Causes of Chronic Pelvic Pain
Pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis that lasts for more than six months is often referred to as Chronic Pelvic Pain or CPP. For many women, the pain comes and goes and may be associated with their menstrual cycles. For others, the pain is constant and it may interfere with normal daily living – disrupting relationships with family and friends, limiting physical and/or sexual activity and their ability to meet everyday responsibilities.
The causes of chronic pelvic pain are often times baffling. Some conditions that may be responsible for CPP include:
Endometriosis – abnormal growth of the endometrial tissue, which lines the uterus, in other parts of the body (i.e., fallopian tubes, ovaries, other organs in the abdomen)
Uterine fibroids – non-cancerous growths in the uterus
Scar tissue – the result of previous abdominal surgery
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease – inflammation or infection of the female pelvic organs (i.e., uterus, fallopian tubes, or ovaries) due to the presence of bacteria
Bowel or Urinary Tract Diseases – such as Irritable Bowel Syndrome and urinary tract infections
Emotional – often experienced by women who are or have been sexually or physically abused or assaulted
Diagnosing the cause of CPP is often done by process of elimination. Sometimes, no cause for the pain is found and treatment may be limited to pain management.
A number of published case studies have documented the positive effects that chiropractic adjustments can have on women who experience CPP. One such study showed a 70% reduction in symptoms after only six weeks of care. Other research points to lower sacral nerve root impairment is implicated in CPP; chiropractic care may relieve this impairment and, therefore, the pain.
Please let us know if you are experiencing any of the symptoms of CPP on your next visit so we can discuss your situation.
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