PM&R Meeting Abstracts

Official abstracts site for the AAPM&R Annual Assembly and the PM&R Journal.

MENU 
  • Home
  • Meetings Archive
    • AAPM&R Annual Assembly 2022
    • AAPM&R Annual Assembly 2021
    • AAPM&R Annual Assembly 2020
    • AAPM&R Annual Assembly 2019
  • Resources
  • Advanced Search

A Novel, Non-Opioid Treatment Protocol for Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome

Emma L. Desjardins, DO (New York University School of Medicine PM&R Residency Program, Flushing, New York); Brocha Brooks, n/a; Kimberlee Leishear, DO; Rebecca Aronson, DO; Melanie Howell, DO; Allyson A. Shrikhande, MD

Meeting: AAPM&R Annual Assembly 2020

Categories: General Rehabilitation (2020)

Session Information

Date: Friday, November 13, 2020

Session Title: Live Poster Session: General Rehabilitation

Session Time: 12:45pm-1:45pm

Disclosures: Emma L. Desjardins, DO: No financial relationships or conflicts of interest

Objective: The aim of this study is to provide evidence for the effectiveness of the Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine protocol, a unique multimodal approach to Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome, by studying it with a larger and more diverse patient population than in a previous study.

Design: Retrospective chart review Setting : Outpatient private pelvic rehabilitation practice. Participants : 100 female patients diagnosed with CPPS by a physiatrist conducting specific history and physical exam and who underwent the PRM treatment protocol.

Interventions: The PRM protocol consists of external ultrasound guided trigger point injections to the bilateral levator ani muscles weekly for 6 weeks and hydrodissection of pudendal and posterior femoral cutaneous nerves using dexamethasone and lidocaine followed by traumeel for subsequent injections with each side receiving 3 injections. As part of the multimodal approach patients also continued with pelvic floor PT along with other physical and pharmacologic treatments.

Main Outcome Measures: Visual Analogue Scale and Functional Pelvic Pain Scale scores were obtained during treatment. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to match the differences from before treatment and 4-8 weeks after treatment for each patient for pain, total function and each individual category of function.

Results: Both VAS scores and total FPPS scores showed improvement that was statistically significant (P < 0.05) with a 95% CI. These categories also had the largest number of patients with improvement post treatment. The scores for each individual category of the FPPS also showed improvement with statistical significance except for the categories of bladder, bowel, and running. Conclusions: This study demonstrates a statistically significant relief of pain and improvement of function 6 weeks after PRM protocol treatment in female patients with CPPS. The PRM protocol is a safe and effective treatment that can improve quality of life.

Level of Evidence: Level IV

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Desjardins EL, Brooks B, Leishear K, Aronson R, Howell M, Shrikhande AA. A Novel, Non-Opioid Treatment Protocol for Women with Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome [abstract]. PM R. 2020; 12(S1)(suppl 1). https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/a-novel-non-opioid-treatment-protocol-for-women-with-chronic-pelvic-pain-syndrome/. Accessed June 5, 2025.
  • Tweet
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window) Email
  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print

« Back to AAPM&R Annual Assembly 2020

PM&R Meeting Abstracts - https://pmrjabstracts.org/abstract/a-novel-non-opioid-treatment-protocol-for-women-with-chronic-pelvic-pain-syndrome/

Leading the Way. Baltimore, MD & Virtual. October 20-23, 2022. #aapmr22

PM&R Journal

View issues of PM&R on the Wiley Online Library »

American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Visit the official site for the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation »

AAPM&R Annual Assembly

Visit the official site for the AAPM&R Annual Assembly »

  • Help & Support
  • About Us
  • Cookies & Privacy
  • Wiley Job Network
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Advertisers & Agents
Copyright © 2025 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Wiley