Can back issues cause pelvic pain ?

Hello everyone ! I am new here. I am so glad I found this website. My chronic pain is kinda like that old children's song "Head, shoulders, knees and toes" My body likes to surprise me in the morning as I get out of bed and feel "the pain of the day". Lately I have been getting a good deal of pelvic pain. Been to my gyno and she ordered the tests , all of which have been normal. So that leaves me once again putting the blame on my back or my Fibro. I am post menopause and had a hysterectomy years ago. I do still have my ovaries.I have not felt pelvic pain in years. I am hoping this will just go away. Would anyone have experience with lower back pain radiating to pelvic area ?

Hi, Dakotah,
Welcome to the chronic pain forum. I can definitely answer your question with a "yes", although it might depend on what type of pelvic pain you're talking about. Nerve pain can be referred to various places in our body, plus some of the nerves in the lower spine actually provide the sensation for the pelvic region, so if a nerve is being squeezed or otherwise impinged, it certainly can affect that region.

I had a wonderful physical therapist a couple of years ago who was able to locate the source of one of area of pain in my groin area and relieve it by releasing a muscle. I only wish the rest of my pain had been as easy to resolve!

If you are having any symptoms such as urinary incontinence along with the pain, it can be a serious condition called Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES). You might try googling that (sorry I don't have a link handy) and see if your symptoms fit. If so, you need to see a doctor immediately. Otherwise, I'd still suggest consulting a neurologist - or see what your GYN suggests as a follow up.

Again, welcome to the forum.

PaLady

Has your Doctor ruled out endometriosis? I had it and had severe pelvic and back pain with it. I wish you luck and hopefully they can find out what is causing the pain soon.

Dakota,
First of all welcome to the forum.

Postmenopausal women can still have endometriosis in the body, and it can grow in some cases without estrogen. Men can even have endometriosis in some cases.

I am postmenopausal and have increasing endometriosis, no ovaries, and adhesions throughout my abdomen and pelvis that create most of my pelvic pain. Surgeries caused the adhesions.

Sadly, the only way that doctors can reliably diagnose endo or adhesions is to perform surgery, usually laparoscopic.

Also, if you check out the fibromyalgia forum's link at the top to fibro 101, you will find a list of common issues. Pelvic pain is on that list as well. As another member said, back pain can also tie into pelvic pain.

Good luck in your search, and I hope you keep us posted!

Hi Dakota,

Pelvic pain could be from damage to the pudendal nerve. It can happen following an accident or fall or after things that put a lot of unnatural pressure on the nerve like bike riding.

i've suffered with pudendal nerve entrapment (PNE) for about six years, since falling and hitting my backside against a rock while on a backpacking trip. i was carrying way too much in my pack then it rained and i couldn't manage the weight. It's low pelvic nerve pain- the perennial area, the part of the body that hits the chair when sitting. Sitting is almost impossible when you have severe pudendal nerve pain.

It's sometimes very difficult to find the diagnosis of PNE as most drs never think of it. i don't think it's rare though- there are doctors that specialize in treating pelvic pain that can test the PN and can treat it. A few can do surgery to correct it but it's difficult to fix.

Best wishes to you, to find what is wrong and something that helps,
sophora

Hello everyone. I have been to my GYNO and she seems to think ,( after looking at my Ct scan ) that my pelvic pain is radiating from my lumbar area. Endometriosis after menopause is something I had not considered. It feels exactly like the type of pain. Trust me , after living with that pain for so many years I remember it well. I go back to my Gyno in a few weeks for my annual and I will ask her about that possibility, ugh that would be my luck! Thanks for the comments.