pelvic pain
Pelvic pain can come from the veins, the muscles and joints, or the nerves. At MVM Health, our team evaluates your symptoms to work out which, because the right treatment depends on the source.
Meet Our Expert Team
Board Certified Expert
At MVM Health — Movement. Vitality. Medicine. — we are committed to providing exceptional pain, vein, and wellness services that empower individuals to reclaim their health and well-being. With our team of Harvard-trained experts, we strive to deliver transformative outcomes that restore comfort, confidence, and quality of life. MVM Health’s mission is to help every patient relieve discomfort, restore motion, and renew life.
Vwaire Orhurhu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Mariam Salisu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Peter Isaac, DO
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ali Amin, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
THOMAS KHOURY, MD
Harvard Medical School
ANTHONY TURNER, MD
Yale School of Medicine
KIRAN C. TAMIRISA
Baylor College of Medicine
TARIQ ALFARRA, DO
JOHNS HOPKINS HOSPITAL
Rishi Sheth, MD
University of Miami School of Medicine
Henry Onyeaka, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Felicia Todd, CNP
Moravian College
Carrie Ward, CNP
Franklin University
Kruti Solanki, CNP
Drexel University
Christy Daniels, CNP
Chamberlain University
Heerina Kittel, CNP
Maryville University
Vic Urbano, CNP
Walden University
Jameela Azeem, CNP
Hofstra University
Vwaire Orhurhu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Mariam Salisu, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Peter Isaac, DO
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Ali Amin, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
THOMAS KHOURY, MD
Harvard Medical School
ANTHONY TURNER, MD
Yale School of Medicine
KIRAN C. TAMIRISA
Baylor College of Medicine
Rishi Seth, MD
University of Miami School of Medicine
Henry Onyeaka, MD, MPH
Harvard Medical School
Felicia Todd, CNP
Moravian College
Vic Urbano, CNP
Walden University
Jameela Azeem, CNP
Hofstra University
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Understanding Chronic Pelvic Pain
Why Identifying the Source Matters
Chronic pelvic pain is pain in the lower abdomen or pelvis that lasts six months or longer. It has many possible causes, so finding the source matters. Treatments that help one cause may not help another.
This page covers three sources we evaluate: pelvic venous disorders, musculoskeletal pain and nerve-related pain. Pelvic pain can also come from gynecologic, urologic or digestive conditions. If your evaluation points that way, we’ll recommend you see the right specialist.
Vein Conditions We Evaluate at Our Clinic
From varicose veins and spider veins to chronic venous insufficiency, our vein specialists diagnose and treat a wide range of vein and circulation conditions.
Varicose Veins
Swollen, twisted veins that can cause pain, heaviness and poor circulation.
Spider Veins
Small, visible veins that appear on the legs or face and affect appearance.
Chronic Venous Insufficiency
A long-term condition where veins have trouble returning blood to the heart.
Leg Pain & Heaviness
Persistent discomfort, tiredness or heaviness in the legs.
Leg Swelling (Edema)
Fluid buildup in the legs, ankles or feet.
Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)
Relief-focused care for uncomfortable leg sensations and the urge to move.
Noticing changes in your legs that aren’t going away? Request a vein evaluation at MVM Health or call (888) 628-4785.
Conditions & Causes We Treat
Chronic pelvic pain can stem from various sources, often involving vascular, nerve, or musculoskeletal issues, including pelvic varicose veins that cause blood to pool and create persistent pressure and discomfort. At MVM Health, we treat conditions that frequently cause persistent pelvic discomfort. By identifying the specific cause of your pelvic pain, we develop a targeted treatment plan that directly addresses the source of your symptoms:
By identifying the specific cause of your pelvic pain, we develop a treatment plan that directly targets the source of your symptoms.
- Pelvic Floor Dysfunction
- Endometriosis-related Pain
- Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Dysfunction
- Post-Surgical Pain
- Pelvic Venous Congestion
- Varicose Veins
- Venous Insufficiency
- Nerve Entrapment
Treating Chronic Pelvic Pain by Its Source
Pelvic pain doesn’t have one cause, so it doesn’t have one treatment. It can come from the veins, the joints and muscles, or the nerves, and the right approach depends on which one is driving your symptoms. That’s why we start with a careful evaluation, and why many patients try conservative care first, such as medication review, physical therapy or activity changes. If a targeted procedure is appropriate, your provider will explain what it involves, what the risks are and what to realistically expect. Response varies from person to person, and no outcome is guaranteed.
Advanced Vein Treatments for Healthier, More Confident Legs
We offer minimally invasive, proven treatments to relieve symptoms, improve circulation, and restore the appearance of your legs. Our vein specialists create personalized treatment plans designed around your unique needs and goals.
Varicose Vein Treatment
Effective, minimally invasive treatments to reduce varicose veins and improve circulation.
Sclerotherapy
A proven treatment to close spider and small varicose veins with minimal downtime.
Endovenous Laser Treatment
Advanced laser therapy to close diseased veins and restore healthy blood flow.
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)
A minimally invasive option to treat larger veins with long-lasting results.
