Crooked Pelvis

[MerryBerryMoose]

I'm not sure this is a related condition but I thought it might be interesting for you all to know.

I have been going to PT for about a year for my knee and more recently for my ankle. I have also just changed PTs. During my intake/evaluation with the new PT, she mentioned that my pelvis is crooked and that could be what was causing my knee pain (a totaly different story). Anyway. She said that some peole get hip pain, some get knee pain, lower back pain (which I noticed a lot of IC patients have), ect. with this particular problem. So I asked if it could be casuing the burning (or pain in general) assoc. with my bladder. She said it could be possible but since she isn't a uro. she couldn't say for sure.

She told me it would take a long time to get it aligned again because my back injury occured 2 years ago (and I was never treated for any back issues). One "treatment" involved me laying on my back and her yanking my leg (by the ankle). The first time she did it, she pulled me off the table (mainly because that's NOT what I was expecting). So she did that a few times along with some other pulling, pushing, and tugging.

After that I went to use the bathroom and to my surprise...IT DIDN'T BURN!!!!!! What ever she aligned (as temporary as it might be) really helped with the bladder pain (and knee too).

This makes me wonder if blunt force trauma to the back can cause (or be one of the causes of) IC. Or a nerve problem that affects the bladder.

Either way I am greatful for the relief and thought I would share this.

[CarolinTexas]

That's great! Your PT sounds like a keeper.

I had a similar PT situation when my SI joint which was out of place. It helped tremendously but usually went 'out' again later in the day. Acupuncture combined with her PT pulling eventually made it stick.

I notice you use a TENS unit. I just dragged my out today and am using it again. Would you mind telling me the Pulse Rate and Width you use? Does it help much?

[MerryBerryMoose]

My width rate is 170 and my pulse rate is 160. My TENS realy helps a lot (for pain and frequ./urg.).

When you went for acupuncture, did it hurt?

[CarolinTexas]

Out of about 20 needles, I only felt 2. Those 2 were less painful than a flu or lidocaine shot and only lasted an instant.

I had the standard acupuncture and paid extra for the heat lamp and for an extra 20 minutes where they clamp the needles to a tens unit. I think the extra $30 was well worth it. My insurance does not cover it, so I got a discount for paying cash. It's one of those things that they don't offer, but tell you about immediately if you ask. I hate to feel cheap but apparently it's standard.

I've had this done twice. Both times, I had some muscle cramps and soreness for about 2 days. I should have taken warm baths, used moist heat and used Valium. The aftermath is no worse and is shorter than than the steroid injections, prolotherapy and nerve blocks I've had. Of course, everyone is different.

The first time was for my SI joint and two days after acupuncture I had NO pain ever again in this joint - after all those years and thousands of dollars in treatment.

The second time I was pain free for almost 24 hours. I think my IC/endometriosis/cysts, etc had a lot to do with that. I'm having it again for PFD within the month now that I've done so much therapy and had a hysterectomy. I think it will stick this time.

Sorry this is so long. Thanks for your TENS info. Do you use the TENS on Continuous or Burst mode?

[MerryBerryMoose]

Thank you so much for the info. I will look into it most definatly.

My TENS it set so that it fades in and out (not sure the word for it). The PT who gave it to me told me that your body wouldn't adjust to that setting as easily as it would to the continuous (so you don't have to keep turning up the power).

[CarolinTexas]

Thank you! That really helps and makes sense. I hate turning it up periodically. I've adjusted my TENS from Continuous to 'M'. I think (hope) that's what your PT was talking about. My only choices are 'M', 'C' and 'B'. I've changed my pulse and width as well.

[MerryBerryMoose]

"M" is the wave mode. "C" is constant. And I don't know what the other is.

[DanaG]

I too have a crooked pelvis, although I don't know what from. My PT told me it could have just been from doing gymnastics for several years as a kid or something. Unless it causes some of my urgency frequency, I don't notice it affecting my IC at all.

Dana

[CarolinTexas]

Dana G, I'm curious. What is a crooked pelvis? Is it the SI joint being out of place and causing pain which makes you feel twisted?

Mine was long ago and resulted from being rear-ended right after my first spinal fusion surgery. I didn't have IC back then so there was no connection.

[DanaG]

Mine (as far as I can see) does not have any noticeable affect on my IC, so it doesn't relate to pain or anything. I just know there are times when I am walking and my body twists much more strongly one way or another. A good way for me to tell how twisted my pelvis is if I lie down flat on my stomach and put one hand under each hip bone and push my pelvis down into my hands and then I stop pushing, I feel my right hip bone lift up but my right one does not.

I don't know if that makes sense, but I can clearly feel it. If you can't, perhaps you could ask someone else to put their hands under your hip bones and see if they feel it.

Dana