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Pelvic physio update

Posted , 8 users are following.

heather62040
heather62040

Hello ladies, just an update on my physio progress so far. I have been seeing a pelvic floor physio therapist weekly for the last month. She initially assessed me as having a tight and weak pelvic floor. I couldn't do a single kegel exercise because my muscles were always clenched.

We'll, it took four weeks of relaxation exercises including deep abdominal breathing and visualization of relaxing the pelvic floor to "unclench" my muscles. Now, at the last session, we used the biofeedback machine and I can actually so some kegels!! They are very weak, mind you, and I can only do them when I'm laying down and really concentrating. But this is definite and measurable progress.

I can't remember what the biofeedback machine measures in, but I was able to move the lines up to a 10. My physio woman said she'd like to see me get up to 20-25 before im able to progress on my own.Many woman go up to 45 but they are obviously not in need of therapy so she doesn't get that in her office.

So...it is working. Still very weak but I think it takes quite awhile before you increase muscle mass so I am hopefull.

Has anyone else had experience with physio? Any success stories several months or years in?

0 likes, 10 replies

10 Replies

  • phyl_40063
    phyl_40063 heather62040

    Posted

    That's great news Heather, knew you'd get there in the end!

    You will gradually get stronger and it will get easier to do them.

    When I first noticed my prolapse it was mild, just after giving birth to last of my kids (she''s 13 now), she was rushed to Yorkhill sick children's hospital, resulting in me not seeing a physio after the birth. Realized a few months on that I could see this horrible fleshy thing parting the vag... lips. My GP referred me straight away to the physiotherapist as I was due to return to work soon .Anyway I was hooked up to machine and showing weak pelvic floor could hardly do the kegals, sent home to practise, next vist big improvement, by the time I returned to work the fleshy bit had pulled back up. It was sways worse when my monthly periods were due and when I was covering extra shifts or longer days to cover holidays.

    So much stronger now I've been doing them regularly for years, but fighting gravity now I've went through menopause. Hoping thus repair will last much longer.

    Good luck and kerp practising.

    Phyl x☺

  • Hijadeonagro
    Hijadeonagro heather62040

    Posted

    Hi Heather! Happy for you!!! I see my therapist once a week also, in the beginning I could squeeze but weakly. In 2 months the difference is remarkable, now I can squeeze while I'm standing. I encourage you to go on with it. Hugs!!!! 😘
  • DorryC
    DorryC heather62040

    Posted

    I went to physio to relax my pelvic floor.  It did help but it was pre-op and when my intestines would bulge through the tear in my pelvic floor, it would aggravage my pelvic floor muscles and they would lock back up.  I learned how to relax them and things improved but I couldn't get it to go away completely, with that happening. 

    post op things are still tight but I don't think it's as bad.  

    Partial success?  Hopefully now that I have had the op I can get things even better.

  • diana81923
    diana81923 heather62040

    Posted

    Ive been getting therapy for 2 weeks. Its working slowly but I'm getting there. I have a weak and sprained pelvic floor. No fun at all. Thank you for the update at least I can be hopeful now.
  • Kegel8Stephanie
    Kegel8Stephanie heather62040

    Posted

    Hi Heather

    Thats great news! The greatest sadness for me is that many GPs still refer women with pelvic problems directly to a Consultant, before considering a Physiotherapist. Physiotherapy works for so many people and it really should be used before and/or after surgery. We must not see the pelvic floor in isolation, it is part of the whole body and the body needs to work 'properly' so the pelvic floor does take the strain and become the 'breaking point'.

    Great feedback - Physios will be chearing!

    • DorryC
      DorryC Kegel8Stephanie

      Posted

      I guess it depends, but a specialist can be helpful even if conservative treatment will work.  They are the ones who can fit you for a pessary, have the experience to tell how serious it is and whether surgery is necessary, and may even have in house pelvic floor physical therapists.  

      I was referred to pelvic floor PT before surgery so I guess I don't view a surgeon as  anti-physio.  I definitely think urogyns should make heavy use of physios.

       

    • DorryC
      DorryC

      Posted

      One reason I think this is that my normal doctor, who does tons of pelvic exams, could tell things felt a bit weird but she didn't know my pelvic floor was in spasm.  That information from the urogyn was really important.  If my GP had sent me to a physical therapist, she would have sent me with the wrong information.  My urogyn told me that some PTs in our area only really do kegels and if I was sent to one of them... oof.  What a disaster that would have been.
    • diana81923
      diana81923 DorryC

      Posted

      This is why I am so grateful to this forum. I never even knew of Pt. Thank you all
  • Maisiemugwump
    Maisiemugwump heather62040

    Posted

    Hi following an anterior bladder repair on the 31/05/ and ensuing incontinence when moving I have been referred for physio.  It's great to hear some positive stories. Never had this problem post op but had been told pelvic floor were weak, again not offered Physio tried pessaries they didn't work so chose the surgery option am praying that with help can fix this problem.  

     

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