Chronic pelvic pain syndrome, also known as CPPS, is a condition in the pelvis where pelvic pain or issues are consistent and present for longer than 6 months. In the most cases with women, the pelvic pain will disappear in 3 to 5 months, but pelvic issues don’t go away by themselves with 37% of women with pelvic pain. In this case we can call these pelvic issues CPPS. Chronic pelvic pain syndrome is hard to diagnose which is why it’s often being overlooked by doctors. Even though CPPS is most commonly found in women, men can have CPPS as well.
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The most common symptoms of CPPS are:
- Consistent pain in and around the pelvis with moving.
- Reoccurring pain with peeing or pooping. Or not being able to pee or poop properly.
- Reoccurring pain in the pelvic (floor) area (vaginal or scrotum pain). Think of pain during sex or inserting a tampon.
- Urinal or fecal incontinence issues.
- Consistent pain or nagging issues in the bum, groin, gut, lower back, tailbone, pelvic bone, hip or SI-joints, or a combination of those areas.
In this article I’ve gathered as much information about CPPS as possible to make your search for answers as easy as can be. In the meantime I’ve even been able to put together a website with all the information I’ve found. Feel free to take a look, I’m sure your questions can be answered!
First I will provide you with some more clarification to some keywords, because what do they actually mean?
What does a chronic disease or chronic condition mean?
When we mention a chronic disease or condition, we mean something that lasts for a longer period of time. Officially we can call something a chronic disease or condition when the same situation has been ongoing for 6 months. Commonly an issue is also being considered as something chronic when it’s been present for 3 months. These chronic diseases or conditions don’t go away by themselves and can’t be cured with medication.
When do you have chronic pelvic pain?
There’s a difference between “normal” or acute pelvic pain and chronic pelvic pain. When pelvic pain, pelvic issues or other pelvic problems are caused by a fall, a trauma, surgery, weakening or overload, it’s being classed as “normal” or acute pelvic issues.
Most women are healed of their pelvic issues after averagely 3 to 4,5 months. With 37% of these women, the issues unfortunately become chronic. That’s a big number. It’s smart to look for professional help if you have any suspicions of having pelvic issues. I’ll tell you some more about the issues. You will also find so much more on the website, think of tips and exercises. It’s certainly worth a look!
If the pelvic pain is consistent and it’s still there after 6 months, it’s already being classed as a chronic variant. Then we’re dealing with chronic pelvic instability, but it could also eventually be chronic pelvic pain syndrome.
What are pelvic pain, pelvic issues and pelvic instability and what’s the difference?
Pelvic issues, pelvic pain and pelvic instability. They all sound like the same issue, but that’s not true at all. ‘Pelvic issues’ is the name for every occurring problem in the pelvic area. Pelvic pain is when you indeed experience pain in the pelvic area and pelvic instability only occurs in women that are or have been pregnant. Pelvic instability is pretty common and actually not really preventable. Every pregnant women has pelvic instability but not every pregnant woman has the additional pelvic issues or pelvic pain.
How does pelvic instability happen?
Pelvic instability happens when the pelvic ligaments become weaker. One person gets issues but the other can manage it just fine. The further you are with the pregnancy, the more issues you can experience from the stretching ligaments. You will also feel and see a lot of changes around the 18th week of pregnancy. Your belly will look beautifully round and your pelvic girdle is preparing itself for childbirth.
A lot more pressure is being put on the pelvis and pelvic ligaments because of the growing (in size and in weight) belly. The ligaments around the uterus get a lot to endure as well. Your uterus, or womb, grows and grows. Ligaments that normally keep the uterus in place will now be stretched out to the fullest. This can cause some real pain in the pelvis and the pelvic ligaments. You can recognize it as stabbing pain in the stomach, or a stomach ache that lasts really long. It often isn’t really over soon.
“Your pelvis is a complicated bridge between the upper and lower body.”
CPPS and science
The pelvis is a highly complicated and difficult area. Not everything about CPPS is known yet because of the complexity in muscles, organs, joints, bones and ligaments in the pelvic area. It’s simply said a complicated area. Despite that, there has been more attention for CPPS and its causes, consequences and treatments are being scientifically substantiated. Because of that, movement and exercise is being recommended, although it should be exercises where you can keep your pelvis in mind. This is called controlled movement. That’s why I’ve been preparing some awareness exercises. These exercises will teach you how to be more aware of your pelvic floor. Your pelvic floor will improve and in turn you can keep your pelvic floor under better control.
