Pelvic Pain Management Specialist in Tampa, FL

line v4.png

In females, pelvic pain can arise from the urinary bladder, uterus, ovary, or genitalia. In males, pelvic pain can arise from the prostate or genitalia. It can also be due to pudendal nerve irritation (pudendal neuralgia) or from the bony pelvis following trauma or surgery.  Patients who typically come to our clinic have seen urologists, gynecologists, oncologists, or colo-rectal surgeons and had any structural abnormality ruled out. Having ruled this out, the nerves that sense the pelvic organs need to be assessed as the cause of pain. Dr. Kalava can perform ultrasound-guided nerve blocks to manage pelvic pain and completely avoid opioids.

Conditions that can cause pelvic pain, which we will be able to help are:

  1. Pudendal Neuralgia

  2. Coccydynia (Tail Bone Pain)

  3. Vulvodynia

  4. Proctalgia (Anal/Rectal Pain)

  5. Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD)

What is Pudendal Neuralgia?

Pudendal neuralgia is long-term pelvic pain that originates from damage or irritation of the pudendal nerve – a main nerve in the pelvis.

The pudendal nerve supplies areas including the:

  • lower buttocks

  • area between the buttocks and genitals (perineum)

  • area around the anus and rectum

  • vulva, labia and clitoris in women

  • scrotum and penis in men

Pudendal neuralgia can be very uncomfortable and distressing, but we can help.

Causes of Pudendal Neuralgia

Pudendal neuralgia can happen if the pudendal nerve is damaged, irritated or trapped.

Possible causes include:

  • compression of the pudendal nerve by nearby muscles or tissue – sometimes called pudendal nerve entrapment or Alcock canal syndrome

  • prolonged sitting, cycling, horse riding or constipation (usually for months or years) – this can cause repeated minor damage to the pelvic area

  • surgery to the pelvic area

  • a broken bone in the pelvis

  • damage to the pudendal nerve during childbirth – this may improve after a few months

  • a non-cancerous or cancerous growth pressing on the pudendal nerve

In some cases, a specific cause is not found.

Steps in Diagnosing & Managing your Pelvic Pain:

  1. Clinical Examination

  2. Diagnostic Nerve Block (Ultrasound-Guided): To identify the nerve involved

What Treatments Do We Offer for Pelvic Pain?

Why Chose Dr. Kalava?

Not only does Dr. Kalava treat complex pelvic pain, he also teaches and publishes on pelvic pain management.

Recent international scientific articles:

  1. Hampton H, Kalava A (August 30, 2023) Ischiorectal Approach to Cryoablation of the Pudendal Nerve Using a Handheld Device: A Report of Two Cases. Cureus 15(8): e44377.

  2. Kalava A, Crowley M, Parsonis G, et al. (April 17, 2023) Efficacy of Pudendal Nerve Blocks and Ultrasound-Guided Superior Hypogastric Plexus Blocks for the Management of Refractory Interstitial Cystitis: A Case Series. Cureus 15(4): e37709.

  3. Kalava A, Pribish AM, Wiegand LR. Pudendal nerve blocks in men undergoing urethroplasty: a case series. Rom J Anaesth Intensive Care. 2017 Oct;24(2):159-162.

  4. https://www.asra.com/guidelines-articles/original-articles/acute-pain-medicine/acute-pain-medicine/asra-news/2018/11/06/peripheral-nerve-blocks-for-urologic-procedures

Images of Pudendal Nerve Block and Pudendal Nerve Cryoneurolysis (freezing)

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Kalava to get back to doing the activities you enjoy