As a subscriber, I hope you read my previous post on my physical therapy being "experimental" if you are new to the blog and haven't read it, you can find it here.
Physical therapy has been one of the most beneficial, if not THE most beneficial part of my healing process. Each time I go I get a better insight as to how my pelvic floor is and what I need to work on internally. When I was unable to go my first period was miserable again, I felt all was doomed with my cycle and I was meant to be in pain. However, with the new year, I was able to start again, my husband and I decided that we would pay the hourly fee. Luckily for us, since we are still fighting the system I still don't have to pay a co-pay or anything yet. (knock on wood)
Our pelvic floor muscles control everything from our bladder to our bowels and our reproductive organs. One thing I wasn't aware of is that my bathroom habits were not normal and had everything to do with my pelvic floor being weakened. As children, we are taught to go to the bathroom before going on a road trip, go just in case you may have to go later. This has trained our bodies to "feel" like we have to go even though we really don't. (random fact) My bladder was the first thing we worked on when I started physical therapy because I found myself going to the bathroom before our sessions, just in case I had to go while we were working.
The image above was purchased from Designs by Duvet Days. Check out her work on her website, linked, she creates the most beautiful anatomy pictures.
Below are a couple of Myths (followed by the facts) and some truths about Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy and Endometriosis. (Beyond Basics Physical Therapy)
MYTH: The abdominal and pelvic floor muscles are not affected by Endometriosis.
FACT: Constipation, frequent urination or retention, pain with sex from endometriosis causes tightening of the abdominal and pelvic floor muscles; one will assume the fetal position which is our go-to pose when we are in pain. Both contribute to tight abdominal and pelvic floor muscles which causes pain.
MYTH: The pelvic floor and abdominal muscles do not cause bladder, bowel, sexual dysfunction or abdominal pelvic pain in patients with endometriosis.
FACT: Tight pelvic floor muscles caused by years of straining or reflexive tightening due to pain, often cause a severe amount of pain which results in further tightening and shortening of the pelvic floor muscles. The good news is that pelvic floor physical therapy benefits most people who have been experiencing abdomino-pelvic or sexual pain and/or are straining due to ongoing bladder and bowel symptoms.
FACT: Physical therapy for the pelvic floor can help many suffering from the pains and symptoms of Endo, including the back, abdominal and pelvic pain, bladder, bowel, and sexual function.
FACT: The majority of patients with Endometriosis require pelvic floor physical therapy. PT can be instrumental in the healing process and can help abdominal-pelvic pain, bladder and bowel urgency, frequency, retention, incomplete emptying, and any sexual pain related to the musculoskeletal system.
Women with chronic pain that comes with endometriosis are always protecting our lower half, kind of 'babying' that area to help reduce the pain. This is what causes our pelvic floor to weaken. Any signs that our period is coming or pain from ovulation, we guard that area, making it harder to go to the bathroom causing constipation or too much with the bladder.
I really hope this shed some light on why I feel pelvic floor physical therapy is so beneficial to women with endometriosis. I never knew that we had to work out those muscles in order to create a healthy bladder, bowel and reproductive area.
When Life Gives You Endo...Try Physical Therapy for the Pelvic Floor!
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