Chronic Pelvic Pain is no new kid on the block. With that said, chances are most of you have probably never heard of it. A silent epidemic, this condition affects approximately 30 million women at any given time, and that’s in North America alone. That means that 1 out of 3 women will experience CPP at some point in their lives. If that number sounds like a lot, that’s because it is.
A great new article was recently published in Parents Magazine in their Aug 2015 edition. It is a very well written article on the subject of Diastasis Recti separation, and I wanted to take a moment to share it with you. Kudos to Anne Machalinski for her great story and for interviewing me on this topic which is so near and dear to my heart.
Birth is an all-encompassing experience filled with ups and downs. Its unpredictable nature can fill both grown women and men with fear. Fear is predominant because so many things can occur. Many times birthing partners are not prepared to handle the unpredictability or simply just don’t know that things can happen beyond their control.
When I thought about writing this blogpost I wanted it to be an exposé of sorts. As a physical therapist that rehabilitates women with obstetrical trauma I can share what I know in an honest way that is not as scary as what you may see on TV or read in the paper.
Prenatal yoga is great medicine for pregnant women and a fantastic vehicle that improves flexibility, strength, stamina and helps to promote relaxation. However not all pre-natal yoga poses are appropriate for all pregnant women and some may cause more harm than good. When I was pregnant I did a lot of yoga but it was not until I started working with a physical therapist (PT) and having my PT supervise and tailor my yoga program that I really started to get to get pain relief and the most of out of my prenatal yoga classes.
Prenatal yoga is great medicine for pregnant women and a fantastic vehicle that improves flexibility, strength, stamina and helps to promote relaxation. However not all pre-natal yoga poses are appropriate for all pregnant women and some may cause more harm than good. When I was pregnant I did a lot of yoga but it was not until I started working with a physical therapist (PT) and having my PT supervise and tailor my yoga program that I really started to get to get pain relief and the most of out of my prenatal yoga classes.
I see it all the time. Women who are taken by surprise with organ prolapse after child birth, and hysterectomies and during menopause. Marathon runners and high level athletes are also caught by surprise when they start to feel pressure or something like a ball inside their pelvis. At our healing center we see women with this condition all time and we treat pelvic organ prolapse with physical therapy very successfully. I want to share our expertise and education with you so that you can empower yourself with knowledge and arm yourself with successful tips to fight back.
When one embarks on a healing journey there will be moments on the mountain tops and there will be moments in the valleys of deep despair. I know, I have been in both places during my own journey and what I have figured out is this; how you deal with these moments of ups and downs determines whether you find yourself healed or not.
I recently have read some startling posts on the internet that all pregnant women should not do kegels. This is the same as saying that all pelvic floors are the same. Where is the balance in that statement? It is dangerous advice for the community out there that needs to be debunked so that women see that what is indeed needed is a balance, and this is what I have dedicated this blog post to pointing out.
In today’s world stress is often an inevitable part of being human. During times of change, like during pregnancy, stress can increase because of the numerous changes that occur not only on the physical level but also on the emotional spiritual and soul level. Many of my patients, whether pregnant, or men and women with pelvic pain, have an increase in their pain because they are experiencing high levels of stress in their day to day life.
The following blog and educational video clip is an excerpt from Ending Pain in Pregnancy. This book is the best collection of trade secrets from pelvic floor physical therapists, written to keep you strong and pain free during pregnancy and prepared for your labor and delivery.
When one embarks on a healing journey there will be moments on the mountain tops and there will be moments in the valleys of deep despair. I know, I have been in both places during my own journey and what I have figured out is this; how you deal with these moments of ups and downs determines whether you find yourself healed or not.
