©Dr Sallie Sarrel. Cover image used with licensed permission. Show The CEC often refers our post-excision patients to Pelvic Floor Therapy with highly qualified PTs who specialize in endometriosis and pelvic pain. It can be helpful to know what to expect, what the goals of your therapy are, how you can create a partnership with your PT and more. We’re very pleased to share some of Dr. Sallie Sarrel’s expertise to help you get prepared. When treating endometriosis, your surgeon may choose to refer you to Pelvic Health Physical Therapy. Pelvic Health Physical Therapists are members of the team that treat the many causes of pain for the individual with endometriosis. Pelvic Pain is very complex, and in order to live the highest quality of life you can with endometriosis, you must treat all the causes of pain. Preparing for a Pelvic Physical Therapy session can seem daunting, but here are just a few tips to make the situation seem less overwhelming: Treat the First Session as a Fact-Finding Mission Many Pelvic Health Physical Therapists are primarily manual therapists. They believe in using skilled hands to elicit change in your body. To treat endometriosis, it is preferable for the pelvic Physical Therapist to be trained in techniques that address musculoskeletal causes and visceral relationships. Practitioners should have advanced training in visceral manipulation therapy and have significant training in pelvic floor work. Many Pelvic Health Physical Therapists also have training in Pilates, yoga, and nutrition to better facilitate lifestyle changes that will help your pain. Those with endometriosis often find the use of sensors or dilators internally rather uncomfortable. You should discuss your feelings on their use and your therapist’s beliefs on their use. Make sure you see eye to eye. Most of all, the first session is the time to decide if you and the Physical Therapist make a great team together. This is your health and physical therapy should be a partnership. So, You May Have an Internal Exam… …Or, You May Not It isn’t all About the Pelvis – Even Though it is You Can Explore Options to Make Therapy more Comfortable There are doctors who prescribe vaginal diazepam (Valium®) to help with pelvic floor pain. Vaginal Valium® is a small dose of either 5mg or 10mg that gets inserted into the vagina to relax pelvic floor spasms. It is available by prescription only. Many medical doctors prefer the first few times a patient uses the vaginal Valium® it is prior to Physical Therapy sessions in order to make therapy more comfortable. It is not something that is used instead of Physical Therapy. The intent of most doctors’ prescribing it is to serve as an adjunct to therapy. There is much debate in the pelvic health field about the use of vaginal Valium®. Some Physical Therapists feel it is better to treat the upregulation and centrally sensitized pain patterns than administer a drug. Some also feel that because it is given vaginally, it does not attend to the neuropathways in the brain that may be triggering the spasms. Others feel it is a valuable aide to Physical Therapy. Most patients try to experience Pelvic Physical Therapy and see how they react after a few sessions prior to exploring vaginal Valium® with their doctors. So – now you are prepared to empower yourself over pelvic pain and embark on the journey of healing Pelvic Physical Therapy brings! Appointments in New York and New Jersey, contact Dr. Sarrel: SallieSarrel.com Dr Sallie Sarrel PT, ATC, DPT is a leading pelvic health Physical Therapist in New York and New Jersey. She has taken her own arduous battle with endometriosis to inspire individuals to empower themselves over pelvic pain. She frequently lectures nationally and internationally on the value of pelvic Physical Therapy and endometriosis. She has a fervent belief that you are not your pain, and is unique in her patient-centered approach to Physical Therapy and endometriosis. Helpful links and resources: What do you do in pelvic floor physical therapy?During pelvic floor therapy, we teach you exercises to stabilize and strengthen your core, or the major muscles that stabilize the trunk, including the pelvic floor, abdominal, back, and diaphragm. This also involves re-training and strengthening your pelvic floor muscles.
Does pelvic floor physical therapy hurt?Will therapy be painful? Healthy muscles should not be painful to touch. You should only feel light pressure during your external and internal assessment. If pain happens during an exam, you should inform your therapist immediately.
What should I wear to my pelvic floor physio appointment?What to wear to a pelvic floor physiotherapy appointment? If you're booking a pelvic physiotherapy session we recommend loose fitting pants. During pelvic physiotherapy sessions you may be asked to perform different exercises so it's best to wear clothing that you'll be comfortable in.
How long does it take pelvic floor PT to work?The time needed to see benefits from Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy varies depending on the person, but most people can expect to see results within 8 to 16 weeks.
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