What Is Pelvic Congestion Syndrome?
Pelvic congestion syndrome occurs when the veins that are supposed to drain the pelvis cannot do their job adequately. The vein that most commonly has problems is the left ovarian or testicular vein.
Women or men can experience this syndrome and is characterized by
- Pelvic pain of >6 months duration
- Possible external genitalia varicosities
- Possible lower extremity varicosities or insufficiency
- Pain after or during sex (most diagnostic symptom)
- Pain worse with standing and walking
- Bladder or rectum discomfort
- Painful menstruation
- Swelling of lower extremities
Risk factors for pelvic congestion syndrome include
- PCOS
- Having had at least one baby
- Obesity
- Varicose veins
Biomedical Treatment
- Blocking the incompetent veins by embolization or sclerotherapy is considered to be the best treatment.
My Natural Approach
I recommend a trial of conservative therapy for patients to are interested in, and able to, exercise. Passive care without exercise might not be enough to improve function
My approach includes
- Treating any underlying conditions (such as PCOS, which generally is related to insulin-resistance, so requires dietary and lifestyle changes)
- Visceral manipulation (left kidney is commonly involved, as is uterine retroversion, pelvic organ prolapse, and adhesions from prior surgeries)
- Vascular manipulation (draining the veins, opening up the main venous and lymphatic returns to optimize movement)
- Botanical support for strengthening vessels and mobilizing lymph, fish oil to thin the blood, nattokinase to prevent clots associated with venous congestion
- Homeopathic suppositories for hemorrhoids (which are varicose veins)
- Instruction on physiologic breathing
- Hydrotherapy such as sitz baths or cold plunges to reset veins and wring out pelvic congestion
- Instruction on core strengthening
What To Expect
- Approximately 20 hours of manual hands-on visceral and vascular and lymphatic manipulation
- Approximately 2 hours of internal medicine consults
- Approximately 2 hours of exercise practice
How Long Does the Treatment Last?
I find people do better if the initial treatment sessions are frequent and close together.
People who are not too inflamed do well with a minimum of 2 hours of manual hands-on therapy weekly, and commonly more.
If you are coming in from out of town, we can complete all the therapy within 7-10 days.
Because some of the underlying conditions such as PCOS can take 3-6 months to heal, the final improvements will not be fully appreciated until the underlying conditions have healed.
