Chronic pelvic pain – more options for treatment than you think

The patients who come to me are really suffering. Pelvic pain can often feel like sharp or burning pain in the groin area. 

Women are most likely to get it, but men can, too. Pelvic pain is often caused by inflammatory bowel syndrome, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, urinary tract infection, kidney stones or interstitial cystitis. Those are just a few of the conditions that cause pain in the groin or pelvic area.

The problem is, some pelvic pain conditions aren’t so easily diagnosed. After patients have seen their primary care provider, their OB/GYN or urologist, they still don’t have an answer. That’s when they come to see me. If you’ve had this intense pain for three to six months, I can offer many interventions that can give you significant pain relief.

Adhesions, which are internal scar tissue from a past surgery, can often be the source of pain. Men can get adhesions from chronic prostatitis or prostate surgery. Women might develop adhesions from endometriosis or past uterine surgeries. Women who have been sexually abused may have severe pelvic pain, with no specific cause.

I’ll look for possible causes of muscle or nerve pain – and ask questions about what you’ve noticed about the pain, when it’s worse or better. Then we can start treating the symptoms. If you’re having muscle spasms, muscle relaxant medications will help. If it’s nerve pain, medications that can help include antidepressants and anti-seizure medications.

A special type of physical therapy can help with adhesions, as it helps loosen up the scar tissue, which can help relieve the pain.

Nerve blocks that help pelvic pain

When there’s still no pain relief, we turn to nerve blocks (so-called because they “block” the pain at the source). These are medical procedures –minimally invasive – with NO incision and NO sutures. A nerve block procedure involves injecting an anesthetic onto the nerves causing the pain. We’ll use x-rays to make sure we treat the exact spot.

These are nerve blocks we perform:

Ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric block: These nerves serve the skin between the thigh and the abdomen. If those nerves have been injured, they may the source of pain. The injury may have occurred during a previous surgery or medical procedure, including laparoscopic surgery. Because these nerves extend deep into the pelvic area, you may feel the pain there — a sharp, burning pain in the groin.

The superior hypogastric plexus block: These nerves involve the colon, rectum, testes, penis, prostate, perineum, vulva, vagina, uterus, urethra and bladder. The block helps with pain in these regions, and can also help with pain due to endometriosis, radiation therapy, or cancer that has metastasized to the pelvis.

Ganglion of Impar block: Treats burning pain in the “seat” region — pelvic, genital, perineal and anal pain. The nerve block can reduce or even eliminate this chronic pain.

We also provide trigger point injections for intense muscle spasms in the pelvic area.

The spinal cord stimulator is another very effective option for lower back and pelvic pain. The stimulator is a device that allows the patient to control pain relief. The device sends electric signals to the spinal cord that numbs the pain.

Chronic Pain Management Program

For many people, there is a strong link between stress and pain. Cognitive behavioral therapy can help relieve pain that is worse due to stress by helping patients learn better coping mechanisms. That’s where the Chronic Pain Management Program can help.

People who have had chronic pain for a very, very long time often have depression, anxiety and sleep disorders. That’s because chronic pain takes on a life of its own, and actually becomes a disease. We can help with a lifestyle overhaul – providing tricks and tools to manage their pain. We can help you develop better ways to cope with everyday stress. This program has helped many, many people take control of their pain – and get some real relief.

If you’ve had severe chronic pain for a long time, I highly recommend this Chronic Pain Management Program. You might be surprised at little things you’ve never considered may be fueling your pain.

Our goal is to see you feeling better, with far less – or hopefully no pain. I hope you’ll let us help you. Even if we can’t eliminate your pain, we can vastly improve your quality of life – and the pain’s severity. I promise that we can make a big difference for you.

Everyone deserves to live a pain-free life.

Is it time to speak with a pelvic pain specialist?

To make an appointment with, Kimberley Haynes-Henson, MD, please call 800-922-0000.