Pelvic Bone Pain
Pelvic/Pubic Bone Pain
Pelvic Pain
Pelvic pain can happen to both men and women. This pain may stem from abnormalities in organs, infections, or the pelvic bone, itself. When women have pelvic pain, especially chronic pelvic pain, we have reason to believe it may be in relation to her reproductive system.
Treatment of pubic or pelvic pain will depend on the cause of the pain.
If you experience pelvic bone pain, one possible explanation is osteitis pubis. This condition has the potential to cause pain in the pelvis and groin area. Many times, athletes receive this diagnosis after playing certain sports. Osteitis pubis is basically inflammation of the pubic symphysis, or the joint of the two pelvic bones where they join at the front of the pelvis. This pubic symphysis is a thin joint with, normally, very minimal motion. It holds the two pelvic bones together in the front, while the sacrum connects them in the back.
At SPORT Orthopedics + Physical Therapy, our Dallas orthopedic surgeons plan your personalized treatment in a way that lets you focus on your recovery. We identify the source of your pain, then utilize state-of-the-art treatment practices that focus on restoring your range of motion and quality of life. Depending on your symptoms and your diagnosis, our treatment options range from physical therapy to medications to possible surgery. If you’re experiencing osteitis pubis, call SPORT at 469-200-2832 to schedule your appointment with our orthopedic specialists.
Why Does My Pelvic Bone Hurt?
A multitude of different conditions can contribute to pelvic pain, some of which are mild and some of which are severe. In order to determine the source of your pain, we recommend scheduling an appointment with one of our SPORT specialists as soon as possible. First, we will ask you about your symptoms, pain level, and past medical conditions. We also perform physical exams and offer related tests to perform a proper diagnosis.
Diagnostic Tests for Pelvic Bone Pain
Below, we list commonly performed tests that our specialists offer when diagnosing pelvic bone pain.
- Blood/urine tests
- Pregnancy tests
- Pelvic X-rays
- MRI scans
- Bone density tests
What are the Causes of Pelvic Pain?
Pelvic pain develops as a symptom of many different conditions. As orthopedic surgeons, we’re referring to the pelvic bone, specifically, when speaking about pelvic pain.
Some of the reasons that explain pain in the pubic bone for different individuals include:
- Pinched nerves or bulging discs can sometimes lead to pelvic pain, depending on where those places are located
- Hernia
- Broken pelvic bone
- Surgery: Sometimes, surgery leads to complications. Specifically, osteitis pubis is a complication of various types of gynecological surgeries.
- Sports injury: During certain sports activities, some people overuse or overextend parts of their body.
- Pregnancy: During this period, hormonal changes might shift the gap of the bones of your pelvis in preparation for childbirth. While pregnant or after giving birth, some women develop osteitis pubis.
- Trauma: Injuries to the lower pelvic region could cause inflammation or stress on the bones which contribute to osteitis pubis.
- Rheumatological disorders: Conditions that create inflammation in the pelvic area might result in osteitis pubis.
What Can Cause Pelvic Pain When Walking?
Pain in the pelvic region occurs as a result of a multitude of conditions, including musculoskeletal, digestive, or reproductive. Some people experience worse pain as they walk around.
Many people, especially women will experience some type of pelvic pain over the course of their lifetime. For some, this pain worsens as they walk or begin to move around.
The common causes of pelvic pain when walking include:
- Sacroiliac joint pain: This involves irritation or inflammation of the sacroiliac joint which connects your spine to your pelvis.
- Pubic symphysis dysfunction: Sometimes, this body part becomes too relaxed. This over-relaxation results in pain which could radiate down the legs.
- Osteitis pubis: This inflammation leads to soreness and pain in the pelvic area. It generally worsens with more physical activity.
- Pelvic floor muscle pain: Sometimes, the tension in the muscles surrounding the pelvis causes pain. This pain is more common in women.
How is Pelvic Pain Treated?
