Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is not just a common medical term – it is common and can seriously worsen a person’s condition. Typical for both men and women. But the latter happens more often. According to statistics, up to a quarter of women in the world can be affected by it. At the same time, 15% of women cannot even work because of such a problem, and 45% lose their productivity. What is chronic pelvic pain syndrome, aif.ru told neurologist of the Clinical and Diagnostic Center “Medincenter” (branch of GlavUpDK under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia), Ph.D. Svetlana Kuznetsova.
Chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CPPS) is a condition associated with persistent pain in the pelvic area. Pain syndrome varies by:
- severity – can be both weak and strong;
- type – for example, has an acute manifestation or is dull;
- duration – pain can be both intermittent and constant.
It often happens that it is difficult for a person to determine exactly where it hurts, the so-called epicenter of pain. Sometimes he can not even name the exact localization of pain. Additional symptoms may also appear – numbness, burning, increased sensitivity in response to touch.
Why does the problem develop?
The causes of the disease can be different – from irritation of the pelvic nerves to more serious diseases, such as fibromyalgia (damage to extra-articular soft tissues with diffuse pain and the presence of pressure points).
Other contributing factors to the problem include:
- constipation,
- enlarged spleen,
- intestinal inflammation,
- stones in the kidneys,
- painful bladder syndrome.
How does it manifest itself?
There are many symptoms that characterize chronic pelvic pain syndrome, such as pain in the abdomen, genitals, lower back, frequent urination.
At risk are women who have previously had infections of the genitourinary system, as well as those who gave birth by caesarean section. In addition, chronic pelvic pain syndrome can develop in girls who suffer from endometriosis, chronic pelvic inflammatory disease, and mental disorders.
How to cope?
Treatment of the disease may include different methods of therapy – the use of physical therapy, drug treatment, as well as surgery.
Physical therapy consists of a set of exercises to strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which helps reduce pain. Drug treatment consists of taking antidepressants, analgesics (painkillers) and anti-inflammatory drugs. In some cases, surgery may be needed to correct the cause of chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
In addition, patients with this disease are advised to lead a healthy lifestyle: eat right, exercise, avoid stressful situations. Regular medical examinations can also help to identify and treat chronic pelvic pain syndrome in time.
The approach to the treatment of the disease should be developed individually for each patient, depending on its specific symptoms and the causes of the problem. Timely contacting a doctor and following the recommendations of a specialist will help achieve the best results of therapy and not aggravate the course of the process.
Source: aif.ru
