Pelvic Pain Management Program

The Nura Pelvic Pain Management Program incorporates physical therapy, behavioral health, medication management and interventional techniques to treat pelvic pain, a life-altering condition that involves physical discomfort and emotional distress.

While pelvic pain is more common in women, it also affects men. The goals of the pelvic pain management program include reduction of pain, restoration of normal function and improved quality of life.

The pain physicians and specialists at Nura are skilled in diagnosing the causes of chronic pelvic pain and work together to develop a treatment plan tailored to the patient’s individual needs.

Nura provides an integrated, multidisciplinary approach to manage pelvic pain. Patients will receive care from a team that includes board-certified pain physicians, advanced practice providers, specialized physical therapists and licensed psychologists, all of whom have expertise in pelvic pain relief.

Patient Evaluation

The first step in effective pelvic pain management and treatment is a comprehensive and thorough evaluation. Our evaluation process includes an interview and review of outside medical records as well as a focused physical examination.

We recommend that female patients have a gynecological examination by their gynecologist and male patients have a prostate examination by their urologist or primary doctor within 60 days of starting the Pelvic Pain Management Program. This is to ensure that all patients have been screened for any treatable, organic diseases that may be contributing to pain in the pelvic region.

Diagnostic Testing for Pelvic Pain

An important part of pelvic pain evaluation involves sophisticated diagnostic testing. We review the results of any previous tests a patient may have undergone prior to coming to Nura. We may order additional testing as necessary.

Interventional Approach to Pelvic Pain

Chronic pelvic pain is often a condition in which the pain-sensing nerves of the pelvis have become hypersensitive. Our focus is to coordinate minimally-invasive interventional pain procedures with specialized pelvic physical therapy to calm pelvic nerves and reduce hypersensitivity and to provide psychological treatments to reduce the anxiety and depression that often accompanies chronic pain.

Our board-certified physician pain specialists are experts at precision, image-guided pain procedures that target the most common pain generating nerves involved in pelvic pain. The interventions we offer include:

• Caudal Epidural Blockade
• Hypogastric Plexus Block
• Pudendal Nerve Block
• Ilioinguinal Nerve Block
• Genitofemoral Nerve Block
• Neuroablation procedures

We start with a targeted intervention coordinated with physical therapy sessions each week, for a total of 6-8 weeks of intensive treatment.

For severe cases that do not respond to more conservative treatments, we offer implantable pain control systems including neurostimulation and targeted drug delivery.

Medication Management

We provide non-opioid and opioid medication options for pelvic pain patients as appropriate and necessary for pain relief, improvement of function and quality of life. Each patient meets with a specialized provider at least once per month, and sometimes as often as once per week, to manage medications, coordinate care, and assess progress.

Physical Therapy

Nura physical therapists have specialized training in the management of pelvic pain and are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of pelvic floor disorders. These conditions may be associated with urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, constipation, pudendal neuralgia, interstitial cystitis and dyspareunia.

We have a patient-centered approach to restore a sense of control by providing patients with self-management pelvic pain relief strategies. Nura physical therapists use point of care rehabilitative ultrasound, biofeedback/SEMG, manual therapy, therapeutic exercise and other techniques to improve pelvic muscle tone, reduce pain and improve function.

Behavioral Health

Pelvic pain can be difficult for patients to talk about and is often associated with anxiety and depression. Nura pain psychologists understand the emotional and mental stressors that exist for patients who have a chronic pelvic pain diagnosis and provide tools such as relaxation training, biofeedback, and group support to help patients cope. Nura also offers individual and couples counseling to decrease the effects that pelvic pain may have on an individual’s personal relationships.