Pelvic pain

Pain in the pelvic area can be of a completely different nature and indicate various pathologies depending on the nature and localization of the pain syndrome.

Many people suffer from pelvic pain. Especially women. Of course, they have more risk factors, especially childbirth, during which the pelvic bones separate and can hurt. Why does pelvic pain occur?

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What are the causes of pelvic pain?

This could be:

• Injury
• Inflammation of tendons and joints
• Chronic diseases
• Infections in the body (even hidden ones)
• Tumors around the joints
• Disturbances in the composition of synovial fluid

All these symptoms can cause severe pain in the joints and lead to their destruction.

What diseases cause pain in the pelvic area?

Let's consider the most common types of pain and causes of pain in the pelvic area. So, a sharp severe pain in the right side of the abdomen, which is accompanied by fever, nausea or even vomiting, indicates an attack of appendicitis and requires urgent medical attention. Pelvic pain in women has certain characteristics. So, spasmodic pain attacks in the lower abdomen, as well as in the lumbar region, are present in many women during menstruation. If the pain is bearable, this is considered normal and does not require medical intervention. If the pain is very strong and causes significant discomfort, it is recommended to take antispasmodic painkillers. During ovulation, some women also experience a short-term mild pain syndrome, which goes away on its own and also does not require treatment.

In addition, the causes of pain in the pelvic area may be associated with a violation of the functionality of the intestine. Such pain is accompanied by characteristic signs: bloating, constipation or, conversely, intestinal disorder. In acute clinical pictures and complications, such pain requires a doctor's consultation. In the early stages, it is treated with special diets and medications that are sold without a prescription.

Another cause of pelvic pain may be inflammation of the bladder or urinary tract. Inflammation is easily recognized by the fact that pain is also present during urination.

The formation of kidney stones can also cause pain in the lower abdomen.

When the pelvic joint wears out, it becomes brittle and vulnerable. Then a sharp pain appears in the pelvic area. The person does not understand what is happening to him.

To eliminate pelvic pain, you must first find out the causes of the diseases that provoke it.

Pelvic pain can also be caused by inflamed cartilage, which also tends to deteriorate and wear out. When this happens, the head of the pelvic bone can become exposed, and then it rubs against another bone – the pelvic socket. This mutual friction causes pain.

Pelvic pain can also be caused by joints – sore joints. Inflamed, they can be the cause of pain in the pelvic area.

Pain in the pelvic area may be due to the fact that the pelvic joint is damaged. But here's the paradox: the joint is destroyed, but the pain may not be felt in it, but rather transmitted throughout the thigh and even into the shin.

The lower back (or more correctly, the lumbar spine) can be the cause of pelvic pain. Again, this pain is difficult to recognize, since it may bother not the pelvic area, but the back.

What is the pelvis and how is it structured?

This is one of the areas of the spine, which is located at its base. The pelvis helps the lower limbs (legs) to attach well to the skeleton. The pelvis is an excellent repository for the internal organs of a woman, which are vital.

The pelvis consists of two pelvic bones, as well as the coccyx and the sacrum. These parts of the skeleton are connected by joints.

Before a person reaches 18 years of age, the role of such connections is performed by cartilages. After 18 years, they harden and turn into bones. They are called pelvic bones.

What are the symptoms associated with pelvic pain?

People who are bothered by pain in the pelvic area lose mobility. The hips begin to bend poorly, pain in any direction does not allow movement. The person feels stiffness and discomfort in movements.

This happens because the knee and hip are connected by nerve endings.

