Endometriosis is a common gynecological problem that affects at least 11% of women. Although endometriosis can cause severe pelvic pain, at least half of all women with endometriosis don’t experience pelvic or menstrual pain.
Imagine that you have endometriosis without gynecologic-related pain. Then you suddenly develop hip pain without any evidence of a hip problem (because it’s caused by endometriosis).
Now you have a pain problem that creates a really confusing clinical picture because hip pain is seldom associated with endometriosis, whether or not your endometriosis is diagnosed.
As pain specialists, Florida Pain Medicine has the expertise to accurately identify the cause of your hip pain. More importantly, they can alleviate your pain even if you have extensive endometriosis by targeting the source of your pain: the pelvic nerves.
Here’s a rundown on how endometriosis causes hip pain and the solutions we offer at our offices in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Brandon, Riverview, Ormond Beach, Port Orange, and Palm Coast, Florida
Endometriosis develops when tissues that normally line the inside of your uterus start to grow outside your uterus. Though there are several theories about how that happens, many medical experts believe that when you menstruate, a small amount of blood can travel backwards and go out the Fallopian tubes.
Endometrial cells from the uterine lining are carried out by the menstrual blood. Then the cells attach to organs and structures outside your uterus where they continue to grow. These patches of tissue are called endometriosis.
The tissues that make up endometriosis respond to monthly hormonal changes just as if they were still inside the uterus. As a result, they thicken with blood for several weeks and then shed the extra blood at the same time you menstruate.
When patches of endometriosis bleed, the fluid stays inside your pelvic cavity, where it causes inflammation, scarring, and adhesions. These changes typically lead to general abdominal pain as well as abdominal pain before and during your periods.
However, your pelvic region contains a complex of nerves. As endometriosis grows and expands, it may directly affect these nerves or create scar tissue that presses against nerves. When endometrial lesions build around the nerves, they cause pain.
Where you feel the pain depends on which nerves are affected by the endometrial lesions, but one of the most common problems is hip pain. In some cases, your hip pain may radiate to the buttock.
If we’re the first providers to diagnose endometriosis, we encourage you to see your gynecologist for the appropriate treatment. It’s essential to get a thorough gynecological exam, because endometriosis is one of the top causes of infertility.
In the meantime, we can help you get relief from your hip pain by targeting the nerves sending pain signals to your brain. Sensory nerves pick up pain signals from your hip and pelvic region and carry them to your spine. From there, the signals go to your brain.
We use treatments such as nerve blocks, radiofrequency ablation, and spinal cord stimulation to stop pain signals at your spine. When your brain fails to get the message, it doesn’t perceive the pain. As a result, your hip pain is significantly diminished.
You don’t need to keep suffering from hip pain. Our team at Florida Pain Medicine can get to the source of the problem and provide treatments that effectively alleviate the pain. To learn more, call one of our offices, or schedule an appointment online.
