Chiropractic

The Somatovisceral Interface With Pelvic Pain

Introduction

Pain in different body areas can excruciate the host as it can affect other regions. In the body, pain can affect the muscles, tissues, organs, and skeletal joints through environmental factors that affect the body’s systems. For example, theΒ gut systemΒ provides the body with overall health and wellness by regulating homeostasis and metabolism, which can be affected by common factors likeΒ stressΒ or unhealthy eating habits that can causeΒ joint inflammationΒ due to overproducing harmful gut bacteria. Or how aboutΒ poor postureΒ affecting the organs in the pelvic region and causing the lower back and neck muscles to have a dull ache in the body. Today’s article looks at how pelvic pain affects the somato-visceral reflexes in the body and how there are treatments for relieving pelvic pain. We refer patients to certified providers specializing in chiropractic treatments that help those with pelvic pain. We also guide our patients by referring to our associated medical providers based on their examination when it’s appropriate. We find that education is the solution to asking our providers insightful questions. Dr. Alex Jimenez DC provides this information as an educational service only.Β Disclaimer

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Can my insurance cover it? Yes, it may.Β If you are uncertain, here is the link to all the insurance providers we cover. If you have any questions or concerns, please call Dr. Jimenez at 915-850-0900.

Somatovisceral Reflexes & Pelvic Pain

Have you experienced pain in your lower back or pelvic regions from sitting too long? Have you experienced bladder dysfunction that is causing you to urinate frequently? Or are you suffering from muscle cramps in the pelvic area?Β Studies have revealedΒ that pelvic pain can be a chronic, persistent pain associated with co-morbidities like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), neurological disorders, or low back pain. Pelvic pain is challenging to diagnose since it is multifactorial and shares various nerve roots that send signals to the brain. For example, individuals that suffer fromΒ pelvic painΒ will complain about the somatovisceral convergence affecting their reproductive organs and connective tissues. Other issues like prolonged sitting and poor posture can also affect the lumbosacral nerve root as it is being compressed, causing low back pain and pelvic organ dysfunction.

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TheΒ somato-visceral reflexesΒ of the pelvic muscles can become overstretched and compress the surrounding nerve roots like the sciatic nerve and the lumbosacral nerve, causing issues of sciatica or lower back pain.Β Studies have also revealedΒ that individuals who suffer from spinal cord injuries can disrupt the somatic lumbosacral nerve pathway that is responsible for coordinating bladder function to the pelvic region. TheseΒ pathwaysΒ can also produce different autonomic reflex responses to the various organs and somatic afferents. For example, if a female is experiencing pain in her hips or thighs from hyper-sensitive nerve roots, the brain will register that as pain in her reproductive system. Or, if the pelvic muscles are hypersensitive to the touch, something might be affecting the genital regions.


An Overview Of Pelvic Pain- Video

Have you experienced muscle tenderness located in the pelvic region? Have stressful events caused changes in the reproductive system? Have you experienced pelvic pain that is associated with low back pain? You might be experiencing these systems due to pelvic pain and associated co-morbidities. The video above gives an overview of pelvic pain and how it affects the body.Β Research studies have revealedΒ that the characteristic of mechanically induced pelvic pain and organic dysfunction that correlates to lower sacral nerve root compression results from low back disorders. The environmental factors that can cause low back conditions include:

  • Obesity
  • Heavy lifting
  • Muscle strain
  • Poor posture
  • Herniated disc

Treatments For Pelvic Pain

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Various treatments can help relieve these overlapping risk profiles associated with pelvic pain and low back pain that are causing the issue and strengthen the weak muscle affected. Exercising can help support the hip and thigh muscles to prevent muscle strain on theΒ low back and pelvic musclesΒ with the combination of chiropractic therapy to provide beneficial pain relief.Β Chiropractic therapyΒ on the lumbar spine can help alleviate pelvic pain and lumbosacral nerve root irritation affecting the pelvic region. The effects of chiropractic therapy help sustain the caudal flexion of the lumbar spine and release the muscle that aggravates the lumbosacral nerve root that is running along the pelvic region.Β 

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Conclusion

Pain affecting the pelvic region can be due to co-morbidities affecting different areas in the body. With pelvic pain being multifactoral, it can be a challenge to diagnose since it shares various nerve roots signaling to the brain. This causes many individuals to complain about somatovisceral convergence that can affect their reproductive organs and connective tissues in the pelvic region. Other issues like low back pain associated with prolonged sitting and poor posture can cause pelvic pain too. Treatments like chiropractic therapy and exercising can help strengthen the low back and pelvic muscles to alleviate painful symptoms that are causing underlying issues and discomfort in the body.

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References

Browning, J E. β€œMechanically Induced Pelvic Pain and Organic Dysfunction in a Patient without Low Back Pain.” Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Sept. 1990, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2212886/.

Browning, J E. β€œChiropractic distractive decompression in treating pelvic pain and multiple system pelvic organic dysfunction.” Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics vol. 12,4 (1989): 265-74. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2527938/

CM;, Spitznagle TM;Robinson. β€œMyofascial Pelvic Pain.” Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 9 June 2014, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25155122/.

Craggs, Michael D. β€œPelvic Somato-Visceral Reflexes after Spinal Cord Injury: Measures of Functional Loss and Partial Preservation.” Progress in Brain Research, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2006, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16198702/.

Dydyk, Alexander M, and Nishant Gupta. β€œChronic Pelvic Pain – Statpearls – NCBI Bookshelf.” In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL), StatPearls Publishing, 11 Nov. 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554585/.

Disclaimer

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General Disclaimer *

Professional Scope of Practice *

The information on this blog site is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.

Blog Information & Scope Discussions

Welcome to El Paso's Premier Wellness and Injury Care Clinic wellness blog, where Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, FNP-C, a board-certified Family Practice Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) and Chiropractor (DC), presents insights on how our team is dedicated to holistic healing and personalized care. Our practice aligns with evidence-based treatment protocols inspired by integrative medicine principles, similar to those found on dralexjimenez.com, focusing on restoring health naturally for patients of all ages.

Our areas of chiropractic practice include Β Wellness & Nutrition, Chronic Pain, Personal Injury, Auto Accident Care, Work Injuries, Back Injury, Low Back Pain, Neck Pain, Migraine Headaches, Sports Injuries, Severe Sciatica, Scoliosis, Complex Herniated Discs, Fibromyalgia, Chronic Pain, Complex Injuries, Stress Management, Functional Medicine Treatments, and in-scope care protocols.

Our information scope is limited to Chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicine, wellness, contributing etiological viscerosomatic disturbances within clinical presentations, associated somatovisceral reflex clinical dynamics, subluxation complexes, sensitive health issues, and/or functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions.

We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system.

Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.*

Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research studies or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how they may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to discuss the subject matter above further, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez, DC, or contact us at 915-850-0900.

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Blessings

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, FNP-C, FNP-APRN*, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed as a Doctor of Chiropractic (DC) in Texas & New Mexico*
Texas DC License # TX5807, New Mexico DC License # NM-DC2182

Licensed as a Registered Nurse (RN*) in Texas & MultistateΒ 
Texas RN License # 1191402Β 
Compact Status: Multi-State License: Authorized to Practice in 40 States*
Graduate with Honors: ICHS: MSN-FNP (Family Nurse Practitioner Program)
Degree Granted. Masters in Family Practice MSN Diploma (Cum Laude)

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, FNP-C, APRN, CIFM*, IFMCP*, ATN*, CCST
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