Sympathetic nervous system flaw causes pelvic pain

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Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2011;38(2):175-6.

Sympathetic nervous system disorder of women that leads to pelvic pain and symptoms of interstitial cystitis may be the cause of severe backache and be very responsive to medical therapy rather than surgery despite the presence of herniated discs.

Check JH, Wilson C, Cohen R.
The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School at Camden, Cooper Hospital/University Medical Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Camden, NJ, USA.

PURPOSE: To describe a unique pharmacologic treatment for backache that seemed to be related to herniated discs.

METHODS: Dextroamphetamine sulfate (brand names Dexedrine, Dexamphetamine) was prescribed to a woman who developed acute lower backache which was attributed to herniated lumbar discs.

RESULTS: Within hours the pain diminished and she was pain free within a week. The 100% relief has persisted for months.

CONCLUSIONS: Acute backache can be added to the long list of pain syndromes related to impairment of the sympathetic nervous system that is effectively treated with sympathomimetic amines.

PMID: 21793284

[admin comment: any ideas why a CNS stimulant (sympathomimetic amine) would stop pain?]

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More on this theme:

Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2011;38(2):113-8.
Chronic pelvic pain--traditional and novel therapies: part II medical therapy.
Check JH, Cohen R.


PURPOSE: To describe medical therapeutic options for chronic pelvic pain. Furthermore to describe some new concepts in the etiology of chronic pelvic pain leading to some novel therapies.

METHODS: The benefits and risks of various medical treatments for chronic pelvic pain including central pain, cyclic pain, vulvar pain and bladder pain are discussed.

RESULTS: Among various conventional therapies the medical therapy with the most benefit with the least risks are low-dose impeded androgens, oral contraceptives, or low dosage progesterone/progestins.

CONCLUSIONS: The various types of pelvic pain may all be different manifestations of a common etiology related to defects in the sympathetic nervous system. Sympathomimetic amine therapy may be the most effective therapy with the least side-effects. However, at the moment this schedule II drug has not been approved for this use and thus must be used off-label.

PMID: 21793268