VenaSea|™
Vein Closure
A non-thermal, non-tumescent treatment that uses medical adhesive to close veins.
Spider Vein Treatment
Quick and effective solutions to reduce the appearance of spider veins.
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Interventional Options for Chronic Pelvic Pain
Although interventional management can do nothing to correct the underlying anatomy, it can dramatically decrease painful nerve and vascular pressure, such as that due to pelvic varicose veins, and can meaningfully improve your quality of life. In the first appointment with MVM Health, our professionals will thoroughly assess the cause of your pelvic pain symptoms and collaborate with you to develop an individualized treatment strategy that is aimed at providing long-term pain relief. Therapy can involve, but not be restricted to:
Treatment options may include, but are not limited to:
- Pelvic Vein Embolization
- Epidural Steroid Injections
- Nerve Blocks
- Radiofrequency Ablation
- Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Injections
- Trigger Point Injections
- Spinal Cord Stimulation
- Peripheral Nerve Stimulation
Advanced Therapy Options for Chronic Pelvic Pain Relief
Alongside our advanced interventional treatments, MVM Health offers specialized therapies that target the underlying vascular and nerve issues including Pelvic Vein Embolization (PVE) and nerve-focused procedures specifically designed to treat pelvic varicose veins and related venous congestion. For chronic pelvic pain, these treatments are designed to reduce vascular congestion, alleviate pressure around sensitive nerves, and promote the body’s natural healing of damaged pelvic tissues.
Our ultimate goal is to support your long-term relief, restore comfort, and reduce the debilitating throbbing and aching associated with chronic pelvic pain, helping you regain an active lifestyle and improve your quality of life without relying on major invasive surgery.
Do I Have Chronic Pelvic Pain?
Chronic pelvic pain is defined as persistent pain or aching that is felt in the belly button and in the area between the hips and can be due to nerve, muscles, blood circulation or pelvic varicose veins. You can also experience a dull, persistent pain in your lower abdomen, but the most common symptom is a dull heaviness or nagging pain in the pelvic region that can get worse when you are standing, walking, or sitting for long periods. This pelvic pain is, in most instances, alleviated temporarily in patients by lying down or standing on pillows.
When you begin to realize that your standing, walking, or sitting comfort is getting smaller and smaller, and you are in a state where you find it necessary to lie down in order to relieve yourself, these might be the most important indicators that you are in chronic pain in the pelvis. In case you have been asking yourself whether your symptoms need the attention of a pelvic pain specialist near me, do not wait any longer, since early check-ups will result in improved treatment and quicker recovery.
What Are the Symptoms
of Chronic Pelvic Pain?
Chronic Pelvic Pain can cause persistent lower abdominal aching and introduce new types of discomfort due to pressure on nerves or veins. Along with ongoing pelvic pain, patients may notice additional symptoms that impact their daily life, particularly their ability to sit and stand, such as:
- Pain, throbbing, or heaviness in the lower abdomen, groin, or buttocks that worsens with sitting or standing.
- Significant pain relief that occurs when lying down or elevating the legs.
- Numbness, tingling, or “pins-and-needles” sensations in the groin or inner thighs.
- Visible varicose veins in the inner thighs, groin, or vulvar region.
What Are the Primary Causes of Chronic Pelvic Pain?
Chronic pelvic pain can cause persistent lower abdominal aching and introduce new types of discomfort due to pressure on nerves or veins, including those caused by pelvic varicose veins. Along with ongoing pelvic pain, patients may notice additional symptoms that impact their daily life, particularly their ability to sit and stand comfortably:
Venous Insufficiency
The most common vascular cause is faulty vein valves that allow blood to pool in the pelvic area (Pelvic Venous Congestion). As blood gathers in these enlarged veins, it causes chronic pressure and throbbing, which can then be felt as heaviness or persistent pelvic aching.
Nerve Entrapment or Irritation
Nerves in the lower abdomen and pelvis can become irritated or entrapped by surrounding tissues or scar tissue. This pressure on the sensitive nerves can cause shooting, sharp, or persistent burning pain that contributes significantly to the chronic pelvic discomfort.
Musculoskeletal Issues
While a pain episode may start acutely, the underlying cause is often gradual muscular or joint degeneration. Issues like Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Dysfunction or chronic tension in the pelvic floor muscles can refer pain into the pelvic area.
How Is Chronic Pelvic Pain Diagnosed at MVM Health?
At MVM Health, our specialists focus on identifying the precise source of nerve or vascular pressure causing your symptoms including the presence of pelvic varicose veins or venous congestion. If chronic pelvic pain is suspected, we carefully review your full medical history and listen closely to your description of the pain, particularly how it changes with activities like sitting or standing. This is followed by a thorough physical and neurological examination to assess your pain triggers, muscle health, and reflexes.
To confirm the diagnosis and visualize the exact location of the issue, a Pelvic Venous Duplex Ultrasound is typically recommended to get a complete and accurate picture of your pelvic veins and overall circulation. If you have been searching for a trusted pelvic pain near me specialist who takes a thorough and precise diagnostic approach, MVM Health is here to help you find the answers you need.
FAQS
What is Chronic Pelvic Pain and how is it related to vein health?
