Pelvic Pain Is Not Something You Have to Live With
Pelvic pain is one of the most undertreated and misunderstood conditions in musculoskeletal medicine. Patients who present with pelvic pain are frequently passed between providers — gynecologists, urologists, gastroenterologists, primary care physicians — without a clear diagnosis or effective treatment plan. Imaging comes back normal. Lab work is unremarkable. And the patient is told that what they are experiencing is stress-related, psychosomatic, or simply something they will need to manage.
In the majority of these cases, the musculoskeletal system — and specifically the pelvic floor — is the primary driver of the pain. And it has never been properly evaluated.
At Bray Chiropractic & Wellness in Glastonbury, pelvic pain is treated as a clinical problem with identifiable musculoskeletal contributors and a clear treatment pathway — for both men and women.
What Is Pelvic Pain?
Pelvic pain refers to pain experienced in the lower abdomen, pelvis, perineum, genitals, tailbone, or surrounding structures. It can be constant or intermittent, positional or activity-related, sharp or aching — and it frequently affects multiple regions simultaneously. Pelvic pain is classified as chronic when it has been present for six months or longer.
Pelvic pain is not a diagnosis. It is a symptom pattern that can have multiple underlying contributors — and accurate treatment requires identifying which contributors are driving the pain in each individual patient.
What Causes Pelvic Pain?
Pelvic pain is most commonly driven by one or more of the following musculoskeletal contributors:
Pelvic floor hypertonicity
Excessive tension in the pelvic floor muscles is the single most common musculoskeletal driver of chronic pelvic pain. A hypertonic pelvic floor produces pain directly through sustained muscle tension and trigger point activity — and indirectly by altering the mechanics of the surrounding structures including the sacroiliac joints, hips, and lumbar spine. Pelvic floor hypertonicity is frequently present in patients with pelvic pain who have never received a pelvic floor assessment. Learn more about Pelvic Floor Therapy.
Trigger points in the pelvic floor and surrounding musculature
Myofascial trigger points — hyperirritable spots within muscle tissue that refer pain to other regions — are a major contributor to pelvic pain. Trigger points in the pelvic floor muscles, iliopsoas, piriformis, obturator internus, adductors, and gluteals can all refer pain into the pelvis and perineum in patterns that closely mimic visceral pain. These trigger points are accessible and highly responsive to treatment when properly identified.
Sacroiliac joint dysfunction
The sacroiliac joints are directly adjacent to the pelvic floor and share fascial and ligamentous connections with the pelvic structures. SI joint dysfunction frequently contributes to pelvic pain — and is often missed when assessment focuses exclusively on the pelvic floor or visceral structures. Learn more about SI Joint Dysfunction.
Hip and deep hip rotator dysfunction
The deep hip rotators — including the piriformis and obturator internus — have direct connections to the pelvic floor and are frequently involved in pelvic pain. Restriction, trigger point activity, and neuromuscular dysfunction in these muscles contribute to pelvic pain in ways that require evaluation of both the hip and the pelvic floor simultaneously. Learn more about Hip Pain.
Pudendal nerve irritation
The pudendal nerve supplies the perineum, genitals, and surrounding structures — and irritation or entrapment of this nerve produces a characteristic pattern of pelvic, perineal, and genital pain that can be severely disabling. Pudendal neuralgia is discussed in detail on its own page. Learn more about Pudendal Neuralgia.
Lumbar spine contribution
The lumbar spine and sacrum are the origin of the nerve roots that supply the pelvic floor and surrounding structures. Lumbar dysfunction — disc pathology, joint dysfunction, and nerve root irritation — can directly contribute to pelvic pain and pelvic floor dysfunction in ways that are often not considered when assessment focuses exclusively on the pelvis. Learn more about Low Back Pain.
Pelvic Pain in Men and Women
Pelvic pain affects both men and women — though it is far more commonly discussed and treated in women. Male pelvic pain is significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated, frequently attributed to prostatitis or other urological conditions without evaluation of the musculoskeletal contributors.
At Bray Chiropractic & Wellness, pelvic pain is treated in both men and women with the same clinical thoroughness and evidence-based approach. For male patients specifically, the pelvic floor assessment and treatment approach is explained in detail on the Pelvic Floor Care for Men page.
Pelvic Pain During and After Pregnancy
Pregnancy and the postpartum period are among the most common contexts for pelvic pain development. Hormonal changes, postural adaptation, the mechanical demands of labor and delivery, and the physical changes of the postpartum period all create significant vulnerability to pelvic pain — and most of these presentations are undertreated or dismissed as a normal part of having a baby.
Pelvic pain during pregnancy and postpartum pelvic pain are addressed in detail on their respective service pages. Learn more about Pelvic Floor Care During Pregnancy and Postpartum Pelvic Floor Care.
How Pelvic Pain Is Evaluated at This Practice
Assessment of pelvic pain at Bray Chiropractic & Wellness includes:
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Detailed health history — onset, location, character, aggravating and relieving factors, associated symptoms, prior medical and musculoskeletal evaluation, and treatment history
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Full musculoskeletal assessment of the lumbar spine, sacroiliac joints, and hips
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External pelvic floor assessment — evaluating tone, tenderness, and trigger point activity in the accessible pelvic floor and surrounding musculature
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Internal pelvic floor assessment when clinically appropriate and with full informed consent
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Neurological screening — evaluating the contribution of lumbar nerve root involvement and peripheral nerve irritation
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Functional assessment — identifying positions and activities that provoke or relieve symptoms
How Pelvic Pain Is Treated at This Practice
Treatment for pelvic pain at Bray Chiropractic & Wellness is individualized based on assessment findings and may include:
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Pelvic floor manual therapy — external and internal soft tissue treatment for pelvic floor hypertonicity and trigger points
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Chiropractic manipulation and mobilization of the lumbar spine, sacroiliac joints, and hips
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Dry needling for pelvic floor and surrounding musculature trigger points
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Rehabilitative exercise targeting pelvic floor relaxation, coordination, and progressive loading
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Clinical nutrition guidance when systemic inflammation is contributing to pain sensitivity and tissue irritability
Learn more about Pelvic Floor Therapy, Chiropractic Care, Dry Needling, and Rehabilitative Exercise at this practice.
Pelvic Pain Treatment in Glastonbury, CT
Patients with chronic pelvic pain in Glastonbury, South Glastonbury, Hebron, Marlborough, East Hartford, Manchester, and the surrounding Hartford County area will find a thorough, musculoskeletal-focused approach to pelvic pain care at Bray Chiropractic & Wellness that addresses the full clinical picture — for both men and women.
No referral is required. New patients can schedule directly online or by calling or texting (203) 303-4760. Bray Chiropractic & Wellness is in-network with Aetna, Anthem BCBS, Cigna (ASH), and CT Medicaid (Husky). Self-pay and HSA/FSA options are also available.