Neurogenic Pelvic Pain
Nicholas Elkins1, Jason Hunt1, Kelly M Scott1
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, UT Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75390-9055, USA.
Abstract:
Pelvic neuralgias frequently cause severe pain and may have associated bladder, bowel, or sexual dysfunctions which also impact quality of life. This article explores the etiology, epidemiology, presentation and treatment of common causes of neurogenic pelvic pain, including neuralgia of the border nerves (ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, and genitofemoral), pudendal neuralgia, clunealgia, sacral radiculopathies caused by Tarlov cysts, and cauda equina syndrome. Treatment of pelvic neuralgia includes conservative measures such as pelvic physical therapy, lifestyle modification, and medications with escalation to more invasive and novel treatments such as nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, cryoablation, neuromodulation and neurectomy/neurolysis if conservative treatments are ineffective.
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