Think I may have mild PFD

[poetgirl]

I've been experiencing burning pain on and off recently, more noticeably since I stopped taking Elavil. It often happens after urinating at night, but feels different than the occasional burning I experience after urination, if I've ingested something that causes some burning (or if I haven't drank enough water.) The pain lasts much longer and I can feel it throughout the entire vaginal area, but it's not like the VV pain I've had either. I think it may be a result of my IBS -- some of the gas and bloating discomfort I feel at night in my lower abdomen seems to be triggering this pain. I noticed that doing yoga poses like child's pose helps. Last night, I palpated the vaginal area to see if it would help and noticed that everything was in a spasm.

Do these symptoms sound familiar to anyone? Any suggestions on what to do for self-care? I don't think it's bad enough to warrant finding a PF therapist yet and if there's some stuff I can do on my own, I'd prefer it.

Thanks!

[Briza]

Poetgirl
My sister is a massage therapist and recommended this book:
The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook: Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief It has a chapter on pelvic floor issues and pelvic pain. She said there are pictures and good instructions.

I just ordered it from Amazon and waiting for it to arrive, but you can read some of the pages on PFD if you go to Amazon and look up that title.

I recently started taking valium 2mg twice a day and it is helping me a lot with vaginal clenching/spasms I have been having. My gyn believes these spasms may be playing a part in my vulvodynia.

Hope this helps! :)

[poetgirl]

Briza,

Thanks a lot for the book suggestion -- I'll definitely check it out. :)

I can definitely appreciate why you're taking the valium -- when my VV and IC were really bad, taking Elavil and some antispasmodic meds did help a lot. I'm trying to not take any meds (other than birth control pills -- for now) if I don't have to. I have trouble managing the side effects, so unless if it gets really bad again, my approach is try to manage it holistically, through self-care. That's why I like the book suggestion!

I do know my sacrum has been a little out of whack as has my L4-5 vertebrae, which I'm sure is contributing to this. I went to my chiropractor the other day and she did an adjustment and the massage therapist did some massage/trigger point work, but I think it's still sorting itself out. I'm going to talk to my yoga teacher tomorrow too. He knows an amazing amount about anatomy and what poses to do in order to help with muscle/spine problems. I think I instinctively did some stuff last night that helped -- just can't bear to be in that kind of pain!

Once again, thanks for the recommendation. It's much appreciated! :kiss:

[Briza]

Poetgirl
Hopefully the book will arrive tomorrow, if not then for sure Monday. I'll keep you posted on how things go.
I'm hoping, too, to not have to stay on yet another med. That's why I'm so interested in this book.
Must say, though, that I'm really enjoying the relief the valium is giving me right now, and with my insurance plan generic meds cost $0 so financially that is the way to go right now. But can't wait to see if self-therapy will help!

[lisacar]

I think it's hard to say whether or not you have MILD pelvic floor dysfunction without having someone check you. And I mean a physical therapy specialist. Who diagnosed you with the vulvodynia, a GYN? If he/she did, was it by the Qtip test, or internally as well? I found my GYN doesn't really begin to have anywhere NEAR the ability my PT has in terms of understanding all the muscles internally and how they impact my level of pain. Even the urologist just felt me, and said YUP you have PFD, but didn't check all the locations.

I also have IBS, and let me tell you, the PT can find ALL sorts of muscles that are tied up in knots on my belly. I'm a nurse, and hadn't had a clue this could happen! I even have knots in my thighs. So I have the utmost respect for these special PTs - they are truly angels of mercy if you ask me. I about cried when I saw her yesterday as she worked to "fix" me, but I felt SO much better when I left her office. Sometimes I wonder how I pushed three kids out of there!

It's complicated internally, and although you (or a partner) can massage the trigger points yourself (and I'll have to look into getting that book Briza has mentioned), a PT can get you from a different angle, and therefore, deeper and more effectively sometimes. Don't mean to sound all graphic, but I never knew I was doing to myself what I do, and my husband can only help me so much. And I know a lot of it is totally unconscious, but I've clenched myself into one major tight knot, and it's not pretty. A chiro can only go so far. Yoga, gently, is probably a really good thing you are doing for yourself. Stretching gently can really help and get the blood flowin.

Sorry you are having pain and spasms, because I know it's miserable at times. I hope you will reconsider finding a therapist who can evaluate you.

Lisa