Chronic pelvic pain is estimated to affect 15-20% of women worldwide and is associated with high costs. In order to ease chronic pelvic pain, it is important that healthcare professionals take a personalized approach, combining both medical and non-medical therapies to achieve the best results. Healthcare professionals should also be aware of different treatment options for patients suffering from various types of chronic pelvic pain since symptoms and underlying causes are often different. This blog post will help you learn more about chronic pelvic pain syndrome and several ways in which you may treat chronic pelvic pain.
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Over-The-Counter Pain Relievers.
Over-the-counter pain relievers work best on chronic pelvic pain when used early on. Patients should use over-the-counter pain relievers within 10 minutes of the onset of their symptoms to experience pain relief within an hour. Tylenol, Advil, Motrin, and Aleve are examples of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) you can use for chronic pelvic pain. If digestive discomfort is experienced after taking NSAIDs, such as bloating and diarrhea, patients should consult their healthcare professionals before taking more of the medication. The key is to know your body, so take a pain journal to assess your response to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Acupuncture And Chinese Herbal Medicine.
Chinese herbal medicine and acupuncture can also be used for chronic pelvic pain disorders, as both therapies can alleviate symptoms through the use of herbs or needles that target specific points on the body. Acupuncture can aid in treating chronic pelvic pain by relieving pain in the lower abdomen and pelvis area, which may also contribute to back pain. Acupuncture can also relieve muscle spasms in the pelvic area and abdominal muscles, softening the muscles and promoting relaxation, which will allow for less tension, pain, and pressure in the lower abdomen that may contribute to chronic pelvic pain.
Take The Heat.
Techniques such as exercise or sitting in a tub of warm water can reduce physical symptoms associated with stress, while breathing exercises are helpful if emotional symptoms are experienced. In fact, a recent study showed that women with chronic pelvic pain who were instructed to use a hot bath or take a warm bath were able to experience relief from their pain.
Mind-Body Medicine.
Mind-body medicine refers to the use of mind and body exercises to help control chronic pelvic pain and chronic pain in general. One example of a mind-body approach is yoga, which promotes relaxation through movement while addressing tension in the muscles and relieving stress. Mind-body therapy can also be done at home, such as by using music or a guided imagery tape to promote relaxation or by working on breathing techniques such as deep breathing and diaphragmatic breathing. Yoga is a way to cool down hot emotions while heart rate is lowered and physical activity can be increased in order to alleviate muscle tension, stiffness, and stress.
Try Supplements.
Chronic pelvic pain may be caused by an underlying medical problem, such as endometriosis, or a nutritional deficiency may cause it. If a woman suspects that she has a vitamin/mineral deficiency, it is best to consult with her healthcare professional so that she can determine whether this is the case.
An example of vitamins and minerals that have been shown to ease chronic pelvic pain are water-soluble B vitamins (not folic acid), magnesium, selenium, and chromium. In addition to these supplements in pill or powder form, women suffering from chronic pelvic pain should try taking supplements such as( CoQ10)Coenzyme Q10. This supplement can also help ease symptoms associated with chronic pelvic pain, including anxiety and irritability.
Make A Change.
Patients should consider making a lifestyle change in order to ease chronic pelvic pain. Women suffering from chronic pelvic pain may be eating a diet high in sodium and saturated fats. A healthy diet involves eating a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats in order to make the body feel full. A high fiber diet may also be beneficial for women suffering from chronic pelvic pain since fiber can help improve digestive health and relieve symptoms associated with irritable bowel syndrome, such as bloating and abdominal cramps. In addition, bad habits like smoking should be replaced by healthy lifestyle habits like exercising.
The key is to find the best option for you and to start with one method at a time, before trying another method of relief. Chronic pain is very individualized and affects everyone differently. Build your support system around you in order to help ease the chronic pain that you are experiencing.
