The solution for your pelvic pain is finding a suitable specialist or professional combined with the right discipline. Your recovery will go much smoother if you already know a bit about the pelvis and the pelvic floor. You can search for the right specialist but you can initiate a lot yourself as well. Educate yourself properly and try out the right pelvic floor exercises. Pelvic pain and pelvic instability is found in men and women. Even children cannot avoid developing it, sometimes. You can go to a variety of specialists and professionals, like the doctor, psychologist, gynecologist, urologist, sexologist, gastro-enterologist, and a pelvic floor trainer like a pelvic physical therapist or pelvic exercise therapist. In this article I will talk about the doctor, psychologist, gynecologist, urologist and briefly the pain clinic. This way you will get a good image of the different disciplines.
If you’re looking for pelvic floor exercises or go to the exercises page. If you’re looking for products for your pelvis and go to the Pelvic Store.
Specialists and professionals for pelvic pain:
The physician and pelvic pain
When you have a physical or mental problem, it’s always smart to pay a visit to your doctor or physician first. Pelvic pain can either be a physical or a mental problem but it can most definitely be a combination of both as well. Discuss your pelvic pain with the physician and they will decide what your next steps will be. It can be the case that your pelvic pain is just a physical related issue. If that’s true, then going to a pelvic floor trainer like a pelvic physical therapist or pelvic exercise therapist will be suitable for you. Or it could also be that your pelvic pain is related to trauma. Then it’s a good idea to talk to a professional about your pelvic pain.
When we talk about pelvic trauma, you can think of an accident or a fall but most certainly any other troublesome event as well. For example, pelvic pain can occur in men and women that had to deal with sexual abuse, an uncomfortable sexual experience or even sexual assault. As a result, the pelvic floor muscles have become too tight and it’s hard to relax them. Take a look at my pelvic floor relaxation exercises and look for a suitable specialist or professional that can support you processing your trauma.
All in all, with the physician you’re at the right address for your pelvic pain, in any shape or form.
Costs of a physician visit
A visit at the physician can take 2 to 30 minutes and the costs depend on your insurance. It can be covered but always make sure to double check.
The cause of pelvic pain after trauma
Pelvic pain can be a result of sexual abuse, an uncomfortable sexual experience or even sexual assault. Traumas can influence your pelvic floor in a negative way. Maybe your pelvic floor is too tensed up after a trauma, or maybe it’s even too relaxed. Maybe you’ve been physically damaged. It’s very common and normal that a lot of tension remains around the pelvic girdle after such a heavy impact like assault. This can cause you to have other issues. Think of being in pain during sex, vaginism or vulvitis, and issues with urinating or pooping.
The psychologist and pelvic pain
The psychologist is a suitable professional for your pelvic pain and the following pelvic issues:
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- Having pain during sex because of a pelvic floor that’s too tight or tense.
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- Vaginism or vulvitis being caused by an overly tensed pelvic floor.
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- Not being able to relax properly around your partner as a result of a specific event like sexual abuse, an uncomfortable sexual experience or sexual assault.
Do you have pelvic pain because of a specific traumatic event or do you feel too much pressure around the sexual topics, then a psychologist is a suitable professional for your pelvic pain.
Maybe it’s related to an event and then you maybe better off talking with someone about it. Talking does help. A psychologist is a wonderful solution. These people are heroes when it comes to trauma processing. That’s why it’s a good recommendation to visit a suitable psychologist if you’re experiencing an overly tense pelvic floor accompanied with pelvic pain. Traumas are difficult to process by yourself, so do look for someone that can help you with giving it a place.
Costs of a psychologist
Without an insurance, the costs of a private psychologist may range from $60 to $280 per consultation. Many psychologists work with a sliding scale fee, the fee will depend on your income.
Check in with your insurance about the coverage or look into government-funded services to bring your costs down as much as possible. Your physician is also able to help you find suitable services in your area.
The sexologist and pelvic pain
The sexologist is a suitable professional for your pelvic pain and the following pelvic issues:
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- Having pain during sex because of a pelvic floor that’s too tight or tense.
- Vaginism or vulvitis being caused by an overly tensed pelvic floor.
- Not being able to relax properly around your partner as a result of a specific event like sexual abuse, an uncomfortable sexual experience or sexual assault.
