Pelvic Floor Condition
Pelvic Myofascial Pain Syndrome
By Dr. Anthony J. Gordon, Doctor of Acupuncture | Last reviewed September 2026
It feels like your bladder, your uterus, your prostate or your rectum. You have been tested for all of them and nothing explains the pain. Pelvic myofascial pain is pain from trigger points in the muscles of the pelvis. They refer pain to places that feel like organs, and they respond very well to targeted treatment.
Prefer to talk it through? Call (516) 597-5400. Most new patients are seen within one to two weeks.
Overview
Understanding Pelvic Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Myofascial pain comes from trigger points, small tight, irritable bands within muscle and its surrounding connective tissue, called fascia. Trigger points hurt where they are, but they also refer pain in predictable patterns to other areas. In the pelvis, those patterns overlap with organs.
A trigger point in the levator ani can feel like rectal or tailbone pain. One in the obturator internus can feel like vaginal, perineal or hip pain. Abdominal wall trigger points can mimic bladder or ovarian pain, and trigger points in the adductors can refer to the groin and genitals. This is why pelvic myofascial pain is so often mistaken for organ disease and why tests keep coming back normal.
Pelvic myofascial pain is found in a large share of people with chronic pelvic pain, whether or not another diagnosis is also present. Dry needling is one of the most direct ways to release deep trigger points, and it is at the center of Dr. Gordon's approach.
Pelvic Myofascial Pain Syndrome at a Glance
Also called
Pelvic floor myofascial pain, pelvic trigger point pain
Who it affects
Men and women with chronic pelvic pain of many types
Key feature
Trigger points that refer pain to organs and other areas
Common mimics
Bladder pain, prostatitis, ovarian pain, rectal pain, vaginal pain
Main drivers
Trigger points in the pelvic floor, abdominal wall, hips and inner thighs
The Gap in Care
What Tests Check, and What They Can Miss
Tests focus on organs, and when the pain comes from muscle, those tests are normal. Trigger points are only found by examining the muscles directly.
What routine testing is looking for
- Bladder, bowel, prostate or gynecologic disease
- Infection
- Structural findings on imaging
- Hernia
What often keeps symptoms going
- Trigger points in the levator ani and obturator internus
- Abdominal wall trigger points that mimic organ pain
- Adductor and hip trigger points
- Fascial restrictions after surgery or injury
- Referred pain patterns that shift with activity
Trigger point mapping is the core of Dr. Gordon's evaluation, because reproducing your pain is how the source is confirmed.
Signs & Symptoms
Does This Sound Like You?
Symptoms vary from person to person. These are the patterns Dr. Gordon sees most often.
Pain that feels like an organ
Pain that seems to come from the bladder, uterus, ovary, prostate or rectum.
Pain that moves around
Pain that shifts location or sides from day to day.
Deep aching with sitting
A heavy ache that builds when sitting or after activity.
Pain with sex
Pain during or after intercourse from pelvic floor trigger points.
Urgency or bowel discomfort
Bladder urgency or rectal discomfort without disease.
Tender spots
Areas that are sharply tender to pressure and reproduce your familiar pain.
Root Causes
The Four Drivers Dr. Gordon Looks For
Most people have more than one of these in play. Finding which one leads makes treatment more efficient.
Pelvic floor trigger points
Trigger points in the levator ani, obturator internus and coccygeus refer pain to the rectum, vagina, perineum and tailbone.
Abdominal wall trigger points
Trigger points in the lower abdominal muscles mimic bladder, ovarian and bowel pain.
Hip and inner thigh trigger points
The adductors, piriformis and gluteal muscles refer pain into the groin, genitals and pelvis.
Fascial restrictions
Scar tissue and fascial tightness after surgery, childbirth or injury pull on muscles and nerves.
Your First Visit
How Dr. Gordon Evaluates Pelvic Myofascial Pain Syndrome
The initial evaluation runs 60 to 75 minutes. You leave with a clear picture of what is driving your symptoms, a written plan, a realistic timeline, and in most cases your first treatment.
Records and history review
Dr. Gordon reviews your physician's findings, imaging, medications and past treatments so he knows what has been ruled out and what has already been tried.
External trigger point mapping
Systematic assessment of the abdominal wall, hips, inner thighs and buttocks to reproduce your familiar pain.
External pelvic floor assessment
The pelvic floor muscles are examined from the outside, with no internal exam. With you draped for comfort, gentle pressure around the perineum, sit bones, tailbone and inner thighs checks tone, tenderness and trigger points.
Movement and activity review
Dr. Gordon looks at posture, sitting, exercise and daily tasks that aggravate trigger points.
Plan and coordination
A clear plan, plus communication with your physician or pelvic floor PT when that helps your care.
When to see a physician first
- Fever or chills with pelvic or urinary symptoms
- Inability to urinate
- Visible blood in the urine or stool
- Sudden, severe pelvic or abdominal pain
- Unexplained weight loss
- New numbness in the saddle area or loss of bladder or bowel control
If you have any of these, contact your doctor or go to the nearest emergency department.
Bring to your first visit
Records
Recent lab results, imaging reports and specialist notes. These can also be faxed ahead.
Treatment history
A short list of what you have tried and what did or did not help.
Clothing
Something comfortable and loose fitting.
Treatment
How Dr. Gordon Treats It
These are the tools Dr. Gordon uses most often for pelvic myofascial pain, chosen from your exam findings.
