Pelvic Pain? When to Consult a Physiatrist

As we age, our pelvic floor is less able to adequately support our bladder, uterus, and rectum.  The result of this weakening can be pelvic pain, constipation, diarrhea, fecal incontinence, urinary dysfunction, "tail bone" pain, inability to have an orgasm, and lower back pain as well as upper leg pain, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and other symptoms that typically would never be associated with "pelvic floor dysfunction."  And sometimes it isn’t even lack of muscle tone that creates the problem--sometimes muscle stiffness or spasm is causing the symptoms.

Pelvic floor pain and dysfunction can be easily overlooked or misdiagnosed by family practitioners. Or, they may refer you to a gynecologist, urologist, or gastroenterologist—who may also misdiagnose your symptoms.

Your best option for receiving a correct diagnosis and subsequent treatment is to work a physiatrist. Physiatrists are physicians who specialize in physical and rehabilitation medicine and are trained to know the musculoskeletal system and the relationships between pain, physiology, and function.  They’re also experts at diagnosing pelvic pain and pelvic floor dysfunction.

If you are experiencing pelvic pain that isn’t responding to treatment, ask your doctor to recommend a physiatrist, who may be able to not only correctly and completely diagnose the source of your pelvic pain but also recommend an appropriate medical response.

For further information: "Recognizing and Treating Pelvic Pain and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction," Prather, H DO; Spitznagle, T  PT DPT MHS; Dugan S MD, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America, vol 18, no 3, August 2007.