Pelvic Pain

The Pelvic Floor is a multi-layered sling or hammock of muscles spanning the area underneath the pelvis. It plays an important role in bladder and bowel health, sexual functioning, and general pelvic stability. When pelvic muscles are tight, they can lead to one or more of the following symptoms:

• Pelvic pain including vulvar, vaginal, clitoral, perineal or rectal pain

• Pain during or after sex (dyspareunia)

• Pain with sitting

• Pain wearing a tampon

• Discomfort/irritation wearing pants, jeans and/or underwear

• Urinary urgency (the sudden, compelling urge to urinate even when bladder is not full)

• Urinary hesitancy (difficulty starting flow of urine)

• Sacroiliac joint pain

• Nocturia (waking up more than once or twice at night to urinate)

• Coccyx pain, or Coccydynia, which is pain in the coccyx or tailbone area

• Vulvodynia, or vulvar discomfort, most often described as burning pain

• Vulvar vestibulitis syndrome (VVS), vestibulodynia, or simply vulvar vestibulitis, is vulvodynia localized to the vulvar region. It tends to be associated with a highly localized "burning" or "cutting" type of pain. The pain of vulvodynia may extend into the clitoris, which is referred to as clitorodynia. Vulvar Vestibulitis Syndrome is the most common subtype of vulvodynia affecting premenopausal women. The syndrome affects up to 15% of women seeking gynecological care.

• Endometriosis is an often painful disorder in which tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus — the endometrium — grows outside your uterus. Endometriosis most commonly involves your ovaries, bowel or the tissue lining your pelvis. Rarely, endometrial tissue may spread beyond your pelvic region.

• Interstitial cystitis — also called painful bladder syndrome — is a chronic condition in which you experience bladder pressure, bladder pain and sometimes pelvic pain, ranging from mild discomfort to severe pain.

How we can help

Physical therapy can be an effective first-line treatment for managing and resolving many pelvic conditions. As a non-invasive approach, our PTs use manual and hands-on techniques to return the patient back to full function.

What to expect

At your initial appointment, we will start by taking your medical history, followed by a comprehensive musculoskeletal examination of your pelvic area. This will include assessing your posture, joint alignment, any muscle restrictions or trigger points, the health of your connective tissue, and muscular strength. An internal examination is often part of this process, but it's entirely optional and will only be conducted if you feel completely comfortable with it. This exam is much more relaxed and comfortable compared to a typical ob/gyn visit, and it provides essential information about your pelvic muscle tone, strength, and coordination. If impairments are found during the exam, the physical therapist can treat the problems with manual therapy techniques resulting in pain relief and improved function. Following the exam, we'll discuss our findings with you and outline a personalized treatment plan aimed at achieving the best results. Most patients start feeling better after their first session and see significant improvement by their third visit.