Written by: Jasmine Cain, Patient Care Coordinator
*This blog is written by Jasmine, one of our Patient Care Coordinators, from her perspective as a patient.
As women we often spend so much of our time helping others. To nurture, is something so ingrained in us that sometimes we forget to take time for ourselves. We have to remember we need nurturing too. I have suffered from coccyx pain, back pain, hip pain, and headaches never knowing exactly what was wrong with me. It wasn’t until I was introduced to physical therapy, that I found out all my issues were connected. Now, I am by no means an expert on anything medical but I know physical therapy has not only relieved my pain but restored my hope and optimism.
It seems like the discussion of pelvic floor dysfunction is becoming more prevalent. Because of my own experiences, I decided to do a little more research on the subject and here’s what I discovered…
Issues in the pelvic floor can result in a range of issues including pelvic and tailbone pain, urinary or bowel incontinence, infertility, neck and back pain, even headaches. We visit doctors that run tests but offer no solutions. We take prescribed medications that are usually accompanied by uninvited side effects, only to guarantee a band-aid to mask the symptoms. Some women juggle a career, a family, and a social life all while experiencing physical and/or mental anguish. Many are never aware that more often than not the pelvic floor muscles, just like the other muscles of our body, can be conditioned and strengthened through Physical Therapy.
The pelvic floor muscles work with the abdominal and back muscles as well as the diaphragm to support the spine. Because these muscles are essential in keeping the spine stabilized, any compromise to your pelvic floor function could be causing chronic back pain. The issues that can stem from an unstable spine seem to be unbounded ranging from headaches and neck pain, to neurological symptoms such as pain or weakness in extremities.
Organs such as your bowel, bladder, and urethra are also supported by the pelvic floor muscles. These muscles, when strong, keep us out of the adult diaper section, satisfied in the bedroom, and promote healthy comfortable pregnancies.
It’s not uncommon for women to have issues with these pelvic floor muscles after pregnancy due to the strain of labor. Physical therapy offers manual treatments to help normalize the pelvic floor and restore balance, overall enhancing your quality of life. Oh happy day!!! No more pain!!! Life is good!
Did you know that many pelvic health conditions can also affect a woman getting pregnant?! I personally have suffered with the mental agony of feeling “broken”, trying for so long to conceive with no luck. Women need to know that their situation is not hopeless, that maybe they just need proper healing. If you are experiencing any of these issues, the decision to start therapy could be the blessing you didn’t know you were missing.