Do you have pelvic pain because of a specific traumatic event or do you feel too much pressure around the sexual topics, then a sexologist is a suitable professional for your pelvic pain.
The sexologist is able to help with your pelvic pain. A sexologist can help you if the pelvic pain has been caused by a traumatic event, but also when you’re struggling with relaxing your pelvic floor. A sexologist can give you a lot of tips and advices when it comes to pelvic pain, especially when you’re experiencing pelvic issues during sex. Have a talk with a sexologist and look at what a sexologist can do for you and your pelvic pain.
The costs of a sexologist
The costs of a sexologist often are yours to pay. The sexologist normally isn’t being covered by the insurance, but it is worth a try to check in with your insurance and see if there are any coverages or benefits.
Depending on the professional, face-to-face consultations range from $60 to $150 dollars. However, online therapy can cost less than that.
The proper next step after the sexologist or psychologist for pelvic pain
In this case, having an appointment with a sexologist or psychologist is recommended. Look for support and help to be able to tell your story. Eventually, in the future, a pelvic floor trainer like a pelvic physical therapist or pelvic exercise therapist can help you relax and support you with other physical issues. These pelvic physical therapists possess a lot of physical knowledge and will explain as much as they can. When you have a good understanding of how everything works, how things are linked together and how the pelvis works, you will have an easier and faster recovery. Keep on asking questions when you don’t entirely understand something yet. The pelvic area is a wonderful working mechanism but it is very complex, so feel free to ask for help.
The gynecologist or urologist and pelvic pain
The gynecologist or urologist is a suitable professional for your pelvic pain and the following pelvic issues:
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- Having pain during sex because of a pelvic floor that’s too tight or tense.
- Numb or insensible sex because of a weakened pelvic floor.
- Vaginism or vulvitis being caused by an overly tensed pelvic floor.
- Urinal or fecal leakage because of a weakened pelvic floor.
- Issues with urinating or pooping because of an overly tensed pelvic floor.
If you’re experiencing a lot of pelvic pain around your vagina, then the gynecologist is always willing to help you. A gynecologist is also able to determine what’s wrong with your pelvic girdle. Maybe you’re dealing with a prolapse. A urologist is a specialist when you’re experiencing urinal incontinence. The urologist is able to take a look at your bladder and urethra but they also know a lot about the closing mechanism of the bladder and the urethra. If you so happen to experience fecal incontinence, then you might want to go to a gastro-enterologist. Having a combination of all those professionals is a good thing too, then you may be able to rule out several causes of your pelvic pain. Explain your story properly. If necessary, write down your issues so you won’t forget parts of it when you visit a new specialist.
Costs of a gynecologist or urologist
Before every medical specialist visit, make sure that you have checked your insurance. Not every office accepts insurances and the costs of a visit can be between the $90 and $200 dollars. You should also check if you need a referral to from your physician.
The pain clinic and pelvic pain
A pain clinic is specialized in treating your severe pelvic pain. This is a separate clinic in a hospital or a standalone building, specially made for people with severe pain. You can find neurologists, psychologists, nurses and also physical therapists in this clinic, however, no pelvic physical therapists or pelvic exercise therapists. In the clinic, this team of specialists will cooperate together to get down to the root of your problem. This often are nerve related pains. Pelvic pain is often related to muscles and ligaments, so not everyone with pelvic pain is at the right place in the pain clinic.
Costs of a pain clinic
The costs of a pain clinic depend on your insurance, on the location and if you have received a referral from your doctor.
Always make sure to double check how much you need to pay and how much gets covered.
The pelvic physical therapist, pelvic exercise therapist, and pelvic pain
A pelvic physical therapist is a suitable specialist for your pelvic pain and the following pelvic issues:
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- Pelvic pain caused by an overly tensed pelvic floor. Think of having pain during sex, vaginism or having trouble with going to the toilet.
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- Pelvic pain caused by a weakened pelvic floor. Think of incontinence.
A pelvic physical therapist is a specialist physical therapist. This physical therapist has done an additional specialized study after the basic 4 year physical therapist course. The training to become a pelvic physical therapist takes another 2 years, and after graduating, the pelvic physical therapist is a real recognized pelvic specialist.
