Experiencing Pain After Hysterectomy? We Can Help.

Pain After Hysterectomy

Hysterectomies are a very common procedure, so much so, that it is the 2nd most frequently performed procedure for women in the United States who are of reproductive age. It is estimated that over 600,000 hysterectomies are performed every year. While the procedure is quite common and some pain is also normal, long-lasting and debilitating pain is not.

Understanding Hysterectomy Pain

Why Am I Having Pain After a Hysterectomy?

Pain following a hysterectomy can vary based on each person and situation, but we give a general timeframe of three months. If you have pelvic pain three months after your hysterectomy please discuss it with a healthcare provider as often treating the pelvic nerves and muscles will help resolve the pain.

Prolonged Hysterectomy Pain Is Not Normal

Where Can You Experience Pain After a Hysterectomy?

You should expect some pain after your hysterectomy, as you’ve undergone a major surgery, and some forms of pain are very common. When you begin to experience pain and dysfunction within your pelvic floor, those symptoms should be addressed by a pelvic pain specialist.

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    Cramps/Ovary Pain

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    Lower abdominal Pain

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    Leg Pain

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    Bowel Pain

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    Bladder/Burning Pain/Urgency/Frequency

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    Pain with Intercourse

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    Constipation/Pain with Bowel Movements

Treatment Options for Pain After Hysterectomy

We offer a proprietary office-based procedure to treat pelvic pain and dysfunction that can result from a hysterectomy. This treatment consists of a series of pelvic nerve and muscle treatments to directly target the spastic pelvic floor muscles, inflammation in the pelvis, and nerve pain. Depending on the direct cause of your pain, other modalities may be needed in addition to our treatment. Since pain after a hysterectomy, the most effective treatment option is a multimodal approach that targets many different contributing factors. In combination with The PRM Protocol, patients are typically advised a combination of managed pelvic floor physical therapy, behavioral health, nutrition, and medications. Depending on the patient’s individual presentation, other modalities may be needed in addition to our treatment.

Frequently Asked Questions: Pain After Hysterectomy

Experiencing pelvic pain and dysfunction following a hysterectomy can be difficult, but our team of pelvic pain specialists will listen to you, validate your experiences and symptoms, and partner with you on your rehabilitation journey.

Oftentimes patients are placed in the dorsal lithotomy position for this surgery and this could potentially put stress on the hip joints. In addition, patients requiring a hysterectomy may have underlying pelvic floor muscle spasms which can cause pain in the hips and potentially concomitant pelvic girdle weakness which may cause compensatory overuse of muscles surrounding the hip joints.

The bloated sensation can come within the first-month post-op and may be due to the insufflation of the abdomen (air placed in the abdomen to help the surgeon see) required for the surgery. Belly button pain may be referred to as pain from pelvic floor spasms or the organs of the pelvis, it may also occur if the surgeon places a port through the belly button to access your abdomen. Belly button pain can be normal post-operative healing and is normal up to three months post-op.

A hysterectomy may lead to secondary pelvic floor muscle spasms/hypertonia and the scar tissue secondary to the surgery may lead to restricted fascia and ultimately decreased mobility of the fascia as well as decreased blood to the local nerves and muscles.

A general rule of thumb is three months. If you are experiencing pelvic pain and pelvic floor dysfunction three months after your surgery, we recommend meeting with one of our pelvic pain specialists.

Put simply, no. Endometriosis is not cured by endometriosis as endometriosis is a condition in which cells similar to the lining of the uterus grow elsewhere. Removal of the uterus does not cure it. Adenomyosis occurs when the tissue that normally lines the uterus (endometrial tissue) grows into the muscular wall of the uterus and can be cured with a hysterectomy. We advise patients with endometriosis (or suspected) to speak to one of our pelvic pain specialists about the PRM Protocol.

First, our providers will ask questions about your medical history and listen to your symptoms to get a full picture of what is going on with you.

Next, an external exam of your hips, abdomen, and posterior sacrum.

Next, your pelvic nerves are evaluated externally with a soft cotton tip.

Next, with your consent, gel is placed on a gloved finger and an internal exam is performed to allow us to evaluate the nerves and muscles within the pelvis.
There is no speculum required as we are evaluating the pelvic floor muscles and nerves, not the organs.

Sometimes patients will need Imaging to help us understand if there is an associated cause of the pelvic nerve and muscle pain and dysfunction found on the exam.

Oftentimes, treatment can be started the same day as there is no downtime. Our patients have been suffering with pelvic pain symptoms for 6+ months. We like to get them on the road to feeling better as soon as we can as the longer the symptoms are present the harder it is for us to resolve them.

We Provide Treatment For Pelvic Pain After Hysterectomy

Our pelvic pain specialists are experts in recognizing the symptoms of and diagnosing pelvic pain conditions. With The PRM Protocol, we go further than addressing the symptoms on the surface – we treat the underlying causes of pelvic pain.