Physical medicine and rehabilitation clinics of North America
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Myofascial pelvic pain refers to pain in the pelvic floor muscles, the pelvic floor connective tissue, and the surrounding fascia. The cause is often multifactorial and requires treatment that encompasses multiple modalities. ⋯ A comprehensive musculoskeletal examination, including evaluation of the pelvic floor muscles, and history are key to diagnosing myofascial pelvic pain. Treatments include physical therapy, muscle relaxers, oral neuromodulators, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and pelvic floor muscle injections.
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The history and physical examination are important keys to diagnosis and treatment of patients with chronic pelvic pain. The comprehensive history should include questioning regarding patient's pain complaint and a thorough history and review of any body system that may be involved, including neuromusculoskeletal, obstetric, gynecologic, gastrointestinal, urologic, dermatologic, infectious, oncologic, and psychiatric. The physical examination should also follow a focused systems-based approach and includes examination of gastrointestinal, dermatologic, neurologic, and musculoskeletal (including lumbosacral spine, sacroiliac joints, pelvis, and hips) systems, and the pelvic floor (internal and external examination, including neuromuscular anatomy).
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Chronic pelvic pain can result from various intra- and extra-pelvic etiologies. Although patient history and physical examination may narrow the differential diagnosis, frequently, the different etiologies have overlapping presentations. Imaging examinations such as US and/or MR imaging may help delineate the cause of pain, particularly when related to intra-pelvic organs, pelvic floor dysfunction or prolapse, synthetic material such as pelvic mesh or slings, and in some cases of neuropathic pain. Etiologies of neuropathic pain can also be assessed with non-imaging tests such as nerve conduction studies, electromyography, and testing of sacral reflexes.
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Visceral and somatic causes of pelvic pain are often inter-related, and a musculoskeletal examination should always be considered for the successful diagnosis and treatment of pelvic pain. For the diverse etiologies of hip pain, there are many unique considerations for the diagnosis and treatment of these various disorders. Pelvic pain is often multidimensional due to the overlap between lumbo-hip-pelvic diagnoses and may require a multidisciplinary approach to evaluation and management.