Chronic Pelvic Pain refers to persistent discomfort or aching below the belly button and between the hips, lasting more than six months. A significant vascular cause is Pelvic Venous Congestion where faulty vein valves allow blood to pool in the pelvic area, causing chronic pressure, throbbing, and heaviness. Other causes treated at MVM Health include nerve entrapment, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Endometriosis-related pain, Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction, and post-surgical pain.
What are the key symptoms that may indicate Chronic Pelvic Pain?
Key symptoms include persistent throbbing or heaviness in the lower abdomen, groin, or buttocks that worsens with sitting or standing and temporarily improves when lying down or elevating the legs. Patients may also experience numbness, tingling, or pins-and-needles sensations in the groin or inner thighs, and visible varicose veins in the inner thighs, groin, or vulvar region.
How is Chronic Pelvic Pain diagnosed at MVM Health?
MVM Health’s diagnosis process begins with a thorough review of medical history and a detailed description of how the pain changes with activity such as sitting or standing. This is followed by a physical and neurological examination. A Pelvic Venous Duplex Ultrasound is typically recommended to map pelvic veins and circulation, confirming the diagnosis and identifying the precise location of the vascular or nerve issue.
What minimally invasive treatments are available for Chronic Pelvic Pain?
MVM Health offers a range of targeted, minimally invasive treatment options including Pelvic Vein Embolization (PVE) to correct blood pooling, Epidural Steroid Injections, Nerve Blocks, Radiofrequency Ablation, Sacroiliac (SI) Joint Injections, Trigger Point Injections, Spinal Cord Stimulation, and Peripheral Nerve Stimulation all designed to relieve nerve and vascular pressure without reliance on major surgery or heavy opioids.
Can Pelvic Vein Embolization provide lasting relief from Chronic Pelvic Pain?
Yes. Pelvic Vein Embolization (PVE) is a highly effective minimally invasive procedure that closes the enlarged, congested pelvic veins responsible for chronic pressure and throbbing. By reducing vascular congestion and alleviating pressure on sensitive pelvic nerves, PVE can provide significant long-term pain relief, restore daily function, and improve quality of life without requiring invasive surgery.
FAQ
What causes pelvic pain in a woman?
Pelvic pain in women can be caused by a variety of conditions including pelvic varicose veins, venous congestion, endometriosis, pelvic floor dysfunction, ovarian cysts, uterine fibroids, nerve entrapment, or sacroiliac joint dysfunction. In many cases, the pain is related to circulatory or nerve issues within the pelvis that gradually worsen over time if left untreated.
What does pelvic pain feel like?
Pelvic pain typically feels like a dull, persistent ache or throbbing heaviness in the lower abdomen, groin, or buttocks. Some women describe it as a constant pressure or cramping sensation that worsens after standing or sitting for long periods and tends to feel better when lying down or elevating the legs.
How to relieve lower pelvic pain?
Temporary relief can come from lying down, elevating your legs, gentle stretching, or applying heat to the lower abdomen. However, for lasting relief, it is important to consult a specialist. At MVM Health, our minimally invasive treatments such as Pelvic Vein Embolization and nerve blocks are designed to target the root cause of your pain rather than simply masking the symptoms.
What are warning signs of pelvic pain?
You should seek medical attention if you experience persistent throbbing or heaviness in the lower abdomen that lasts more than a few weeks, pain that worsens with sitting or standing, visible varicose veins in the groin or inner thighs, numbness or tingling sensations in the pelvic area, or pain that is beginning to interfere with your daily activities and quality of life.
What deficiency causes pelvic pain?
Vitamin D deficiency is one of the most commonly linked nutritional deficiencies associated with pelvic pain, as it plays an important role in muscle function and nerve health. Magnesium deficiency can also contribute to muscle tension and cramping in the pelvic floor. However, nutritional deficiencies are rarely the sole cause most chronic pelvic pain has an underlying vascular or nerve-related cause that requires proper medical evaluation.
Can pelvic pain be cancerous?
In rare cases, persistent pelvic pain can be associated with conditions such as ovarian, uterine, or cervical cancer. However, the vast majority of pelvic pain cases are caused by non-cancerous conditions such as pelvic varicose veins, endometriosis, or nerve issues. That said, any persistent or unexplained pelvic pain should always be evaluated by a medical professional to rule out serious underlying conditions and get an accurate diagnosis as early as possible.
What age does pelvic pain start?
Chronic pelvic pain can develop at any age but is most commonly experienced by women between the ages of 26 and 50. Conditions like endometriosis and pelvic venous congestion often begin during the reproductive years, while musculoskeletal causes such as SI joint dysfunction can develop at any point in adulthood. Early evaluation is always recommended regardless of age.
Can stress cause pelvic pain?
Yes, stress can absolutely contribute to pelvic pain. Chronic stress causes the muscles of the pelvic floor to tighten and remain in a state of tension, which over time can lead to persistent aching, cramping, and discomfort in the pelvic region. While stress alone may not be the primary cause, it can significantly worsen existing pelvic conditions and make symptoms feel more intense. Managing stress alongside proper medical treatment is an important part of a complete recovery plan.
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