You’re often at the right address with a specialized pelvic floor trainer, like a pelvic physical therapist or pelvic exercise therapist, if you’re looking for a solution for your pelvic pain. The intake is the first treatment. The pelvic physical therapist will ‘interrogate’ you to the bone. This first session is crucial because your pelvic pain will become clear to the therapist, and a plan of treatment can be composed. This plan of treatment will have a clear, solid goal and it’s based on your request. Would you like to swim, work, exercise or paraglide without pain again? All these things can be your suitable request. But a commonly heard issue with pelvic pain or instability is being in pain during sex.
Tips for visiting a specialist for your pelvic pain
It can be the cause that your pelvic pain will need a variety of professionals. A psychologist will help your trauma, the urologist will help your incontinence or other issues, the gynecologist and the physician will help a variety of vaginal issues. Do keep an eye on the communication between all of the involved parties. You are bound to get fed up if you have to repeat your story a few times, or if you need to keep a urinal diary. You can already prevent these issues by already keeping a urinal diary and by writing down your story, so you don’t forget a crucial detail when you meet a new specialist.
A urinal diary for pelvic pain
A urinal diary is a diary that’s able to give a pelvic specialist insight on the frequency of your toilet visits. This way it’s quickly becoming clear when and how many times you need to pee or poop. This can differ from a ‘healthy’ person. It’s recommended to already start keeping track of a urinal diary. You can already do this at the slightest signs of pelvic pain. This way you can give your diary to the specialist during the first meeting.
A pain diary for pelvic pain
A pain diary consists out of a little notebook where you have to record your moments of pain. A doctor or a specialist can get a good image of your issues this way. When do you have pain, and at what times of the day? It can become noticeable that you only experience pain when you lift something up or maybe the pain is present at the end of the day. This is all important information for the doctor or therapist.
It’s recommended to keep track of a pain diary. You can already start doing this when you’re experiencing a mild pelvic pain. This way you’re able to give your pain diary to your specialist at the first meeting.
Physical examinations for pelvic pain
A pelvic physical therapist or pelvic exercise therapist will look at the position of your pelvis, your lower back, upper back, legs, abdomen, breathing, and eventual movements during a physical exam. Now you’re really going to be put under a magnifying glass. If the therapists consider doing an internal examination because they suspect an internal cause, you can always discuss or object if you aren’t comfortable with it. However, during an internal exam you are able to properly point out what hurts. A prolapse can be discovered this way as well, and what has actually prolapsed will immediately be known too.
What the pelvic physical therapist or pelvic exercise therapist is actually looking for is a pain trigger. What causes your pelvic pain is the most important research question. Where is your pelvic pain, and can you trigger it? But don’t worry, generally everything is pain free. If this isn’t the case you can tell them immediately.
I know it’s a whole investment, but don’t give up! Pelvic pain is caused by something, after all. So keep going and turn every stone. Is that even a saying? Oh well, it sounds good.
Important questions for pelvic pain
If you so happen to visit a doctor or a pelvic therapists, a lot of important questions about your pelvic pain will be asked. If you can already answer these beforehand then you’ve already thought your pelvic pain through. Now you are more prepared to enter the treatment. Look at the following questions about your pelvic pain and take the answers with you to the pelvic specialist.
15 questions for pelvic pain:
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- What kind of pain do you have? You have a few different categories of pain.
- Is it a stabbing or a burning, nagging pain? Or a pain that shoots through you or does it come in waves?
- When are you experiencing this pelvic pain?
- How do you sleep with this pelvic pain?
- Are you still active despite the pelvic pain? Do you still exercise, and how does that go?
- Are you taking medication for the pelvic pain?
- What have you already done to prevent the pelvic pain?
- How does your pelvic pain become less?
- For how long do you have this pain? It’s important to know when your pain started, because maybe you have CPPS but that depends on the duration of your pain.
- Did something happen that might have caused the pain or does the pain return with specific actions or movements?
- Have you maybe taken other steps for your pain?
- Have you already had surgery for your pelvic pain or did the pelvic pain occur after a surgery?
- What aren’t you able to do anymore because of the pain?
- What would you like to achieve again despite the pain?
- How is the pelvic pain during the menstruation, pregnancy or menopause?
And lastly, are you looking for more information?
Hopefully this information was useful to you! If you’re still looking for some more information, feel free to take another look around on the website. It’s filled with in-depth information, tips, a web shop and also exercises. I still have a lot of articles with lots of information about other symptoms and issues. Feel free to click on the blue words to take you straight to the right page.
