Abdominal Wall Pain, Hernias & Pelvic Pain

The pelvis and abdominal region does an amazing job of holding up the rest of the body. But when pain strikes in this region, it can be difficult to walk, sit or even enjoy the most basic activities.

If you’re suffering from abdominal or pelvic pain, you may notice a radiating pain down the inner thighs, which can be misdiagnosed as leg pain. Even mild pain can be a sign of a problem in the abdominal or pelvic region. If the pain is chronic, it’s important to visit a Complex Abdominal and Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CAPPS) specialist, since the source of the pain needs to be determined and treated on a number of different fronts at once.

Unfortunately, the source of the pain can be hard to pin down, since it can be caused by a number of things, ranging from adhesions caused by surgery and endometriosis to pelvic wall issues, Irritable Bowel Syndrome or a fallen womb.

Adhesions pose a particular problem, since they are a natural byproduct of surgery, an infection or an inflammation. When this occurs, the tissues will try to heal themselves, resulting in internal scarring. In many cases, two organs or muscle structures may grow together causing pain as the adhesion is stretched.

If you experience pain in this area, doctors at the Center for Complex Abdominal and Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CAPPS) at Celebration Health will perform a series of tests to diagnose the cause of the pain. This can include MRIs, CT scans and X-rays, as well as laparoscopic exploratory surgery. This is a minimally invasive procedure that allows the surgeon to insert a camera to get a live view of the abdominal and pelvic area. In many cases, the source of the pain is not obvious, such as when adhesions form between the bowel’s fatty tissues and the pelvic and abdominal organs. When these adhesions form, pain may occur when they are stretched, such as during digestion or other natural body functions.

This is why it’s so important to have your abdominal and pelvic pain attended to by a specialist in CAPPS. They will review your case and recommend treatment based on your symptoms and medical history.