Stem Cell Therapy for Pelvic Pain
Pelvic pain is experienced at the bottom of the abdomen and pelvis. Typical symptoms of pelvic pain include dull or sharp pain that may radiate out towards the lower back, buttocks or thighs. Pelvic pain may be acute—sudden, sharp and brief—or chronic, lasting over several months on an intermittent basis. It may also be felt specifically during urination or sexual activity.
Causes of pelvic pain include digestive, reproductive or urinary disorders. Chronic form of pelvic pain is generally associated with muscle or connective tissue problems, or nerve irritations. Typical causes of pelvic pain in women are adenomyosis, endometriosis, menstruation, ectopic pregnancy, ovarian cancer, ovarian cysts, pelvic inflammatory disease (PID), uterine fibroids and vulvodynia.
Other causes of pelvic pain in both sexes can originate fromappendicitis, colon cancer, constipation, Crohn’s disease, diverticulitis, fibromyalgia, inguinal hernia, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome, kidney stones, prostatitis, ulcerative colitis and urinary tract infection.
To determine the exact cause of pelvic pain, one may have to undergo several medical tests.
Management
Treatment options for pelvic pain depend upon the causative factors. Self-care measures for pelvic pain include rest, ice application and exercises. To control the pain, oral or injectable pain medications may be used; alternatively, muscle relaxants and antidepressants may help for the same.
Hormone treatment, such as birth control pills, gonadotropin-releasing hormone drugs, or progestin-releasing intrauterine devices, may be necessary to alleviate symptoms associated with female 
reproductive disorders. Physical therapy may benefit pelvic pain suffers by improving muscle strength and joint flexibility. Electrical stimulation therapy can help strengthen weak muscles; and biofeedback can provide relaxation to hyperactive muscles.
Patients, who do not respond to conservative treatment, may require surgery for pelvic pain. Surgery can be performed to remove female reproductive tract abnormalities, such as adhesions and fibroids. Moreover, surgery can be aimed to interrupt with nerve signals for pain.
Stem Cell Therapy
The statistics for women with pelvic pain is quite significant. As much as 15% of women between ages of 15 and 50 years in the US experience chronic pelvic pain; half of these individuals feel depressed and less active. More than 60% of chronic pelvic pain have no known causes.
Patients, who do not respond well to conservative treatment for persistent pelvic pain, may benefit from stem cell therapy. Stem cells are primitive cells that can undergo differentiation to form different types of cells in the body, such as bone, blood, cartilage, tendon, ligaments, etc.
These cells are responsible for healing tissue damages by generating new healthy cells. However, with age, the body loses its ability to attract enough stem cells to the site of injury. In this regard, stem cell therapy delivers a high concentration of stem cells to the affected area to promote natural healing.
Stem cells are now recognized as important treatment agents for controlling chronic pain disorders. In addition to stimulating repair and regeneration at the damaged tissue, stem cells secrete various anti-inflammatory factors that can control painful inflammation.
Another promising therapy for chronic pain is platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. The concentrated platelet mixture is obtained by concentrating the patient’s blood sample. Platelets are known to secre
te growth factors and healing factors as well as recruit stem cells to the site of injury to promote tissue healing and regeneration.
Unlike steroid injections and surgery, which are associated with side effects and further weakening of tissue structures, stem cell therapy and PRP therapy are well-tolerated in patients. Moreover, unlike other interventions that only control pain symptoms, stem cell therapy and PRP therapy alleviate pain as well promote healing. Therefore, the effects of such treatment are long lasting.
Contact R3 Stem Cell Clinics for assistance with pelvic pain, and to learn more about this cutting-edge technology. Locate an R3 Stem Cell location close to you, call (844) GET-STEM!
References
- McJunkin T, Lynch P, Deer TR, Anderson J, Desai R. Regenerative medicine in pain management. Pain Medicine News Spec. 2012:35-38.
- Nguyen R, Borg-Stein J, McInnis K. Applications of platelet-rich plasma in musculoskeletal and sports medicine: A evidence-based approach. PM&R. 2011:3(3):226-250.