Is your spine the cause?

[webslave]

It needs to be stated that pelvic pain can result from processes going on in the lower spine.

Just as nerve root problems in the lumbar spine can result in sciatica (pain in the thigh, lower leg and foot), so problems with the nerves emerging from the lower spine (sacrum) —e.g. pinched or inflamed at the point where they exit the spinal column— can cause pain in the pelvis.



One way of testing if your problem is spine-related is to get an ice-pack (gel-filled is preferable, but solid plastic will do), which is about as large as the area indicated in the above illustration.

Cold (ice) therapy is used to combat numerous inflammatory conditions, and is known to increase the levels of anti-inflammatory proteins (cytokines) and decrease that of proinflammatory cytokines. I surmise that just as heat can change the nature of a protein (for example, cooking an egg), so cold can too.

Product links:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0027CU1EY
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0000DH4M3

Ice Packs

ice-packs.jpg (25.66 KiB) Viewed 3841 times

Tips

1. Place the ice pack on the lower spine and include the area of the upper buttocks so that top half of the "crack" is covered ;
2. Make sure there is a thin layer of material, such as a single layer of cotton T-shirt, between your skin and the ice pack, to prevent frostbite. A thin bed-sheet is too thin, and most towels are too thick and insulating (making the ice pack ineffective);
3. Lie on your back on a bed with knees raised;
4. Place pack under your spine as indicated and stay there for 10-12 minutes. TIME YOURSELF!
5. At about the 5th minute, the discomfort caused by the ice pack will cease as the area numbs;
6. Repeat treatment every few hours when the skin in the area is warm to the touch again. Do NOT re-treat when the skin is still chilled in any way.
7. It is very important NOT TO GO OVER THE INDICATED TIMES! Exposures of 20 minutes and more can result in FROSTBITE (Google "ice packs frostbite" if you don't believe me).

If you find no change in the level of pelvic pain after a couple of days of treatment (with 4-5 treatments per day), you can assume that nerve impingement in the lower spine is probably not the cause of your pelvic pain.

[CMT23]

Thanks for this. If it appears that nerve impingement in the lower spine is the problem, what is the next step? And could it really be the problem for me considering that I sometimes have hours at a time sitting or lying still where I feel discomfort of only 1or 2 out of 10? And also considering that a month or two after symptoms started they disappeared completely when I left what was a stressful environment for the Summer. Upon returning a few months later the symptoms started up again and haven't gone away since.

I still feel that the Wise/Anderson protocol makes the most sense for me, but I hear about other ideas and wonder if that's the problem. And even with the protocol, now I am reading people saying that you need to put the wand 8-10 inches inside the rectum and hold trigger points for 3-5 minutes. This is completely different from what we were told at the clinic.

[webslave]

Thanks for this. If it appears that nerve impingement in the lower spine is the problem, what is the next step?

Depends on the cause.

Get an MRI of the area. If there is, for example, bad arthritic degeneration, disc prolapse or stenosis, take advice from orthopedic surgeon.

If symptoms subside but MRI is negative, you may need to look seriously at changing your chair, sitting less, and perhaps even changing career.

[CMT23]

MRI has been done and completely normal.

Will try the ice thing and report back.

[jg6075]

Just bumping this because it caught my attention. I haven't had a chance to do the ice pack test but...

I did have an MRI recently, and it showed a bulging disc in my lower back (not quite herniated), as well as mild scoliosis. I've always had back and posture problems, and now it's to the point where standing for a long enough time causes bad lower back and shoulder pain, as well as numbness in my lower back. There are other weird back related things, like leaning foward or bending over causing pain in my feet. I noticed on my vacation away from my desk job, my pain subsided a bit temporarily. Sitting definitely makes things worse. All this, and I'm only 23!

I went to an orthopedic awhile ago, who was useless and didn't think there was a connection, so I'm not sure what to do.

[webslave]

First thing to do is get a cushion with a cut out for the lower spine, eg. the Tush Cush

That stops pressure on the lower spine when sitting .... vital for anyone with a sitting job and spine issues

[jg6075]

Thanks, I'll take a look at all of this. I actually might just look into a standing desk setup as well, but that probably introduces other problems.

[Tetro]

Would using a powerful topical penetrating NSAID like Voltaren Gel or Pennsaid have the same effects as a ice pack? I had severe tendonitis in my wrist and was given a script (in Canada it's over the counter) and it worked great for the burning pain, so one day I tried it for pain and burning post ejaculation and it worked great, calmed everything right down, just don't get it on your anus the alcohol in the gel causes burning