Pelvic and perineal pain, known medically as chronic pelvic pain, is a condition where there is discomfort in the lower belly area without a clear cause. It's more common in women but can affect anyone. It can feel like a constant ache, a sharp pain, or a series of cramps. This type of pain sometimes lasts for 6 months or more and could impact daily activities like walking, exercising, or even sitting comfortably.

Several things can lead to pelvic pain, such as past infections, injuries, surgeries in the area or conditions like endometriosis where tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus grows outside the uterus, causing pain. Stress and mental health issues can sometimes make the pain feel worse.

When you visit the provider team, they'll ask about your medical history, physical symptoms, and might use tests like MRIs or ultrasound to get a clearer picture. Treatment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Options include medicines to reduce pain, physical therapy to strengthen pelvic muscles, and in some cases, counseling to help manage stress and improve mental health.

Additional options include sympathetic nerve blocks, such as superior hypogastric and ganglion empar approaches. If needed, last-resort treatments may involve radiofrequency ablation of targeted nerves or long term, medication-sparing solutions like spinal cord or dorsal root ganglion stimulation. In cases where all other treatments prove ineffective, intrathecal pump therapy may be considered.

For ongoing symptoms potentially connected to joint or connective tissues, methods like steroid injections or regenerative medicine using your body’s own platelets or bone marrow may be considered.

Take the time to discuss your symptoms with the healthcare team to develop a coordinated care plan.