Sudden stabbing pain in pelvic area in females: Possible causes and treatment

Sudden, stabbing pain in your pelvic area is never pleasant. For many women, this experience is all too common. Before you wave off your pelvic pain as a normal part of your menstrual cycle or everyday experience, take the time to learn more about pelvic pain. It is possible that a more serious health concern is behind your symptoms.

 

Depending on the cause, there are treatment options available to help you manage your symptoms. Continue reading to learn more about pelvic pain and how pelvic rehabilitation can help.

 

Possible causes of your sudden stabbing pelvic pain

 

There are many possible causes for sudden, stabbing pain in the pelvic area. Sometimes, a single disorder may be the cause of a woman’s pelvic pain. However, the pain might also be the result of a combination of medical conditions.

 

Some causes of pelvic pain include:

 

• Endometriosis — Endometriosis is a disorder in which tissue similar to your uterine lining grows outside of your uterus. This tissue grows on your ovaries, bowels and the lining of your pelvis. Endometriosis can cause varying degrees of pain, from mild to severe pain in the pelvic area.

• Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) — PID is an infection of the female reproductive organs caused by an untreated sexually transmitted infection. If left untreated, PID can cause chronic pain in the pelvis and abdomen.

• Painful bladder syndrome — Painful bladder syndrome is a condition where the pelvic nerves do not properly signal to the brain when the bladder is full, causing a frequent need to urinate. People with painful bladder syndrome tend to experience pelvic pain as their bladder fills.

• Musculoskeletal problems — Your musculoskeletal system includes your bones, joints and connective tissues. Conditions that affect your musculoskeletal system, such as fibromyalgia, can lead to recurring, stabbing pain in the pelvic area.

 

Who is most at risk for pelvic pain?

 

Chronic pelvic pain is a common problem. Approximately 1 in 7 women experience chronic pelvic pain during their lifetimes. Although chronic pelvic pain is a complex condition that can have multiple causes, there are some factors that can place you at a higher risk for pelvic pain.

 

Some of the risk factors include:

 

• Physiological factors — Women under the age of 30 are at a higher risk of pelvic pain. Women with a lower body mass index are also at an increased risk of chronic pelvic pain.

• Drug or alcohol use — Smoking and abusing drugs or alcohol can increase your risk of pelvic pain.

• Gynecological history — Women who started menstruating at a young age have longer menstrual cycles, a heavy menstrual flow and are more likely to experience chronic pelvic pain. Women who have never had a live delivery are also at a higher risk of pelvic pain. 

• Psychological factors — Depression, chronic stress or a history of sexual or physical abuse may also increase your risk of chronic pelvic pain.

 

5 PT techniques that can reduce your sudden stabbing pain in your pelvic area

 

Much is uncertain or unknown about chronic pelvic pain. Despite this, healthcare specialists have still found ways to help people like you manage their pelvic pain. Your primary healthcare provider may recommend specific therapies or procedures as part of your treatment. This may include pelvic rehabilitation.

 

Pelvic rehabilitation is a type of physical therapy designed to relax and strengthen the pelvic floor muscles. Pelvic rehabilitation can include the following PT techniques:

 

• Manual therapy — This PT technique involves a physical therapist using their hands to manipulate the soft tissue of the affected area. Manual therapy can help break up scar tissue and decrease inflammation that may be impacting the function of your pelvic floor muscles and causing pelvic pain. 

• Therapeutic exercises — A physical therapist may work with you to design an exercise plan to help you resume your daily activities and routines with minimal interference from your pelvic pain. Stretching exercises can help relax the pelvic floor muscles and reduce pain. Postural exercises focused on strengthening the muscles affecting posture can help treat any musculoskeletal conditions that may be causing your pelvic pain.

• Diaphragmatic breathing — Deep breathing techniques can help relax the muscles in the pelvic area. Breathing deeply and with intention allows your diaphragm, a muscle that plays a major role in breathing, to relax. This causes the pelvic floor muscles to drop and lengthen, potentially reducing pelvic pain.

• Relaxation techniques — In preparation for manual therapy, your physical therapist may use various relaxation techniques. One such method is biofeedback. Biofeedback is a method physical therapists can use to help increase your awareness of your bodily functions. Specifically, biofeedback is used to help you identify areas of muscle tightness so that you can consciously relax those areas, allowing for a more productive manual therapy session.

 

Want to decrease your stabbing pelvic pain? Armor physical therapists are here to help.

Tired of dealing with a sudden, stabbing pain in your pelvic area? Our team of physical therapists is uniquely suited to help you reduce your pelvic pain. When you schedule with us, one of our physical therapists will examine your musculoskeletal system, your symptoms and your medical history in order to create a treatment plan specific to your needs. Through our pelvic rehabilitation program, you can jumpstart your recovery from pelvic pain and dysfunction.

 

Contact us today for more information or to schedule an initial appointment.