Pelvic Pain When Coughing
Coughing may cause pelvic pain, which can be discomforting and worrisome. Women may experience this pain due to a number of conditions affecting the pelvic area and reproductive organs. If your uterus hurts, especially when coughing, understanding the causes can help you manage your symptoms and cope with the pain.
This article will address the causes of pelvic pain when coughing, potential treatment options, and how pelvic floor physical therapy in San Ramon might help ease your discomfort.
Common Causes of Pelvic Pain When Coughing
Many factors can lead to pelvic pain during a cough, some of which may be an underlying medical condition that requires urgent medical help. Some of the causes of pelvic pain when coughing include;
Uterine Conditions
Uterine conditions can have a huge impact on the underlying cause of not only pelvic pain but also enhanced pelvic pain when coughing. A good example of this is endometriosis, which occurs when tissue that looks and acts like endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus. The condition can be aggravated by a dull cough.
Uterine fibroids and pelvic organ prolapse are also good examples. When the uterus experiences non-cancerous growths (uterine fibroids), it can cause pelvic pain when you cough. Pelvic organ prolapse occurs when the pelvic organs drop from their normal position, making a bulge in the vagina. This can likewise cause pelvic pain whenever you cough.
Muscle Strain
Muscle strain is another potential cause of pelvic discomfort. Specifically, pelvic floor muscle strain can happen when the muscles that make up the pelvic floor are under duress. This can lead to a condition that makes the muscles weak or strained, resulting in pelvic pain that is greatly exacerbated when the person coughs.
Muscle strain in the abdominal area can also occur because of recent surgery to the abdominal area or to the pelvis, as well as some activities that might stress the abdominal wall, causing the person to experience surprising amounts of pain when they cough.
Infections
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) can cause pelvic pain when the person with the infection coughs. More severe infections that are located in the reproductive system, like Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), can also give the person considerable amounts of pelvic pain that might be worsened with some activities or that might feel like they're straining the abdominal area when the person coughs.
Inguinal Hernia
A weak place in the abdominal muscles allows tissue to push through—creating an inguinal hernia. When you cough, there is increased pressure on the hernia site, which can lead to pelvic pain. If you have an inguinal hernia, it will feel like a bulge in your groin.
Pregnancy and childbirth can increase your risk of an inguinal hernia due to the weakness in the abdominal muscles and uterus.
How to Manage Pelvic Pain When Coughing
The best advice for managing this pelvic pain in the short term is to wear a supportive belt that helps relieve pressure on the pelvic area. You can also try gentle abdominal exercises at home to reduce pain and support your pelvic area.
It is also very important to take care of any cough that you have. If you have a nagging cough that just won't go away, you might want to consider using some kind of cough syrup. You want to make sure the syrup you are using is treating the cause of your cough and not just covering it up.
And as with almost anything else, heat can help relax your muscles and alleviate pain. Use a heating pad or some other kind of warm compress and put it on your pelvis.
How Can Physical Therapy Help with Pelvic Pain?
Seek a thorough evaluation from a medically trained professional if your pain continues or intensifies. San Ramon physical therapy has a number of techniques that can help with pelvic pain, especially when pelvic floor problems are a part of the reason for the pain. These techniques include the following;
Biofeedback
Biofeedback is a method that helps you gain more control over certain functions of your body. During a biofeedback session, you'll have sensors attached to you to monitor your pelvic floor activity.
The treatment provides instant feedback, displayed on a monitor to show you how you are engaging your pelvic floor muscles. Your therapist will then guide you on the proper way to engage and relax these muscles to relieve pain.
Kegel Exercises
Another effective way to reinforce the pelvic floor is the Kegel exercise. This exercise is typically used to help women regain pelvic support after childbirth but you can also use it to support your pelvic muscles.
When doing Kegels, tighten your pelvic floor muscles, hold for a count of five, then relax for a count of five. You should avoid using your buttocks or abdominal muscles during this exercise. Just the pelvic floor.
Trigger Point Therapy
Manual release of the trigger points is performed by a trained physical therapist. The trigger points are located in very specific places in the pelvic area, and the manual techniques help to release both the trigger points and the taut bands of muscle around them.
Electrical Stimulation
Electrical stimulation (e-stim for short) uses low-level electrical currents to stimulate the nerves and the muscles around them. E-stim offers several benefits and can be used in a variety of ways. For physical therapy patients with pelvic floor issues, e-stim can help regain pelvic floor muscle control. This technique is especially helpful for women with weakened pelvic muscles or for those who are recovering from childbirth-related injuries.
Conclusion
Coughing while in pelvic pain can be a tough nut to crack, but understanding why It happens can make a world of difference. With home remedies, you should be able to find relief from mild pelvic pain. However, in severe instances, you may need to visit your physical therapist.
Your therapist will assess your symptoms and medical history to create a tailored treatment plan for you, With the right approach, you should find pain relief and enjoy a more comfortable life.
