Pelvic Muscle Pain

Many pelvic muscles are on the inside lining of the pelvis bone, including the pubococcygeus, piriformis, obturator internus and externus muscles. External muscles are usually attached to the pelvis as well as other bones. Some of these include the tenor fasciae latae (hip), sartorius (hip to knee), gluteus maximus (buttocks) and vastus lateralis (thighs). There are also abdominal and back muscles that attach to the the pelvis. Pelvic muscle pain can affect any of these muscles, and pain can radiate from these muscles and cause pelvic muscle pain. Treatment for pelvic muscle pain can include rest, medication and rehabilitation exercises.

Considerations

• The exact nature of pelvic muscle pain can be hard to pinpoint. Pain may not even be caused by pelvic or adjacent muscles at all. Women can sometimes have infections or pain in their bladder, fallopian tube or ovaries that radiates to this area. You may also have lower spinal pain because some of the vertebrae extend inside the pelvic area. The same spinal nerves that affect internal organs also control impulses from the bones and muscles, so you may need to have MRIs done to make a proper diagnosis.

Identification

• Pelvic muscle pain can usually be identified by certain characteristics or activities. If you have a history of this type of pain, chances are the pain is muscular. You may also have sustained a sports injury in the pelvic muscle (as runners often do). Also, the pain is typically muscular if physical activity aggravates the affected area. If certain positions (i.e., sitting or lying down) relieve or worsen the pain, the injury is probably muscular in nature. Pelvic muscle pain can sometimes cause a weakness or numbing sensation that can vary throughout the day.

Effects of Rest, Ice and Heat

• Rest can help stabilize the muscles and prevent further injury or increased pain. Ice causes vasoconstriction, which minimizes inflammation and consequential pain by limiting the flow of blood and lymph fluid to the area. Ice is most effective when it is compressed to the exact location of the pain at 20-minute intervals throughout the day. Once swelling or pain has subsided a bit, heat (heating pads or hot baths) can promote blood flow to the area.

Other Types of Treatment

• Anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen and naproxen can help alleviate pelvic pain and reduce inflammation. For more severe pelvic-muscle pain due to a bad injury, certain steroids may be administered by mouth or injection. Physical therapy may be required for pelvic-muscle pain. Typically, therapists will start you off with some basic stretching exercises to loosen the muscles and get them accustomed to movement. Eventually, light weight lifting or resistance training may be implemented to foster the healing process. Massage can also help relax the muscles and relieve tension. Also, biofeedback and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) can help relieve more chronic pain.

Time Frame

• There is no set time frame for overcoming pain in the pelvic muscle. Pain associated with a sports injury or accident can take months to fully heal. However, those who take a more proactive approach to their treatment can probably expect to heal more quickly.