Coping With Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain is often difficult to diagnose as it can overlap with other chronic conditions. Coping with chronic pain is often difficult on its own, but when finding the right treatment for a condition like chronic pelvic pain is a challenge, coping becomes that much harder.

In addition to seeking treatment, one of the most important ways to cope with your chronic pelvic pain is to find some sort of control over your condition. This is not easy, but the following approaches can help.

Coping with Pelvic Pain – Do Some Research

When you are newly diagnosed or being diagnosed, find out as much information as possible about your condition. This can help you understand your pain, and can be a vital resource at your doctor’s appointments. It might sound obvious, but the more you can learn about your pelvic pain, the less that remains unknown. Uncertainty about your diagnosis can often lead to feelings of helplessness and fear. You can avoid some of this through research.

Coping with Pelvic Pain – Seek Support

Sometimes, talking with someone can help. One of your best resources, in addition to your doctor, is a peer. Check out the chronic pain forum, or find someone who will listen without judgment.

Ask your peers what treatments and coping strategies worked for them: They might work for you as well. Or, just vent about your pain. Sometimes just having someone to talk to who understands what you are going through can help. It lets you know you are not alone.

Coping with Pelvic Pain – Simple Strategies for Home

There are a few little things you can do every day, anywhere and anytime that can help keep your pain anxiety to a minimum. Here are a few ideas:

• Keep a pain journal. Write down when you have pain, what you are doing when you have pain and how your pain makes you feel. You can use your journal to identify patterns to your pain, to avoid activities that cause increased pain, or even just to get your feelings out.
• Learn to relax. Stress can increase pain intensity, which can make coping that much harder. Avoid stress whenever possible, which is easier said than done. When you can’t avoid stress, learn some simple relaxation strategies such as deep breathing and muscle relaxation. It can help you get through the hard times.
• Distract yourself. Believe it or not, the more you focus on your pain, the worse it often becomes. Try to focus your attention elsewhere, such as watching your favorite TV program or reading a book. Distraction won’t take your pain away, but it can make it more tolerable.

_Sources:

_{Samwel, Han J, Evers, Andrea W. M, Crul, Ben J. P, and Kraaimaat, Floris W. The Role of Helplessness, Fear of Pain, and Passive Pain-Coping in Chronic Pain Patients. The Clinical Journal of Pain. March/April 2006 - Volume 22 - Issue 3 - pp 245-251.}

_{Weijenborga Philomeen Th. M, ter Kuilea Moniek M, Gopieab Jessica P, and Spinhovenbc Philip. Predictors of Outcome in a Cohort of Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain – A Follow-up Study. European Journal of Pain. Volume 13, Issue 7, Pages 769-775 (August 2009).}

_{Williams, Rachel E, Hartmann, Katherine E, Steege, John F. Documenting the Current Definitions of Chronic Pelvic Pain: Implications for Research. Obstetrics and Gynecology. April 2004 - Volume 103 - Issue 4 - pp 686-691}