Henry Ford Pelvic Pain Clinic Offers Hope to Women
For 33-year-old Deanna Kane of Grosse Pointe Woods, having her monthly period was not just a minor inconvenience. For almost 20 years she suffered from excessive pain around the time of her menstrual cycle. “I would be nauseated for days and would literally lie in the couch in a fetal position from the severe pain,” she says.
Mrs. Kane, the mother of two children who is going to school to become a veterinary technician, is not alone. Studies have shown that chronic pelvic pain affects up to 15 percent of American women at some point in their lives. Unfortunately, the disorder can be difficult to manage causing many women to go through several unsuccessful treatments including surgery only to find that the source of the pain has not been taken care of.
Henry Ford Hospital’s Center for Pelvic Pain has brought hope to many women who have been unsuccessfully treated in the past. The center offers women a team of specialists including a doctor and nurse as well as mental health specialists and physical therapists to better treat what is often a complex condition. Just a few conditions that can cause pelvic pain include endometriosis, pelvic infection and/or scarring, irritable bowel syndrome, interstitial cystitis, lower back pain, abdominal muscle pain and fibromyalgia.
After almost 20 years of major suffering and unsuccessful treatments, Mrs. Kane was successfully treated by David Eisenstein, M.D., the director of pelvic pain and laparoscopic services at Henry Ford. She was diagnosed with chronic pelvic pain due to endometriosis and adenomyosis, a condition caused by abnormal growth of uterine lining tissue both inside and outside the uterus.
“Prior to seeing Dr. Eisenstein, I experienced a very high level of frustration in not being able to find a cure for my pain,” says Mrs. Kane. “Dr. Eisenstein truly seemed to understand what I was going through and offered a comprehensive treatment plan. I was surprised at the minimal pain and recovery time after the surgery and most importantly I have been pain free since I had the procedure.” says Mrs. Kane.
Although Mrs. Kane was successfully treated with surgery, Dr. Eisenstein is quick to point out that surgery in not always the answer to treating chronic pelvic pain. “One unique aspect of our center is we provide a detailed evaluation of the patient and the condition and offer patients a variety of treatment options. Although surgery can provide a cure for some patients, it is often not the first recommended treatment plan,” he says.
According to Dr. Eisenstein, the source of pelvic pain can be very difficult to diagnose and many other treatment options can be very successful in managing the condition. “Surgery in the wrong patient can worsen the pain,” he says. Treatment options in addition to surgery include physical therapy, specific medication therapy as well as supportive help including behavioral therapy and access to complementary medicine.
For further information on treatment options for chronic pelvic pain, call 313-916-0162.
