Is this much pain normal?!

Thank you!

Yes internally

Wow I didn't know they could do that must be specialist physio, hope you feel better soon x

Yes she's pelvic floor specialist. The pelvic floor is a muscle which is why a physio can assess and help with exercises.

Thank you x

Hi losa,

I has a visible prolapse after my last child, had physio and pelvic floor exercises appeared to pull if back up where it was no longer visiable.

Returned to work, everything fine for next 7 years, then changed jobs, very heavy duties, was also at gym doing high impact not realizing that with mild prolapse should not have been doing any of these things; started menopause around same time triggering lack of estrogen weakening ligaments.

Please be careful with the high impact sport as prolapse indicates weakening pelvic floor.

Hope you get something suitable sorted soon,

Take care ,

Phyl x

Thanks Phyl, did you get severe pain with your prolapse? Thanks

Hi losa,

No pain in early years when it was mild, assume my pelvic floor muscles where stronger and that once my hormones went back to normal after child birth that sorted things. Being younger at the time probably helped too.

Once if all seriously started collapsing after start of menopause it just progressively got worse over time, tried the pessary/ring, initially problem getting correct size, eventually got one that I could fit myself and take out at night. But eventually that wouldn't stay in. In the 6 months leading up to surgery had to give up my job, could barely walk without being in terrible pain.

Was told by consultant they didn't realize how bad my prolapse had been.

Been told no down pressure or my repair will fail; and no high impact. Had repairs twice now so being careful with everything now and miss the gym; loved the treadmill kept my heart healthy.

Take care,

Don't have to overdo things in order to stay healthy.

Phyl x

Thanks Phyl! I'm quiet upset as I'm very active and love high intensity exercise and weight lifting. What do you do for exercise now? Thanks

After first repair slowly built up from walking to low impact 1 or 2 mile indoor walking ( I used low impact exercise videos), lots of swimming but not breast stroke, eventually as pelvic strengthened up cycling but nothing to strenuous, physio eventually said could maybe try cross trainer, but felt their was down pressure so abandoned that.

Almost one year post op 2nd repair now, swimming from around 2 months post op, though having a break just now for other reasons, walking but not so strenuously as before and limiting time on my feet due to scar tissue. Not cycling yet but hoping to get back to that around springtime.

So important to protect 1st repair as much better chance of success and less chance of scar tissue.

My repairs themselves are strong and staying up, this time but scar tissue painful. Like yourself loved the cardiovascular machines at the gym - treadmill, cycles, cross trainer, wave machine and some of the weights to build up muscles on arms and legs wanted to build up stamina for longer swimming sessions.

My eldest sister is 70/71 and goes regular to gym, uses exercises mat, cardiovascular machines and although she uses weights she said you don't have to actually have much if any weight on them that the exercise itself if good for you, she also does pilates class and the girl is really good as she is aware of limitations with different conditions.

I should really look into the pilates class myself as starting to get neck and shoulder problems and old foot and knee injuries acting up due to long recovery and then long shifts at work.

Going to gym regularly solved all these problems before, hate the limitations.

You may be young enough (and if not menopausal) to recover much better and may be still strong enough to withstand some lighter high impact your consultant/physiotherapist between them will be best able to tell you.

We are all a bit different depending on age, if menopausal, fitness levels, how bad the prolapse was and extent of your repair.

Having said that I was told by ward doctor that I would have to be careful as I 'must have a weak pelvic floor as I prolapsed in the first place', I wasnt pleased at all with that remark it sounded so finale.

You will get to know your own body and once sorted will eventually be able to judge yourself what is too much, just be cautious when building back up.

Take care,

Phyl x

Thank you for your reply. I've been referred gynaecologist! I will have a look for a urogynaecologist - thank you! Yes the physio said I have a bladder, uterus and rectal prolapse. Thank you for that info!!

Oh my gosh thank you so much for telling me about urogynaecologists! I've just been doing some research and found a specialist centre near me! Thank you!

Do your research losa because some urogynaecologists still call themselves gynaecologists. I can check if you have the name of the consultant and you can pm me the name or if you Google him/her there will be extra qualifications or he will be a member of urogynaecologists.