People who experience pain in the pelvic area know very well that these pain syndromes do not come on their own. Most often, they are accompanied by certain symptoms that cause no less discomfort than the pain itself. Symptoms of pain in the pelvic area often begin with limited mobility. Since any movement intensifies the pain, it interferes with normal movement, which causes both physical and emotional discomfort. A person feels some stiffness and limitation in physical activity, which is why he often has to give up his usual daily routine and planned activities. In addition, pain in the pelvic area can radiate to the knee, which is why the knee may bend and function poorly. This happens because the pelvic area and the knee are connected by nerve endings. In women, the symptoms of pain in the pelvic area are complicated by the fact that it can be the cause of many gynecological pathologies. Therefore, most often women with such complaints consult a gynecologist. But do not forget that some symptoms of pain in the pelvic area may indicate intestinal infections or kidney problems. If there is an elevated temperature, then there may be an inflammatory process in the pelvic organs and with such symptoms you should contact the appropriate specialist.

Pain in the pelvic area

Pain in the pelvic area is pain that is localized in the area below the navel. The causes of pain can be varied, because there are different organs in the pelvis, and in addition, pathological changes in other organ systems sometimes “radiate” pain to this area. There are a number of observations when pain in the pelvic area can indicate very serious disorders, some of which are even life-threatening. Therefore, if the pain is too sharp and sudden, you should immediately seek medical help. Diseases in the pelvic area tend to be accompanied by bleeding, atypical discharge, the occurrence and development of tumors or infectious processes. Pain in the pelvic area can also indicate that certain changes are occurring in the body, which can later have undesirable consequences and complications. Also, pain in the pelvic area can occur as a result of previous injuries or operations, especially in people sensitive to changes in weather conditions, a slight aching pain may periodically appear. In such cases, you should take painkillers if the pain becomes unbearable.

Pain in the pelvic area on the left

Pain in the pelvic area on the left may indicate pancreatitis. In such cases, the pain is characterized as dull aching, localized in the lower left abdomen and becomes more noticeable after eating heavy food or overeating. Also, pain in the pelvic area on the left may indicate problems with the spleen. These problems are most often caused by a change in the size of the organ or its trauma, which can lead to a rupture of the spleen. Such pain requires immediate medical attention. Often, pain in the pelvic area on the left indicates infectious processes occurring in the intestine. Such pain will be accompanied by bloating, a feeling of heaviness in the abdomen and impaired intestinal functionality. Urolithiasis or pyelonephritis can provoke pain in the lower abdomen on the left. Such diseases are characterized by pulling or cutting pain and are accompanied by frequent urges to urinate. Urination itself is quite difficult and painful with these diseases. In women, pain in the pelvic area on the left may be a sign of gynecological diseases. If you experience any painful sensations, you should definitely consult a doctor, since almost all vital organs are located in the pelvic area.

Pain in the pelvic area on the right

It is important to remember that all organs are supported by muscles and ligaments, which can be in spasm and cause pain. Pain in the pelvic area on the right may indicate liver problems. Liver diseases such as cholecystitis and hepatitis manifest themselves as pain in the lower right abdomen. Kidney and urinary tract diseases are also characterized by abdominal pain. Depending on the accompanying symptoms and type of pain, it is possible to determine the presence of diseases such as pyelonephritis or urolithiasis. In some individual cases, oncological diseases of the pelvic organs also manifest themselves as pain in the right abdomen. If the pain in the pelvic area on the right does not go away within two hours even with the use of painkillers, it makes sense to call an ambulance, since some pathologies of the pelvic organs can be life-threatening without timely medical intervention. There are a number of accompanying symptoms that indicate that the pain in the pelvic area is associated with dysfunction of an organ. These symptoms include general weakness, dizziness, fever, pain when touching the abdomen, tension in the abdominal walls, increased heart rate or breathing, or increased blood pressure.

Pelvic pain after childbirth

They can bother 30% of women. What is the reason? It can be a divergence of the pelvic bones, muscle tissue injuries, bruises.

In this case, you need to stock up on a bandage to tighten the bones of the pelvic area and lie down on a comfortable, but flat and hard surface. This will relieve the pain for some time until you get medical help.

When pelvic pain after childbirth subsides, it can return with the slightest injury or strain. It is better to be careful and not take risks.

