Pelvic Pain Relief

Have you been dealing with discomfort in your pelvis or low abdomen? Cyclical pain with menstruation, constipation, pain with bowel or bladder elimination, painful intercourse or inability to use tampons or tolerate vaginal or rectal medical exams can all be signs of pelvic floor dysfunction. If you are not sure what the cause of your pain is, pelvic pain can be a frustrating and embarrassing thing to deal with. Pelvic pain can interrupt your everyday life and stop you from doing necessary or enjoyable tasks on a daily basis.

Fortunately, help is available. Rehabilitation of the pelvic floor can help relieve the symptoms of pelvic pain by correcting pelvic floor dysfunction and improving muscle function. Pelvic floor therapy can help teach you to lessen existing pain, manage flares, and prevent it from coming back or worsening in the future.

To find relief for your pelvic pain, contact AxisPro Physical Therapy Hand & Lymphedema Clinic!

Pelvic floor rehabilitation is a type of physical therapy that has been shown to treat a number of conditions causing pelvic pain. Although many people believe that only women can receive this kind of therapy, all genders can benefit! Everyone has a pelvic floor!

There are many pelvic disorders which can be improved or eliminated with pelvic floor PT treatments such as painful intercourse and bowel and bladder issues. Pelvic organs prolapse, dyspareunia, vaginismus, scrotal pain, rectal spasm, pudendal neuralgia, diastasis recti, and many more conditions can also be treated with pelvic floor therapy.

Some of the most common pelvic conditions that physical therapy treats include:

Postpartum pelvic pain

After giving birth, it is normal for new mothers to suffer injury to their pelvic floor from strained or torn muscles and/or connective tissue. In addition to strengthening any weakened muscles or tissues, pelvic floor recovery leads to reducing discomfort and improving functionality for the pelvic floor and more.

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a prevalent disease that affects many individuals. It can create adhesions on muscles, ligaments, and nerves in the pelvic region and beyond which can cause significant pain and functional limitations which worsen around the menstrual cycle when hormone levels shift. Thankfully, physical therapy can help.

Pelvic floor rehabilitation may help alleviate the discomfort and bloating that you can experience with endometriosis via manual therapy techniques to help with adhesions and visceral mobility, can help you learn management strategies for flare ups, and help you learn modifications for your daily activities to allow you to participate fully in all facets of your life.

Urinary incontinence/bladder dysfunction

Incontinence is very common, but leaking urine is never normal and is commonly a symptom of underlying pelvic floor dysfunction. Bladder leakage, urgency, and frequency in many cases is successfully treated with individualized pelvic floor training. It may be the result of weakened muscles in the pelvic floor or due to overly tight muscles that lack coordination necessary for pressure management (Kegels are not always the answer and in some cases can make symptoms worse!). Pelvic floor rehabilitation can help assess the root cause of your bladder leakage, urgency, or frequency to improve pelvic floor function and lifestyle habits that may be influencing your symptoms and reduce or eliminate leakage at the source.

Pain following abdominal or pelvic surgery

Pelvic floor rehab can help to address scar tissue restrictions, increase strength, coordination and range of motion in your abdomen/pelvic area if you are healing from a recent surgical procedure to ensure safe and full recovery.

Constipation

Constipation is very common and has many different causes, but pelvic floor therapy can help. By assessing tone, strength and coordination of pelvic floor and abdomen, pressure management, breathing, diet, and exercise, your pelvic floor therapist can help you tailor an individualized strategy with a variety of techniques to improve or eliminate constipation and improve your quality of life.

The pelvic floor muscles, tendons and ligaments all serve an incredibly important function, since they protect your body’s core, support internal organs and are the structural “floor” of your abdominal canister.

Your pelvic doctor will do a detailed review of your condition at your first appointment. The procedures involved in your recovery plan for the pelvic floor are individual to you and will depend on the outcome of your initial examination.

A personalized care plan that will meet your individual needs will be developed with you. This may include manual therapy techniques such as scar tissue mobilization, bowel massage, instrument assisted or manual muscle releases or visceral mobilization, exercises for relaxation, coordination and/or strengthening, lifestyle changes, education, biofeedback and more.

In many cases, our treatment methods can help provide relief and recovery for problems patients have been facing for years. Our physical therapy office is equipped with the resources necessary for evaluating and treating all forms of pelvic pain considering you as a person and your needs and preferences. If your pelvic pain is limiting you, contact AxisPro Physical Therapy Hand & Lymphedema Clinic today to begin your path toward long-lasting relief!