title: Chronic female pelvic pain--part 2: differential diagnosis and management.
abstract: Pelvic pain is a common condition. Treatment interventions have traditionally targeted biomedical conditions with variable success. Utilizing a systematic approach to examination of the pelvic girdle and related organ systems contained within the pelvis will aid the clinician in identifying the painful structure(s) as well as the associated impairments limiting functional recovery. From this, a complete management program can be instituted. The following description of gynecologic, urologic, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, and neurologic conditions that can cause or are associated with chronic pelvic pain leads to conservative management proposals based on the available evidence. Finally, nonoperative interventional strategies are described, which target the pain system from a cognitive behavioral perspective, address movement dysfunctions, and address interventional pain technique possibilities.
authors.affiliation: Eastern Washington University, Spokane, Washington, USA.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Apte
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Justiz
authors.forename: Jean-Michel
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Brismeé
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dedrick
authors.forename: Philip S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Sizer
mesh_terms: D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management / Q000592:standards; D017699:Pelvic Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D010808:Physical Examination; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities