Myofascial trigger points of the pelvic floor: associations with urological pain syndromes and treatment strategies including injection therapy.

Myofascial trigger points (MTrP), or muscle "contraction knots," of the pelvic floor may be identified in as many as 85 % of patients suffering from urological, colorectal and gynecological pelvic pain syndromes; and can be responsible for some, if not all, symptoms related to these syndromes. Identification and conservative treatment of MTrPs in these populations has often been associated with impressive clinical improvements. In refractory cases, more "aggressive" therapy with varied trigger point needling techniques, including dry needling, anesthetic injections, or onabotulinumtoxinA injections, may be used, in combination with conservative therapies.

Sacral neuromodulation stimulation for IC/PBS, chronic pelvic pain, and sexual dysfunction.

This study aims to review the use of sacral neuromodulation in the patient population with painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis (PBS/IC), chronic pelvic pain (CPP), and sexual dysfunction. A literature review of the current research was carried out. This article highlights the current research findings and uses of sacral neuromodulation in patients with PBS/IC, CPP, vulvar vestibulitis, and erectile dysfunction. Current research on sacral neuromodulation on the abovementioned patient population has shown potential efficacy in pilot studies, though larger, multi-centered trials with long-term follow-up are needed.

Similarities between interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome and vulvodynia: implications for patient management.

Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS) and vulvodynia are chronic pain syndromes that appear to be intertwined from the perspectives of embryology, pathology and epidemiology. These associations may account for similar responses to various therapies.