PFD-what does a therapist do to help you with that??

[toby75]

Hi all

I was diagnosed with IC 1/05 and 2/06 I went to see Dr. Evans in Greensboro and he said that I have PFD and will probably need to get therapy for it. What does a thearpist do to help me with those muscles down there :loco:

Do they just talk you through what you should be doing, I am so confused about this condition. I do know I have problems sometimes trying to urinate when I have to go really bad and I can't.

I guess I am just "getting it" in understanding what thearapy can do for it?

Any advice I would love!


Thank you guys so much!
Amy

[armslee]

Hi Amy,
I am currently going through physical theraphy for my PFD. The first 2 sessions, my therapist mostly just talked with my about my history and current problems, my expectations and what I would like to have improved. My most recent visit (3rd) she did an internal exam so that she could feel which layer of muscles were effected. To do the exam, she inserted her index finger in my vagina about 1.5 inches. She asked me to do kegel exercises and hold them for varying lengths of time.
That is all we have done so far. She has helped me with relaxation and breathing exercises for my retention that I have found to be very useful.
The whole experience is much more calm and therapeutic than I imagined it would be.

[kat820]

I was diagnosed with PFD as well. I have seen a therapist and we did all the tests and then she told me to start doing kegels 3 times a day and 15 reps. Has anyone found they flare more after the kegels? This has been a terrible week for me. And I can only trace it back to the kegels. Frequency and spasms like you would not believe :headbang: But i am going to keep at it- I assume it gets worse before it gets better

[toby75]

Thank you two for your responses.

I starting thinking about the times I cannot start a stream to urinate and it's always when I have been away from home. I NEVER sit on public toilet seats so I have to hover over, so you really can't relax your muscles that way.

When I am at home and can sit down and relax I am able to start a urine stream. Not being able to sit on public toilets comes from my mom, every since I was little she would never let me touch the toilet, she would hold me above it when I was little. When I was older I would just hover over it, b/c thats what I had learned, not to touch it, and to this day I havent ever. This goes for work, restaurants or anywhere thats a public facility.

So I wonder if that sometimes could be my problem as well, over the years always using other muscles to stand over the toilet then siting down and relaxing???

[melanie626]

Hi-
I have a PT who is PFD specialist and does external massage on my abdomen, thighs, etc when the muscles insert and connect with the sling of muscles that encase the pelvic floor. She has spent a ton of time doing internal work (finger in vagina) she will push on muscles to find trigger points that for me reproduce pain or spasms, or urgency ro whatever and hold or stroke that spot to "work out" those muscles. She then has me doing streches to elongate the muscles that connect to pelvic floor. We have checked my muscle tone, but not a lot of kegals because I am over acitve so we need to relax those muscles first, then strengthen...I have learned with several PT's that many think "kegals" are it and for many with PFD this makes things worse. Good luck- feel free to PM me with more questions.

[sjarrett]

I, too, have retention, to the point of urine refluxing back into my kidney's- which is why I have a kidney infection now... I frequently use a catheter. I,too, was told NOT to do kegal exercises for retention, as our goal is to relax those PF muscles that are contracting!
Best of luck in your endevors!
~Stephanie

[ICB]

A great website to check out for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction and Physical Therapy is www.roadtoslainte.blogspot.com. There are many articles that you may find helpful. Some include:

1. To Kegel, or Not to Kegel . . .
2. Pelvic Floor Therapy
3. Let's Go! Really Go!
4. Language Barrier

The website is written by a physical therapist that specializes in pelvic floor disorders; she treats many IC, Chronic Pelvic Pain, and Vulvodynia patients.

The contents in this post are provided for informational purposes only. The contents are not intended in any way to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding your medical condition.

Best wishes, ICB :flower:

[grace 2]

Thanks for posting that site, ICB. Very helpful. I was searching the web for info. on PFD the other day and didn't find anything as good! Thanks, Grace:)

[armslee]

My PT has told me not to hover. Although I usually didn't practice that at public toilets anyway- just wipe the seat good first. Hovering makes your muscles more tense.

I have now had about 5 sessions with my therapist. We have worked on relaxation exercises and strengthening. Yesterday I did the biofeedback and wow, I am SORE today!!!!:dizzy:
But all in all I really think that the therapy is helping me. I am able to relax much better at the doctor's office and my retention is much easier to work through with the breathing exercises she has taught me.

[ICB]

Grace:

I'm glad you found the information helpful. This website gets to the heart of our pelvic floor problems so that we know what we're dealing with in plain English. If you have any other questions, you can always email me at icrelief@verizon.net.

Wendi:

It's like exercising any other muscles; you're going to be sore until the muscle gets stronger. However, if this turns into inflammation and increased IC/PFD symptoms please discuss it with your healthcare provider. You can either back off a little bit or there are other ways to help reduce the inflammation. If you have any questions, please feel free to email me.

Best wishes to both, ICB :flower:

[armslee]

Thanks ICB. My therapist did tell my I would be sore today and she wasn't lyin'!!