Diagnosis of pelvic pain

There are several types of pain in the pelvic area. Sharp abdominal pain can be a consequence of injuries, surgeries, or infectious diseases. As a rule, such pain is systematic and lasts up to three months. If the pain bothers for a longer period, then such pain is called chronic. If the pain syndrome recurred no more than three times over a period of three months, then such pain is considered recurrent. Doctors try to determine the type of pain by asking the patient questions, carefully studying the anamnesis and conducting a general external examination. Since there are a large number of organs in the pelvic area, it is very important at the initial stage to determine the origin of the pain as accurately as possible in order to understand what further diagnostics of pelvic pain is needed. If the visible causes of pain do not indicate problems in the reproductive system, a number of tests are prescribed, such as blood, urine, feces, to diagnose diseases of the abdominal organs. Diagnosis of pelvic pain in women can be done using laparoscopy, ultrasound or gynecological examination, as such localizations of pain in women in most cases indicate pathologies of the reproductive system. Also, in the absence of any physical cause of pain, it is important to remember that such pain can have psychological prerequisites. Severe stressful situations, conflict relationships or problems in the family are often the causes of pain in the pelvic area. In such cases, corrective work with a psychologist is recommended.

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Pelvic Pain Treatment

If pain occurs in the pelvic area, most often a person suspects what it may be caused by, or the location and nature of the pain indicate this. Depending on the characteristics of the pain, you need to contact such doctors as a gastroenterologist, urologist, gynecologist (for women), traumatologist, neurologist. In the future, the doctor may refer you to another specialist if during the diagnosis it is determined that the pain has a different origin. Sometimes it happens that the problem lies in the disease of not one organ, but several at once. Since the pelvic organs are located close to each other, they can directly affect each other. In this case, a comprehensive approach to treatment and observation by several doctors at the same time are needed. When collecting data, special attention should be paid to the characteristics of the pain. If you know exactly about such indicators as intensity, frequency of pain, situations or positions that worsen it, type of pain, then you can prescribe the correct treatment for pelvic pain without additional interventions in the body, through surgical manipulations. With pain in the pelvic area, hospitalization is usually not required, with the exception of particularly severe cases or cases requiring surgical intervention.

Consequences of pelvic pain

They can be quite serious. If the pelvic pain is accompanied by joint diseases, a person may limp and have difficulty walking.

The joints seem to become stone, hard, and difficult to bend. It is especially difficult for a person to move if he or she suddenly changes position. For example, if he or she was sitting and suddenly stood up or suddenly bent over. Then the pain can become unbearable.

Pelvic pain can be associated with muscle injury, which can make the muscles very painful.

A very serious cause of pelvic pain is injury and fractures.

If these fractures cause pain, you should see a doctor for further examination and treatment.

When the soft tissues that surround the pelvic ring are surrounded by tumors, pain can occur suddenly and severely.

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How to prevent pelvic pain?

Prevention of pelvic pain consists of preventive measures regarding the work of all organs located in this area. First, it is necessary to exclude the possibility of infectious diseases. Which are quite often the reason for visiting a doctor. To do this, it is necessary to avoid hypothermia and rationally assess the degree of risk when in contact with the source of infection. At the first signs of infectious diseases, immediate treatment should follow, since an infection that is not treated in time tends to complicate the work of many organs. You should also give up smoking. Few people know that nicotine can provoke not only lung cancer, but also cancer of the gallbladder and bladder. In order to prevent sexually transmitted infections, you should remember about contraception and try to regularly do control tests. It is worth wearing comfortable and warm clothes. Sometimes, with constant compression of the pelvic area with clothes, changes in the organs can occur. Doctors also recommend carefully monitoring your diet, trying not to overeat and not to consume harmful and heavy foods too often, in order to avoid problems with the gastrointestinal tract. Some diseases of the pelvic area are caused by genetic predisposition. It is worth finding out which diseases are most common in the family and especially carefully monitoring the work of those organs, the dysfunction of which family members suffered from.