Pain in Other Locations

Persistent pain effecting the abdominal and pelvic regions is a complex and often misunderstood phenomena. Pain perceived from organs in the thorax, including intestines, gallbladder, kidneys, reproductive organs and the peritoneal lining of the abdominopelvic cavity, can all contribute to a number of pain syndromes.

Pain tends to be widespread and hard to localise, and is often closely linked to autonomic functions such as sweating, nausea, bloating and fatigue. Associations with organ function, such as constipation, diarrhoea, pain on urination or defaecation can add to the unpleasantness and disability of these conditions. Frequently, no cause can be found on blood tests, ultrasounds or other scans, leaving the patient with a sense of uncertainty and of not being believed.

Close liaison between your Pain Specialist and your other specialists (your gastroenterologist or gynaecologist for example) and your GP is key to the best management of these complex conditions. Novel approaches to medications, physical therapies and psychological interventions has helped many patients see improvement in both pain and quality of life.

Resources and Support Networks

Here are some useful resources that contain in depth information about this condition: