Have you ever felt pain in one area of your body, only to find out that the problem is actually coming from somewhere else? Clinically, this is called referred pain and it happens when pain signals from one part of the body are felt in another region. The pelvis is a common source of referred pain and can manifest in many regions. Getting an accurate understanding where your pain is really coming from can be key to lasting relief.
At BEFORM Physical Therapy, we see many patients dealing with persistent pain that hasn’t resolved with previous treatments. That’s often because the root cause hasn’t been fully identified and addressed. Let’s break down some of the most common sources of referred pain and why a thorough evaluation is so important.
For this blog, we will focus on the pelvis (but remember, this happens everywhere in the body). There are a few different structures that can contribute to referred pain in and around the pelvis, including muscles, nerves, joints, and even internal organs.
MUSCLES – Tight or irritated muscles can develop trigger points, which may refer pain to other areas of the body. Have you ever had a tight upper trap muscle and felt pain down your arm when someone massaged it? That’s referred pain! Similarly, trigger points in the pelvic floor muscles can cause pain in the lower back, hips, groin, tailbone, or thighs.
NERVES – Nerve irritation or compression from the lower back can send pain signals to the pelvis, hips, or legs, as the nerves that innervate the muscles of these areas all stem from the lower back. Sciatica, for example, happens when the sciatic nerve is compressed, causing pain to radiate down the leg. Other pelvic nerves, like the pudendal nerve, can contribute to acute or chronic pelvic pain.
JOINTS – Dysfunction in the joints of the hip, pelvis, or lower back can also refer pain. We will call dysfunction any abnormal issue in the joint space: lack of range of motion, bony abnormalities, derangement of internal structures, etc. The thoracolumbar junction (where the upper and lower spine meet) is a common problem area that can mimic pain being referred from other conditions, such as gynecological or digestive issues. In the pelvic the sacroiliac (SI) joint is another frequent culprit, often causing pain in the lower back, hip, or thigh. Being able to rule in and rule out surrounding structures is important in identifying where to direct treatment and what treatment to consider as an intervention for the most effective outcome.
INTERNAL ORGANS – I bet you didn’t know that your internal organs could have referred pain patterns…Organs within the pelvic region and abdomen can also refer pain. Conditions such as endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and even menstrual cramps can cause pelvic pain that may feel musculoskeletal in nature. Because of this, it’s important to rule out any underlying medical issues when assessing pelvic pain. As pelvic health physical therapists, we can assess internal and externally through an exam to determine if these structures are related and contributing or causing your pain.
Through hands-on techniques, movement assessments, and individualized treatment plans, we help you find lasting relief by treating the root cause—not just the symptoms.
If you’ve been dealing with persistent pain and aren’t sure where it’s coming from, let’s work together to figure it out. Book an appointment at BEFORM Physical Therapy today and take the first step toward feeling better!