Chronic pelvic pain is often a result of more than one health issue. Treating just one problem may not relieve your chronic pelvic pain.
Dealing with your chronic pelvic pain starts with finding the right doctor. Chronic pelvic pain involves several body systems: the bladder, the colon, the uterus, and more. It may be difficult to find a pelvic pain specialist in your area. Ask your regular doctor or gynecologist for a referral, look into local teaching hospitals, or do some research online. If you don’t have a specific diagnosis yet, try starting with the International Pelvic Pain Society.
If you do have a specific diagnosis, treatment can vary.
- Endometriosis is often treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen. Hormone therapy can help shrink endometrial tissue. Surgery may be recommended to remove growths.
- Interstitial cystitis may be treated with antihistamines, antidepressants or antiseizure medication (for pain), or Elmiron, a drug specifically developed to coat the bladder surface.
- Pelvic floor tension myalgia is often treated with physical therapy — to help realign the pelvis and strengthen muscles. Botox injections can help prevent muscle spasms.
- Pelvic congestion syndrome is usually treated first with a progestin hormone to decrease pain and shrink veins. If that doesn’t work, problem veins can be closed, providing relief.
- Vulvodynia and vulvar vestibulitis treatments focus on relieving the pain with antiseizure or antidepressant medications. Topical lidocaine and other drugs can also provide relief. Surgery to remove nerve endings is a successful last resort.
Many women who suffer from chronic pelvic pain have had success using natural remedies to treat their pain. Talk to your doctor or specialist about:
- Relaxation exercises.
- Cutting red meat and dairy out of your diet. Some women with endometriosis have found relief after eliminating hormones from their diets.
- Switching to a low-acid diet. Exclude bladder-irritating foods like coffee, tea, citrus, peppers, and chocolate may relieve symptoms in women with interstitial cystitis.
- Acupuncture has been useful in relieving pain for women who suffer from endometriosis and/or vulvodynia.
- Biofeedback-guided Kegel exercises have been successful for almost seventy-five percent of women who suffer from pelvic floor tension myalgia.