A practice nurse has trawled through the internet and uncovered a potential treatment for her chronic pelvic pain after specialists had failed to diagnose her.

Sarah Stewart, 53, from Billericay, has suffered from the agonising pain for six years. It has stopped her from doing simple, everyday tasks without experiencing pain and discomfort for the rest of the day.

Over the last few years, she has met with numerous consultants who specialised in urology, colorectal surgery, gynaecology and a pain consultant to try and get to the root of her discomfort.

Ms Stewart has undergone various blood tests, ultrasound tests, MRI scans, colonoscopy, laparoscopy, and bladder instillations.

Unfortunately all these procedures could not find the cause of her condition.

She said: “I was exhausted by the constant dragging pain in my pelvis. I am a practice nurse by trade, and if I’d have been working in a more physically demanding role such as on the wards I simply wouldn’t have been able to do my job.

“My only relief was lying down in bed, and taking strong pain killers. I feared I would never find the reason for my pelvic pain.

“It terrified me to think I would have it for the rest of my life, especially as my condition was becoming more and more debilitating.”

Ms Stewart researched her own symptoms online and stumbled upon information about a condition called Pelvic Vein Congestion Syndrome (PCS).

She was optimistic after finding a potential diagnosis.

However, when she told doctors about her discovery, they told Ms Stewart it was not possible for her to develop PCS after having a hysterectomy, which she had undergone a few years ago.

Despite the setback, she went with her gut feeling as she believed she is indeed suffering from the syndrome.

She continued with her investigations and her efforts have been rewarded when she came across The Whiteley Clinic in London, which specialises in pelvic vein treatments.

She said: “I asked my GP to refer me to the clinic, which thankfully he did, even though he had never heard of PCS. I organised my first appointment, and I was in so much pain on the first day I visited.

“The team were so kind and understanding of the pain I was describing which came as a massive relief.

“After having some scans, Dr Previn Diwakar, a consultant interventional radiologist, recommended a treatment called Pelvic Vein Embolisation as there was some evidence of pelvic vein reflux.”

Three months after her treatment, the pain in her pelvis has started to subside and her quality of life has significantly improved.

She said: “I still can’t quite believe it.

“I am so thankful to The Whiteley Clinic and all they have done for me.”