Pelvic pain is pain that affects one or more areas of the lower abdomen and pelvis . Depending on its cause, the pain may come and go without warning or with each menstrual cycle, or it may be constant. Pelvic pain can range from mild and troubling to severe enough to interfere with physical or sexual activities, daily responsibilities, family relationships, and your general sense of well-being. Chronic pelvic pain is generally used to describe pelvic pain that has lasted for at least 6 months.

Since there are many possible causes of chronic female pelvic pain, see your health professional for thorough testing. Although your condition may be easily diagnosed during your pelvic exam, Pap test, and blood and urine screens, expect that you might have a series of medical appointments and tests. Early on, you're likely to have a transvaginal ultrasound, which is useful for detecting many types of pelvic growths and abnormalities.

Chronic pelvic pain is most commonly caused by endometriosis, adenomyosis, uterine fibroids, or scarring (adhesions) in the abdomen or pelvis following a pelvic infection or surgery. Some women have pelvic pain linked to diseases of the urinary tract or bowel, including irritable bowel syndrome. Sometimes, women have chronic pelvic pain that has no clear cause after thorough testing. At other times, once a painful condition is treated, the affected nerves don't stop transmitting pain signals.

If you have pelvic pain, your health professional will consider a broad range of possible causes. Female pelvic pain is typically caused by a medical condition involving the reproductive organs, the urinary tract, or the lower gastrointestinal tract. Some causes are always short-term (acute), and others can become long-lasting (chronic) unless successfully treated. Female pelvic pain can be a difficult-to-solve medical mystery.

Treatment for chronic female pelvic pain can be approached in two ways: treating a known, specific cause of the pain or treating the pain itself as a medical condition. If possible, your health professional will combine the two approaches.3 Your health professional may find one or more conditions that could be causing or worsening your pelvic pain.

A recent internal quality review (October 2003), revealed among all - comers patients with chronic pelvic pain, the average time for >50% pain relief was 208 days. Seventy percent of patients were able to reach this level.

Chronic pain may be continuous, or it may come and go, but its hallmark is that it lasts for months or years. Such pain is commonly associated with a chronic condition, such as migraines, arthritis, or ischemia. More than 6 million Americans experience repeated angina attacks, which means that they, too, may struggle with chronic pain. Chronic pain can lead to enormous costs physically, emotionally, and financially, for example, if pain causes you to take sick days or go on disability.

Yes, as physicians in an academic center, we do research that will ultimately lead to more effective therapies for patients with chronic pelvic pain. You may be asked to participate in such a study. You have no obligation to do so. Click here if you would like to learn more about the Center's current research or here to learn about important research in pelvic pain.

According to the American Pain Foundation, chronic pain afflicts an estimated 70 million Americans resulting in 515 million lost workdays each year and $100 billion in costs. In addition to the direct costs, chronic pain diminishes the quality of life for many patients. Using chiropractic adjustments and a treatment known as Sympathetic Therapy, we work with the patient to help provide symptomatic relief from chronic intractable pain.

By far, the most often reported problem was sleep disturbances. Also high on the list were depression, changes in appetite, and weight gain. Loss of energy, or lethargy was a big complaint as well. Others reported feeling very isolated, and disruption in family harmony and/or mechanics (due to loss of mobility), and a deep sense of loss.

There has been a lot of confusion about what the best relapse prevention treatment plan is for someone in recovery with a chronic pain condition, who also requires psychoactive prescription medication.