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Pink Flower Bloom

Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy

A specialization that involves total-body assessment and employment of manual therapies, therapeutic modalities, corrective exercises, breathing techniques, pain neuroscience education, lifestyle/behavior medicine, and basic nutrition advice to address symptoms in the abdomen, back, hips, and pelvic region. It can be helpful for women by relieving pain, improving bowel and bladder function, increasing overall pelvic stability, empowering the woman with self-treatment techniques and education, and increasing her quality of life by assisting her to return to function and daily movement in a pain-free way. ​

"Within the first week of following her instructions I had significant pain reduction! Not only is she a great doctor but a really inspiring person. Our conversations during my sessions were extremely helpful and put my mind at ease."

T Jo

Pelvic Pain

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  • Often related to:

    • Vulvodynia - pain in the vulva

    • Vestibulodynia - pain at the vestibule

    • Vaginismus - tight, painful pelvic floor

    • Levator Ani Syndrome - pelvic floor spasms (might feel like intense rectal pain)

    • Scar Tissue Restrictions

    • "Short" Pelvic Floor - tight, habitual holding pattern of the muscles

    • Atrophic Vaginitis - hormonal changes which contribute to frail tissues and poor self-lubrication

      • Dryness, itching, burning​

      • Can be caused by: menopause, birth control pills, postpartum hormone changes, breast cancer treatments, and breastfeeding (But don't stop! We will help!)

Dyspareunia (painful intercourse)

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  • Dysmenorrhea - very painful periods and/or heavy periods which impact daily function (this is not normal!)

  • Endometriosis - uterine tissues invading outside organs and spaces, often causing pain, urinary and digestive issues

  • Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) - complex metabolic and hormonal condition which often causes pain, issues achieving pregnancy, weight gain, and other systemic issues

  • Fibroids - benign growths in the ovaries and/or uterus which may be painful, cause abdominal bloating and discomfort, and dysmenorrhea

  • Cesarean Scar Tissue - new or old!

  • Chronic Yeast Infection - Microbiome imbalances of gut, bladder, and vulvar/vaginal regions​

  • Chronic Burning/Itching -  May be related to pelvic nerve entrapments if other medical conditions have already been ruled out​

Reproductive & Organ Related Pain

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  • Pudendal Neuralgia - nerve entrapment which may cause pain/numbness of the perineum, especially with sitting

  • Sciatica - pain down back of the leg(s)

  • Femoral Nerve Entrapment - pain down the front of the thigh(s)

  • Obturator Nerve Entrapment - pain down the middle of the thigh(s)

  • Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment

  • Referral/Trigger Point Pain

Nerve Pain or Sensation Changes

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  • Coccydynia - tailbone pain

  • Pubic Symphysis Dysfunction 

  • Sacroiliac Joint Dysfunction 

  • IT Band Syndrome

  • Low and Mid Back Pain

  • Hip Pain

  • Knee Pain

  • Abdominal Pain

  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome/Hypermobility - condition spectrum which is often accompanied by lack of joint stability, muscle tightness and pain, digestive/bowel issues, poor bladder control, pelvic organ prolapse, and cardiovascular issues. 

Orthopedic Pain

Pelvic Pain

Bladder Conditions

Urinary Incontinence - leakage - common after baby, with aging, and other reasons; NEVER NORMAL!

  • Stress Incontinence - with increased abdominal pressures (sneezing, coughing, laughing, exercise, etc)

  • Urgency Incontinence - sudden strong need to empty the bladder

  • Mixed Incontinence - Stress+Urge Leakage

**Kegels are not always what you need! We must first assess the overall function of the pelvic floor, core, and hips to determine the best and most appropriate home exercise program for your symptoms!

Dysuria - Issues with emptying the bladder (voiding)​

  • Hesitation - difficulty starting stream of urine

  • Staccato - involuntary starting and stopping

  • Weak Stream - only getting a trickle or a dribble when trying to urinate

  • Bearing Down - pushing to empty

  • Retention - Incomplete Emptying

Chronic Bladder Pain

  • Chronic/Repeat Urinary Tract Infection - bacterial invasion (usually e.coli) in the bladder 

  • Interstitial Cystitis - irritation of the bladder lining which creates constant sensation of UTI, but without infection

    • Often treated like UTI with multiple rounds of antibiotics which disrupts the vaginal/vulvar microbiome and may contribute to Chronic Yeast Infections​

Bladder

Bowel/Digestive Conditions

Fecal Incontinence and/OR Loose Stool

  • Stool, Gas, Streaks

  • Urgency - can't make it to the toilet in time 

  • Wiping and wiping and wiping and wiping and wiping...not normal.

Constipation - you can be constipated even if you are having daily bowel movements (BM)!!!

  • Decreased frequency of BM

  • Incomplete emptying - having to go back multiple times to feel empty

  • Small volume - not very much comes out each time

  • Dry Stool - pebbles or lots of cracks, hard, may be painful to pass

  • Hemorrhoids and/or Fissures in the rectum/anus

  • Bright red blood when wiping after BM

Bowel/Digestive Conditions

  • Irritable Bowel

  • Ulcerative Colitis

  • Crohn's

  • Diverticulitis

  • Cancer

  • Bloating/Congestion

  • Endometriosis

  • Abdominal Pain

  • Rectal Pain

  • Hemorrhoids

  • Fissures

  • Painful Bowel Movements

Bowel
POP

Pelvic Organ Prolapse

 

  • Loss of muscular and connective tissue support within the pelvis​ which can causes a "dropping" of the organs (named for which organ is prolapsing)

    • Cystocele - bladder

    • Rectocele - rectum

    • Enterocele - small intestine

    • Uterine/cervix 

  • Causes bulging or heaviness in the vagina or anus

  • May cause pain or irritation at the vaginal opening, inside the pelvis, and/or low back

  • May interfere with bladder, bowel, and sexual function

  • May contribute to leakage, repeat Urinary Tract Infections and/or Yeast Infections

  • Physical Therapy can help!!!

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