailored management plan was formulated with input from the patient to address her pain and interference with daily life and work.
Accordingly, she received new medications and two nerve and abdominal muscle blocks. She was referred to our women’s health physiotherapist where she received pelvic floor myofascial work. Following those treatments, the patient reported complete pain relief with pain-free menstrual periods; she started a new full time job and is managing very well.
Do not let pelvic pain rule your life. Dr Wartan manages countless numbers of patients with chronic pelvic pain and discomfort. Call today for more information or to book a consultation.