The pelvis is the area of the body below the abdomen and above the thighs. This area includes a lot of muscles, organs, soft tissue and bones. When a painful condition affects the pelvis, it can be difficult to complete normal activities or support your upper body weight.
Pelvic pain affects millions of people every year. It’s more common in women because it’s a symptom of menstrual pain and other conditions related to feminine hygiene. Although it’s less common, pelvic pain can also affect men. Usually, in men, it’s nothing more than strains to the soft tissue but it could be a sign of something more serious.
When should you get help for pelvic pain?
Occasional soreness in the pelvis related to menstrual pain or overstretching usually goes away after a few days. However, some pelvic pain symptoms may be signs of something that requires professional treatment, including:
- Sudden development of pelvic pain
- Pelvic pain during and after sex
- Pelvic pain while exercising
You may need emergency medical assistance if your pelvic pain symptoms include:
- Burning pain that lasts for longer than a day after urinating
- Blood in stool or urine
- Fever
- Nausea
- Vomiting
What to do if you have pelvic pain
If you have symptoms that fall under the emergency medical assistance column, then you should seek treatment immediately. If you have pelvic pain that you wouldn’t classify as an emergency, there are other steps you should take:
- Schedule an appointment for an examination — Your doctor can help you identify the cause of your pelvic pain so you can get the treatment you need.
- Keep a record of your symptoms — Take notes of things like when your pelvic pain flares up, what happened right before, how often this occurs, how badly it hurts, etc. These notes can be helpful to your health care provider when making a diagnosis.
- Visit a physical therapist — Whether your pelvic pain is minor or has lasted for a long time, a physical therapist can help. Physical therapy exercises, stretches and other treatment methods can help reduce pain in the pelvis and prevent it from developing again. These treatments are also beneficial for pregnant women who are experiencing pelvic pain due to the changes in their bodies.
Visit Whatcom Physical Therapy for pelvic pain treatment
Our physical therapists at Whatcom Physical Therapy specialize in many treatments for pelvic pain. Whether you’ve stretched a muscle or have pelvic pain related to pregnancy, we may be able to help reduce your pain and improve the flexibility of your pelvis. Contact our team today to learn more about physical therapy for pelvic pain or to schedule an initial appointment.
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