Pelvic Pain & Craniosacral Therapy in New York City

At some point, both men and women can experience pain between the abdomen and thighs, throughout the lower abdomen, buttocks, and groin. This is commonly known as pelvic girdle pain (PGP), or simply pelvic pain, and it can be dull or sharp, spread across a large area or precisely localized.

With a pulled muscle, pelvic pain can strike abruptly. Sudden, sharp pain in the lower abdomen can also indicate a hernia. These acute cases often surface when muscles are strained from lifting, laughing, or coughing. With a bladder infection, digestive problem, or urinary tract infection, pelvic pain tends to emerge gradually and build, sometimes becoming chronic until it is treated.

In women, pelvic pain is considered chronic if it continues for more than three to six months. Although it can be gynecological in origin, it just as commonly results from digestive or musculoskeletal issues — the latter being what Dr. Kaminsky addresses. Musculoskeletal causes include chronic myofascial pain, where tension and tenderness in muscle “trigger points” create a sharp, cramp-like sensation.

In men, pelvic pain is most commonly musculoskeletal in origin, stemming from impact trauma and strains of muscles and joints. While it can be painful and frustrating, in most cases it is very treatable.

Pelvic girdle pain explained

Pelvic girdle pain is common in pregnancy. Research published through the Nordic Federation of Societies of Obstetrics and Gynecology studied 123 pregnant women diagnosed with PGP and treated with craniosacral therapy; the findings indicated that those treated experienced reduced pelvic pain compared with a control group that received standard care alone.

PGP is the general term for pain anywhere from the lower back down to the hip and thigh that limits daily activities. The pain often worsens with certain movements — extensive walking, climbing stairs, getting in and out of a car, or turning over in bed. It is frequently due to misalignment of the joints of the pelvis, leading to friction between the sacrum and the hip bone, and resulting in stiffness and pain.

The pelvis is held together largely by connective ligaments and stabilized by the balanced action of the muscles of the trunk, buttocks, and thighs. It is restriction within the connective tissues — tendons, ligaments, and fascia — that contributes to pelvic misalignment and, over time, pelvic pain:

• Tendons link muscle to bone and let bones move as muscles relax and tighten; injury, aging, and overuse can damage them.
• Ligaments connect bone to bone and act as shock absorbers, stabilizing load for the spine and lower extremities; lifting, trauma, and childbirth can stretch or tear them.
• Fascia is a thin web of connective tissue enveloping nerves, muscles, organs, and more. Like a tablecloth, tugging one corner shifts everything; when fascia becomes tight and restricted it can create distortions (“muscle knots”).

The key takeaway: trauma to the spine, pelvis, or legs can create distortions in the tendons, ligaments, and fascia of the pelvis, leading to misalignment, inflammation, and ultimately chronic pain.

Recognizing pelvic trauma

Signs you may have experienced pelvic trauma include:

• Groin, lower back, hip, buttock, or pelvis tenderness and pain
• Swelling and bruising in the pelvic bone region
• Tingling or numbness in the upper thighs or genital region
• Pain when sitting

Common events that give rise to pelvic trauma include the stress of pregnancy and birth; direct trauma, whiplash, or abdominal surgery; twisting sports such as golf, tennis, and skiing; and even everyday strain from poor seated posture or extended desk work.

How Craniosacral Therapy helps

Craniosacral Therapy is a non-invasive, hands-on technique using light touch to evaluate the membranes and the flow of fluids through the circulatory and central nervous systems. The goal is to identify restrictions and to facilitate release and relaxation of the body's connective tissue, or fascia. By assessing the musculoskeletal system, fascia health, and central nervous system, Dr. Kaminsky creates an individualized plan to address tightness, malalignment, posture, scar-tissue adherence, fascial restriction, and nerve compression — often combining Craniosacral Therapy with Lymphatic Drainage Therapy and Myofascial Trigger Point Therapy.

It is also important to consider the emotional side of pain. Somato Emotional Release is a component of Craniosacral Therapy centered on the idea that emotional and physical trauma can have lasting effects on muscles and joints, and that gentle bodywork can help release those tensions.