PELVIC PAIN

All pain syndromes have a psychological impact, but for pelvic pain sufferers, there appears to be an even greater impact. Affecting most aspects of their lives (personal, work, relationships, etc.) most patients suffer in secret until the pain is so intolerable that they cannot NOT seek help. They avoid discussing it any earlier because patients often feel so alone that they do not know where to turn for effective treatments. Or, when they do finally seek help, diagnostic tests may come up inconclusive, or they feel dismissed by their physician. Then, the pain may dissipate providing some relief only to return again and haunt such patients. This continuous cycle can feel very defeating.

For young adults, the experience can be even further difficult as they are unaware that their pain should be any different, or are too embarrassed to discuss it with their health care provider. When sex is painful, it can be dismissed as normal or occasional. Young adults also have difficulty explaining pain experiences to their partners because they do not want to be rejected or seen as “defective.”

Patients are often referred for psychological treatment long after a prolonged history of pelvic pain, which has (understandably!) lead to depression and anxiety. Stress is a major contributing factor leading to exacerbated pain levels. When dealt with effectively, therapy can help to calm the patient and provide some hope for the future, while learning how to cope with their condition. Once the pain is stabilized to a tolerable level, patients can work through the depressive and anxious symptoms, along with any underlying issues (i.e. sexual abuse, marital problems, etc.) that may be contributing to their experience.

Working with a multidisciplinary team (PT, OBGYN, Psych, etc.) can help patients to feel supported while they work through both the physical and psychological aspects of their condition and work towards recovery. The most important thing is that patients provide the help they have so desperately wanted and needed for such an intensely secretive and painful experience.

Dr. Elliott is a Clinical Psychologist who has been in Private Practice working with Pelvic Pain since 2003. Specializing in pain management during her fellowship at UCLA, when Dr. Elliott began to receive referrals from gynecology, she began to research pelvic pain using her patients experiences as a main guide, incorporating her knowledge of chronic pain conditions and theory.

Articles written by Dr. Elliott:

http://www.secretsuffering.com/blog/2008/01/08/psychological-impact-of-pelvic-pain/