Physical Therapy & TENS

[Want2BPainFree]

I just started PT last week. I've had two visits. The PT didn't do that much internal or external work on the first visit. It was mostly an assessment. Then she put me on the Interferential machine with a big heating pad on my abdomen and between my legs. It felt great.

Second visit, she did finger rolling across my abdomen. Holy Moly was that pretty intense and painful. And then she did a bunch of internal "holding" of muscles. I think to try to get them to release. It was excruciating to have her pushing on them.

Interesting thing is, my abdominal muscle spasm and the internal muscle spasm are soooo much worse on the right side than the left. I thought it was interesting because when I go to my acupuncture appts. the points on my right side are so much more tender than the ones on the left.

Anyway, they sent me home with a TENS unit. I don't think it is helping, and for that matter might be making things worse. I think for the most part, I have the IC urgency/frequency under control, but I am left with burning.

I feel most of the burning in and around the opening of the vagina and on the vestibule. I do have VVS.

The PT told me to play around with electrode placement and settings on the TENS, but I haven't really found any that block the pain signal for me.

She set it to 130Hz pulse rate and 50 pulse width. I have the option of burst, continuous, and M (not sure what it stands for, but it is a few seconds long, then stops and repeats).

She original put my electrodes on either side of my pubic hair low on the abdomen almost to the crease of my thigh and on my backside right above the crack and out maybe an inch on either side of it. I assume that is the pudendal nerve.

I've tried crossing the leads, tried wearing them all four near the pudendal, two on mons and 2 on butt cheeks near the vulva, etc. None of them seem to help the pain.

Any advice?

[callie0767]

you sound the same as me -well almost.i don't have v but have severe pelvic floor dysfunction. i too ttried the tens but it didn't seem to work for me either. sometime the pt can be painful for some. my pelvic floor muscles didn't work at all and were in a constant spasm causing my bladder also to be very unhappy. after several months she has gotten some of the muscles to relax except for the ones closet to my bladder.they just won't stay relax. my pain level has decreased but i still use the fentanyl patch and the ultram for break through pain. don't get me wrong my pain is still bad but its a little better because of the pt. many give up because of the pain which i can understand but for me it was worth it to stick it out. however i now think my endo is back so my pain is now high again. take care and good luck.

[aleet7]

Hi Sonja,
I'm sorry that you aren't getting relief from with the pft. Yesterday was my 2nd session and I'm considering not going back! I still hurt from her holding the muscles with her finger! Those muscles are spasming and aching like crazy! I've tried sitting in a warm bath, taking ultracet and everything and I feel horrible. The only hope I have to hold on to is that my uro told me that It gets worse before it gets better. My husband thinks that it's making things worse instead of better. I've been in bed all morning because of the spasms. I also had the internal stimulation and I don't see where it helped. Nevertheless, we're supposed to get better as a result of the therapy.
Best wishes,
Teela