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.
Modern living presents us with an overwhelming amount of options when it comes to every aspect of our lives. Healthcare is no exception. With research studies and treatment guidelines being created on a daily basis, they can often leave us feeling confused about which option is best for us when we are faced with an ailment. It is of the utmost importance that we question and research our options when considering the practitioners and treatments that are most fitting for our needs and lifestyles.
I wanted to take a moment to let my readers know about a ground-breaking book that was just released by my colleague and dear friend Dr. Kelly Brogan. A Mind of Your Own is a courageous and illuminating book that takes on the powers-that-be by challenging the status quo about the use of anti-depressants, which is estimated that 1 in 4 women are taking today.
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.
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.
Our abdominal muscles serve a far greater purpose than looking tight and awesome. This area is part of what I call the pelvic power relay station. The abdominal muscles create stability in our hips, PFMs and lumbar spine. Our midsections also provide support and stability for our internal organs, house the first two chakras and prevent energy leaks. If your abdominals are in a weakened state or are compromised by having a diastasis recti separation, you are at greater risk for female-related pelvic dysfunction.
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.
