Chronic pelvic pain in women

A wide range of complications are possible, most presenting in the acute period.

Surgical complications are generally managed surgically. Individual circumstances will dictate appropriate options.

Some patients with opioid addiction will present with chronic pain in an effort to access opioid drugs.

Patients with primarily drug-seeking behaviour will often demonstrate global pain in all areas and will refuse all management options that do not include opioids.

Failure to manage chronic pain is the most common complication and the most difficult to manage. Even with an optimal medical evaluation and management, some patients will still have intractable, cryptogenic pain.

Supportive counselling and encouragement of lifestyle changes such as exercise and meditation may permit more accurate diagnosis when pain can be at least somewhat controlled. For these patients, avoidance of mutilating interventions is important.