Primary approach
Intrapelvic & Extrapelvic Dry Needling
Dr. Gordon holds ASE certification in both intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling. Dry needling directly releases deep trigger points throughout the pelvic floor, abdominal wall, hips and inner thighs, often producing a local twitch and relief. The needles go in through the skin of the buttock, perineum or inner thigh, never through the vagina or rectum.
Learn about pelvic floor treatmentNerve focus
Neuro-Functional Acupuncture
Electro-acupuncture to calm the nerve sensitivity that develops around long-standing trigger points.
See servicesBetween visits
Self-Care & Team Coordination
Guidance on posture, sitting and self-release between visits, coordinated with your physician and pelvic floor PT.
Referring provider? Contact the clinicWhat to Expect
A Typical Recovery Arc
Visits 1 to 3
Find the main driver
Dr. Gordon confirms which muscles and nerves are behind your symptoms and starts calming the most reactive areas. Many people notice early changes between visits.
Visits 4 to 8
Lower the baseline
Day-to-day symptoms ease, flares become shorter and less frequent, and normal routines start to feel more manageable.
Visits 9 to 12 and beyond
Build resilience
Visits are spaced out as improvement holds. You leave with a maintenance and early-flare plan.
Most patients are seen weekly or every other week during active care. Individual results vary with how long symptoms have been present and how reactive they are. Progress is reassessed at every visit.
Not sure how to describe it? Put your pain or discomfort into words before your visit
"Dr. Gordon is thoughtful, thorough and incredibly knowledgeable. He has significantly helped me with pain management and pelvic floor issues. I am grateful to have his expertise in my corner."
Dina Isola, Google Review
Pelvic Myofascial Pain Syndrome Questions
Answers About Pelvic Myofascial Pain Syndrome
Still unsure whether this is the right fit? Reach out before you book and Dr. Gordon will talk through your history with you.
Trigger points refer pain in predictable patterns. Several pelvic muscles refer pain to areas that feel like organs, which is why organ tests come back normal.
A small, tight, irritable band in a muscle that is tender to touch and can send pain to other areas.
Dry needling reaches deep trigger points that are difficult to release by hand, and it often produces fast change.
Yes. Many people with endometriosis, IC or prostatitis also have myofascial pain that adds to their symptoms.
Most people need eight to twelve sessions with reassessment.
Most people feel a brief twitch or deep ache when a trigger point releases, followed by relief. Mild soreness for a day or two is common.
Before You Book
General Questions
The clinic is an out-of-network practice. The initial evaluation is $300 and follow-up visits are $250. After each visit you receive a detailed superbill to submit to your PPO plan for possible reimbursement. FSA and HSA cards are accepted, and the clinic can run a complimentary benefits check before your first appointment. The check is a courtesy, so please confirm your coverage with your plan. See Insurance & Fees for details.
The first evaluation is 60 to 75 minutes and usually includes treatment. Follow-up visits run 45 to 60 minutes.
Yes. Call (516) 597-5400 or send a message through the contact page. This is especially helpful if your case is complex and you want to understand the approach before committing to a full evaluation.
1508 Union Turnpike, Suite 133, North New Hyde Park, NY 11040, with free parking on site. The clinic is an easy drive from Manhasset, Great Neck, Garden City, Lake Success, Floral Park and Mineola. Early morning, evening and weekend hours are available.
Most people feel a quick muscle twitch or a deep ache that lasts a few seconds. That twitch is a normal sign the trigger point is releasing. Mild soreness for 24 to 48 hours afterward, similar to a hard workout, is common. Depth, angle and stimulation are adjusted to your comfort.
Both use the same fine, sterile, single-use needles. Dry needling targets specific trigger points and tight bands in muscle based on your exam. Neuro-functional acupuncture targets nerve pathways, often with gentle electrical stimulation, to calm nerve sensitivity. For pelvic myofascial pain, Dr. Gordon commonly uses both.
When performed by a trained, licensed provider with detailed knowledge of anatomy, it has a strong safety record. Tell Dr. Gordon if you take blood thinners, have a bleeding disorder, are pregnant or have a weakened immune system so he can plan accordingly.
It is a technique that reaches the deep pelvic floor muscles, including the levator ani, obturator internus and coccygeus, to release trigger points and restore normal muscle function. The needles go in through the skin of the buttock, perineum or inner thigh, never through the vagina or rectum. Dr. Gordon holds ASE certification in this technique, which few practitioners in New York have.
Yes. Your privacy and comfort come first. When undressing is needed for the area being treated, you are fully draped. Needles are placed through the skin only, and nothing is ever inserted into the vagina or rectum. You can pause or stop at any time.
Yes. Pelvic myofascial pain syndrome can affect people of every gender, and Dr. Gordon treats adults of all genders and identities.
It helps to have had a medical workup so serious causes have been checked. If you have not seen a physician for your pelvic symptoms yet, call the clinic to talk through the best order of steps.
About Dr. Anthony J. Gordon
Dr. Anthony J. Gordon is a Doctor of Acupuncture licensed in New York and board certified. He holds ASE certification in intrapelvic and extrapelvic dry needling, along with advanced certifications in Functional Dry Needling and Neuro-Functional Acupuncture. With more than 18 years of clinical experience and over 3,000 complex cases treated, he focuses on pelvic, spinal and orthopedic conditions that have not responded to standard care, and works closely with each patient's physicians and physical therapists.
Read Dr. Gordon's full bioBook an Evaluation for Pelvic Myofascial Pain Syndrome
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Early morning, evening and weekend appointments available. Free on-site parking.
Symptoms
Common Symptoms of Pelvic Myofascial Pain Syndrome
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