Pelvic Pain

Pelvic Pain

There are many different things that can cause pelvic pain. As with any other area of the body, the success of treatment depends on locating the true source of the problem, which is often not where the pain is.

In women, pelvic pain can be related to uterine fibroids or ovarian cysts. It can be a long-term consequence of pelvic surgery such as Cesarean section or hysterectomy (or the removal of uterine fibroids or ovarian cysts). And the process of childbirth can put so much mechanical stress on the pelvic connective tissues to cause chronic tension and asymmetry, even in otherwise healthy women. And let’s not forget things like accidents and sports injuries, which can cause chronic musculoskeletal imbalances that contribute to pelvic pain. Pelvic pain can also be caused by chronic inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, interstitial cystitis, and chronic pelvic inflammatory disease. Fortunately, most of these conditions respond well to Visceral Manipulation.

In men, pelvic pain can be related to problems with the prostate gland, the urinary bladder, or the rectum. It can also be related to scar tissue from accidents, sports injuries, and surgery. And of course, men can also develop chronic inflammatory conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease and prostatitis, that result in pelvic pain. Again, Visceral Manipulation is very gentle and safe and can be extremely effective at helping reduce or in some cases, resolve pelvic pain. 

The first and most important step in addressing pelvic pain in both men and women is ruling out pathology – things like infections and cancer or other tumors. This is why, if you have not already had a thorough medical work up, we may want to order imaging and/or refer you to your primary care provider or another physician to rule out these conditions. Your long-term health is our primary concern.

Some of our patients have undergone gender-reassignment surgery, also known as sex-reassignment surgery. We are well-versed in the ways in which these surgeries alter the original anatomy and we understand how to work with the tissues both pre-and post-operatively to support the body in healing and help restore healthy tissue flexibility and glide so that the pelvis and spine can maintain normal symmetric function. We are honored to assist trans individuals with their health care needs however we can.

We understand that pelvic pain can be a source of emotional discomfort or embarrassment for some. And we know that some people may feel uncomfortable with hands-on, manual therapy treatment of the pelvis. We prioritize maintaining a comfortable environment and we are very careful to be sure our communication is clear, gentle, patient, and kind. We explain our findings and the techniques to be used and we always ask permission before touching the body in a sensitive area.

If you are struggling with pelvic pain, we encourage you to reach out to us. You may find Visceral Manipulation to be an effective way to control (or in some cases, resolve) your pain, so you can re-claim your quality of life.