Question about my visit with PF specialist

**rgilbert92** · 08-12-2008, 06:15 AM

HI, I was diagnosed yesterday with IC and want to try the least invasive treatments first. I met today with the PF specialist today in my urologist office. She did the test to see if my muscles were contracting and she said they were not. I did take Enablex last night before bed, so maybe that is why. When I get the pain in my bladder, it certainly feels like the muscles are contracting. She sent me home with the plan to squeeze the muscle 5 second and then relax for 5 seconds, 5 time, 4 times a day. So after reading in this forum, my question, is she asking me to do the kegal exercise? Hasn't everyone here, been saying that I should NOT be doing this? Should I do the opposite? She wants me to come next week for the electrical stimulation(not sure that's the proper term) Is that OK?
I'm a bit overwelmed and confused right now and really want to do the right thing for me bladder

**CGrace** · 08-12-2008, 07:51 AM

I can just tell you my experience. Most of us with PFD have tight, spastic, and thus, actually weak pelvic floor muscles. My PT is focusing on stretching and relaxing these muscles-internally and externally. For my situation she would not want me to do Kegels or e-stim. b/c these would aggravate already spastic, tight muscles. I have been blessed to find a very good PT who really knows what she is doing. I have had IC, PFD, etc. for 5 years now and early in my dx I went to a couple of PTs who did kegels, e-stim., etc. They were treating me more like an incontinence patient b/c that's more common for most pelvic PTs to work with. These strategies were not good for my situation and only made me worse. Finally I learned what the PT should be doing for IC and found a great one. I wish you luck.

**waterflow** · 08-12-2008, 10:26 AM

both PT told me I don't have tight muscles down there either and both wanted me to do the kegals. The first PT I did keep trying to do them but stopped because everytime I tightened up the muscles it took forever to relax them and talk about extra pain. When the 2nd PT wanted me to do them I told her no. Tried before and not trying again. The electrical stim thing sounds to me like the TENS unit and that is no big deal. Just a few sticky pads and that's all.

**bigred** · 08-12-2008, 10:39 AM

My PT told me that I just don't know where the muscles are. The first round of PT I learned were they are. It has been one year. My PT and I made contact last week and starting next Wed. I will be going back to her. She went to a conference and learned some new ideas so I am her quinea pig so she can try them on me.

**rgilbert92** · 08-14-2008, 11:52 AM

Thanks ver much for the input. I did the kegels for 2 days and the pain got worse. I'm going to find information now to give to the PT specialist.

**judy45** · 08-25-2008, 03:50 AM

my PT also told me no kegels! I guess it depends on what is going on with your muscles.

**justice4j** · 08-25-2008, 07:54 AM

Made me worse too. My muscles are very strong and kegels made PFD worse with one try at Kegels so I stopped.

**jen74** · 08-25-2008, 09:08 AM

From what I have read, kegels are good for people with incontinance( leakage). The kegels will strengthen the muscles so you wont have the leakage issues. Now for someone with over tight muscles in that area, kegels would be the worst thing for you to do. You would want to find an excerise that would relax the muscles better.
Jen