The treatment options for pelvic pain will depend on what’s causing it. At SPORT Orthopedics and Physical Therapy, we’re able to treat any issues that stem from muscle problems or bone injuries.
Pelvic Bone Pain Could Be Osteitis Pubis
What is Osteitis Pubis?
This condition consists of inflammation of the pubic symphysis, which leads to pain. In general, this condition affects mostly young athletes. The injury itself results from overuse and occurs at the front of the pelvis along the pubic symphysis joint. This joint consists of the two pubic bones, the capsule of the joint, and the fluid within the joint.
Osteitis Pubis Risks
Several activities increase one’s risk of developing osteitis pubis, which we outline below.
- Sports such as soccer or football
- Long-distance running, fencing, ice hockey, and weightlifting
- Poor strength and flexibility
- Medical history of osteitis pubis
- Previous injuries or sprains to the pelvis
- Loss of motion or stiffness of the hip
- Previous injury to the hip
How Long Does Osteitis Pubis Last?
How long the pelvic pain is associated with this depends almost entirely on the severity of your injury. On average, most people experience a recovery period of anywhere from two to three months. After this period of time and a green light from your doctor, you may resume your normal physical activity. During your recovery period, we encourage you to seek out activities that put less strain on your pubic symphysis. For example, if you enjoy running, you could substitute that for swimming.
Once you recover and return to your normal level of physical activity, rest after each exercise. Consider taking a day or two off between sessions in order to prevent the same injury from happening. Additionally, we recommend warming up with stretches and light exercise before moving on to the more strenuous activities. While osteitis pubis can be painful, you have the power to mitigate this pain with proper rest and pain relief practices.
What are the Symptoms of Osteitis Pubis?
For the most part, symptoms of osteitis pubis are similar to any other injury associated with pelvis bone pain. Patients complain of pain in the front of their pelvis, which may or may not radiate to the groin area, lower abdomen, or inner thigh area.
Pain is typically one-sided and increases with activities such as running, pivoting your leg, climbing, lying on one side, etc.
Certain symptoms commonly accompany osteitis pubis and can help in its diagnosis. These include:
- The pelvis area is tender to the touch.
- You feel pain in your lower abdomen.
- Whenever you cough, sneeze or use the muscles of your abdomen, you feel pain.
- When you stand up or walk, you hear a clicking or popping sound.
- You have a loss of mobility and flexibility or experience weakness.
- You experience fever or chills.
How Would You Treat Osteitis Pubis?
In general, this condition resolves after a long enough period of rest. It does not require surgery or medications, except over-the-counter medications for pain or discomfort. The most important step is avoiding activities that exacerbate the problem. If you engage in activities that cause pain for the area, your recovery time will lengthen. We recommend an ice pack application to the area for 20 minutes every three to four hours. In more severe cases, we might suggest a corticosteroid injection in order to reduce inflammation and ease your symptoms.
Chronic Pelvic Pain
We’ve already discussed the definition of pelvic pain. What makes this chronic is the amount of time that a person is in pain. Typically, we’d say that chronic pelvic bone pain is a pain that lasts more than 6 months.
This may be just a mild ache, or acute pelvic pain, that comes and goes. For some, pelvic pain is a steady and severe pain that makes everyday life difficult.
What Causes Chronic Pelvic Bone Pain?
Chronic pelvic pain causes can include scar tissue in the pelvic region after surgery or infection, bowel disease, or overall problems with your muscles, joints, and ligaments in the pelvis, hips, or lower back.
Chronic pain, for females, can be attributed to the reproductive system.
Pubic Bone Pain Treatment in Dallas
At SPORT, we work hard to identify the source of pain for our patients, and use modern therapeutic techniques to restore their range of motion. Depending on your body, your diagnosis, and its severity, we utilize various forms of treatment. These treatment options include physical therapy, medications, injections, or even surgery in some cases. If you experienced or are experiencing pubic bone or pelvic pain, call today at 469-200-2832 to arrange your consultation with one of our orthopedic specialists.
