Pelvic and Sacroiliac Pain Treatment
Comprehensive Care for Lasting Relief
Pelvic or sacroiliac pain is common, and it can be genuinely debilitating, especially for women. It can come from a number of different systems in the body, including the reproductive, digestive, urinary, or musculoskeletal systems. Our team is here to help you understand what’s going on and find a path toward relief.
What Is Pelvic Pain?
Pelvic or sacroiliac pain describes discomfort in the lower back, abdomen, or pelvic region. It can feel like a dull, constant ache or come on as sudden, sharp pain.
Chronic Pelvic Pain
Pain that lasts six months or longer.
Acute Pelvic Pain
Pain that comes on suddenly and intensely, and may resolve quickly.
What Can Make Pelvic or Sacroiliac Pain Worse?
Certain activities can intensify pelvic pain, including:
- ✓Certain foods or beverages
- ✓Changes in body position
- ✓Jumping
- ✓Running
- ✓Walking up or down stairs
- ✓Prolonged sitting
- ✓Rolling over in bed
- ✓Sexual intercourse
- ✓Urination
If any of these make your symptoms worse, it’s worth scheduling an evaluation to understand what’s driving your pain.
What Causes Pelvic Pain?
Musculoskeletal System
Pelvic pain can come from the muscles, tendons, or ligaments in the pelvic, sacroiliac, and hip area, including:
- ✓Sacroiliac dysfunction, which occurs when the joints connecting your lower spine and pelvis become inflamed or move abnormally, either too much or too little. It typically causes lower back, buttock, or groin pain that can radiate down the leg, mimicking sciatica. Symptoms often worsen when sitting, climbing stairs, or changing positions
- ✓Levator syndrome, recurring spasms in the levator ani muscle
- ✓Fibromyalgia, widespread muscle pain that can include the pelvic region
- ✓Pelvic floor dysfunction, weakness or lack of control in the pelvic floor muscles
Reproductive System
The reproductive system is often a source of pelvic pain, especially for women. Common conditions include:
- ✓Endometriosis, uterine tissue growing outside the uterus, causing pain and inflammation
- ✓Menstrual cramps
- ✓Uterine fibroids, noncancerous growths in the uterus
- ✓Adenomyosis, uterine lining growing into the uterine wall
- ✓Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), an infection of the reproductive organs
- ✓Pregnancy complications, including ectopic pregnancy or other concerns
- ✓Mittelschmerz, pain related to ovulation
- ✓Ovarian disorders, including cysts or torsion
- ✓Vulvodynia, chronic pain around the vulva
- ✓Pelvic congestion syndrome, chronic pain caused by varicose veins in the pelvic area
Urinary System
- ✓Urinary tract infections (UTIs), causing pain or burning during urination
- ✓Interstitial cystitis, chronic bladder pain and frequent urination
- ✓Kidney stones, causing sharp pain as stones pass through the urinary system
When Should I Seek Care for Pelvic Pain?
Mild pelvic discomfort can often resolve on its own, but pain that’s severe or getting worse shouldn’t be ignored.
Seek immediate care if you experience sudden, sharp pelvic pain, pain along with fever, chills, or nausea, changes in bowel or bladder habits, or pain during intercourse or menstruation.
How Is Pelvic Pain Treated?
At Big Stone Therapies, we build personalized treatment plans based on the cause and severity of your pelvic and/or sacroiliac pain, with a focus on physical therapy to strengthen, relax, and retrain the hips and pelvic floor muscles. Your plan may include:
- ✓Physical therapy to address muscle strength, tension, and coordination in the hips, core, low back, and pelvic floor
- ✓Manual therapy, targeted exercise, and sacroiliac adjustments, often with muscle energy techniques that teach you to use your own muscles to adjust the sacroiliac joints
- ✓Dry needling to help release tension in the hips, low back, and/or pelvic floor and surrounding muscles
- ✓Lifestyle guidance, including activity modifications and stress management strategies
- ✓Education to help you understand and manage your symptoms
Some causes of pelvic pain need care beyond physical therapy. Depending on the underlying condition, your physician may discuss medications, such as anti-inflammatories, antibiotics, or hormonal therapies, minimally invasive procedures for conditions like endometriosis or fibroids, or, for more serious conditions like ovarian torsion or pelvic organ prolapse, surgery. We work closely alongside your physician throughout your care and can support your recovery if a procedure or surgery is part of your path forward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Physical therapy, especially pelvic floor therapy, is often an effective treatment for pelvic pain related to muscle tension, weakness, or coordination issues, and can be an important part of a broader treatment plan for other causes as well.
Acute pelvic pain comes on suddenly and intensely, sometimes resolving quickly. Chronic pelvic pain lasts six months or longer and often needs a more thorough evaluation to identify the cause.
If your pain is severe, sudden, or comes with fever, chills, nausea, or changes in bowel or bladder habits, seek care right away. For pain that’s persistent or worsening without these symptoms, scheduling an evaluation can help identify the cause.
Contact Us to Get Started
If pelvic pain is affecting your daily life, our team is here to help you find answers and lasting relief. Contact us today to schedule an evaluation with our specialists.
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