These are the most common issues with CPPS or chronic pelvic instability, according to science:
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- Consistent pain in and around the pelvis with moving.
- Reoccurring pain with peeing or pooping. Or not being able to pee or poop properly.
- Reoccurring pain in the pelvic (floor) area (vaginal or scrotum pain). Think of pain during sex or inserting a tampon.
- Urinal or fecal incontinence issues.
- Consistent pain or nagging issues in the bum, groin, gut, lower back, tailbone, pelvic bone, hip or SI-joints, or a combination of those areas.
A brief explanation about the complicated pelvic area
Like I’ve mentioned before, the pelvis is an extremely complicated area. There are pelvic floor muscles, organs, joints, bones and pelvic ligaments. These all have an effect on each other. Muscles can have an effect on the functions of the organs and the organs can have an effect on how it all moves. You can get problems in your bladder because of an issue in your lower back, for example. Everything is connected to each other like a web.
To make it even more complicated, the pelvis is like a bridge between your lower and upper body. A lot of nerves, from your brain to your toes, go through this bridge. It’s an area where a lot happens, so you can understand that one issue can lead up to having several issues. Easier said, you can get yourself into a chain reaction of issues, pain and problems. These muscles are struggling to relax because of those hectic moments, and relaxation is exactly what your bladder or anus need. The excessive muscle tension can have a negative effect on your toilet habits.
What are the pelvic floor and the pelvic floor muscles?
The pelvic floor indicates the floor in your pelvis (very surprising), but also the muscles in the bottom part of your pelvis. Those muscles are like a hammock, and this hammock is at the bottom of your pelvis. The pelvic floor makes sure that your organs stay in the right place. Your organs are stable and safely secured in this hammock. The hammock needs to be firm, but not too firm, it needs to be a little springy. If the pelvic floor is too weak you have a higher chance on getting prolapses or incontinence issues. If the pelvic floor is too firm or too tense, you can have trouble with urinating and pooping, and maybe even develop vaginismus or erection issues.
There are a few openings in the pelvic floor muscles (the hammock). The anus, vagina and the urethra. These are being kept closed by the pelvic floor muscles. You will develop issues at a rapid rate if there is a disbalance in the pelvic floor muscles.
The pelvic floor is a muscle, so you guessed it, the pelvic floor muscles are muscles. And just like your abs, you can train those muscles to become stronger. You train your pelvic floor muscles by following pelvic floor exercises. I’ve already prepared them for you here.
This is what you can do when you’re suffering from CPPS
It’s often hard to discover where the pelvic issues originated from, especially when you’ve been walking with these issues for quite some time. That’s why it’s important to ring the bell when you’re experiencing pelvic pain in or around the pelvis. Sometimes it’s the case that pelvic issues are that complex that a few specialists need to be involved. A pelvic therapist, like a pelvic physical therapist or a pelvic exercise therapist, can already solve a lot but it’s always a good idea to approach other specialists or at least see your doctor. If you’re curious about what examinations you can expect at the pelvic floor trainer or pelvic therapist, you can take a look here.
You can go here if you suspect having CPPS
The pelvic area is very complex. It’s important to seek help if you’re experiencing pelvic pain. It can be the case that you’re having pelvic issues that you’re embarrassed about. Don’t let shame limit you or hold you back from looking for help. This way your acute pelvic pain can turn into chronic pelvic pain.
These professionals can help you with CPPS
Think of the next professionals when you’re looking for help for CPPS: A doctor, pelvic physical therapist, gynecologist, urologist, psychologist or a sexologist. It’s a whole battalion of professionals.
It’s a good thing you’re looking for help and let your pelvic pain get examined. A suitable pelvic therapist is able to help you quickly. A conversation about your issues will take place and a physical examination will be performed. Do mention what you are and aren’t comfortable with.
If the therapist notices that an existing issue can’t be helped by a pelvic therapist alone, you will be referred to someone else. A plan of treatment will be composed after the referral and eventual additional examinations. You’re not on your own!
A pelvic therapist (exercise- or physical therapist) can treat the following issues:
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- A chronic stomach ache syndrome where no abnormalities are found in or around the organs.
- Lower back issues with no solid cause.
- Scrotal pain or issues.
- Prostate pain with an unknown cause.
- Pain during sex.
- Painful cramping of the pelvic floor muscles, for example with urinating.
- Painful cramping of the pelvic muscles with pooping.
- Painful cramping of the pelvic muscles during sex.
- Pelvic pain.
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 webshop 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.
