4 Overlooked Causes of Pelvic Pain

Pelvic pain can turn your life upside down. You want — and deserve — relief. 

To a large extent, finding that relief means finding out what’s causing your pelvic pain. That way, your doctor can tailor a care plan to address the root cause of your discomfort rather than merely masking your symptoms. 

That’s where Dr. Jonathan D. Carlson comes in. As a specialist in pelvic pain, he works with people throughout the Windward side of Oʻahu in Kailua. He has two goals here at Hawai’i Pain and Spine: to find out what’s causing your pelvic pain and to alleviate it. 

Here are four causes of pelvic pain that Dr. Carlson may specifically check for because they’re often overlooked. 

#1: Referred pain

It might seem natural to assume that your body feels pain in the area with the problem. Actually, though, your body could be alerting you to an issue with pain signals in another body region. Medical professionals call this referred pain. 

In some cases, your pelvic pain may not stem from your pelvis at all, but from an issue with your low back. Fortunately, because Dr. Carlson specializes in back pain, too, he can determine the root cause of your discomfort. That way, he can tailor treatment to bring you relief. 

#2: Gynecological conditions

In women, pelvic pain can stem from a variety of gynecological causes. Unfortunately, studies show that some of them are underdiagnosed. 

Some of the most frequently overlooked gynecological causes of pelvic pain include:

• Endometriosis
• Adenomyosis
• Pelvic congestion

With tools like transvaginal ultrasounds and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we can take a closer look at what’s going on inside your pelvis to see if a gynecological condition is to blame. 

#3: Musculoskeletal problems

You might not hear about pelvic injuries as frequently as, say, a pulled hamstring or a twisted ankle, but it’s absolutely possible to injure the muscles lining your pelvis. This can happen suddenly — during childbirth, for example — or over time, as is the case with some people who have poor pelvic posture. The injury stresses your pelvis and can cause muscle spasms. 

Fortunately, Dr. Calrson can come alongside you to help you heal any musculoskeletal issues causing your pelvis pain. 

#4: Psychogenic pain

Some people — particularly women — experience pelvic pain that doesn’t come from a physical health condition or an illness. Trauma and mental health conditions can play a role in pelvic pain. Dr. Carlson has experience treating physical pain that comes from a psychological cause. 

If you’re living with pelvic pain, don’t wait to visit Dr. Carlson and our team. We’re here to work with you to find the cause of your pelvic pain and develop a tailored treatment plan to soothe it. To get started, call our office to schedule your appointment today.