I'm wondering about raising this at my next gynae appointment, as I feel like the number of miles I can walk without experiencing pain (sometimes nil) has dramatically reduced in the past year. I'm fed up feeling so stiff and like I have to constantly monitor myself. I want to try and feel a bit fitter, as the fatigue really brings me down, and it's exhausting just dealing with it, let alone the fatigue itself.
Has anyone had good experiences with physio or similar forms of muscular therapy? Is it possible to get a referral on the NHS, or is it better to find someone private?
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Sarah_Meriel
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Hi Sarah, I'm really sorry to hear that what kind of pain are you in, is it pelvic or general? You can see both a normal physio and a pelvic physio hence my question xx
ah thanks. its pelvic, and what I can only describe as bowel - some of that is constipation, but I'm afraid that I have some endo round my bowel somewhere that they haven't spotted yet.
I’ll start by saying if you can get referred to a Womens Health Physiotherapist (WHP)by your GP.
I’m very fortunate that my mum is a women’s health physio and she referred me to a friend on the NHS. I’ve found that muscle release around the stomach when I have very bad constipation really helps- at the time it’s very painful but the next day things get moving again and it helps with bloating.
Muscle release around the pelvis and exercises to help keep the pelvis moving can help as well. My physio I had was lovely. WHP tend to be very understanding to women’s needs and being specicialised women’s health they have an in depth knowledge of pelvic floor, bladder and bowel so are able to give more specific information and know better then general physiotherapists.
Acupuncture has been a god send to me though and you can get needles that stay in your skin. They definitely helped me and I when I was having it regularly I had 2 full weeks when I had no tummy issues, no pain, no nothing and it honestly was amazing.
This is probably over sharing, but when I get my period the days that I got acupuncture I bled fresh, bright red blood. The times I don’t get acupuncture it’s not fresh blood. So for me, it definitely helps my body regulate and work the way it should. It reduces the pain and let’s me live more normally.Everyone reacts differently but for me I’ve been lucky it’s helped so much.
Unfortunately acupuncture isn’t so readily available on the NHS but I think it’s always worth asking your GP. If you are thinking of going privately again, it’s worth finding a WHP who specialises in acupuncture and has a knowledge of endo.
Thank you so much for your suggestions - I will definitely try to seek out a WHP, didn't even know they existed! Isn't it so bad that we don't get given all this info?
I've been seen once by my gynae since my first lap last July - and my next one just got cancelled til October. I know it's not the fault of the NHS staff though - it's just frustrating!
That’s okay! It’s annoying that we don’t all get the same information!
You should definitely be able to see a women’s health physio- where I used to live they had a stupid system that you had to see the consultant first and the guy I met was a right pig and wouldn’t send me to see the physios- thankfully I was able to bypass him through my mum and she sent me to her friend who was outraged as I desperately needed physio do to the tension all round my pelvis, but if you have a ridiculous system like that too keep persisting, go to a private WHP and get them to refer you to be seen- there is always a way round- and as many of us know we get too used to jumping through hoops but sometimes it has to be done!
I’m waiting for my first lap - it’s also in October to confirm my endo.
I’ve been reading the book by Endometriosis UK and it’s been really helpful. I haven’t viewed these websites but here are a few of the ones they recommend:
I also have a fantastic wee guy in my town and he recommended a whole load of natural remedies for endo, turmeric capsules, caffeine free raspberry leaf tea, magnesium and calcium capsules to start with! I do take pain meds but try and take natural remedies when I can!
You should also ask your GP if there are any Endometriosis Centres near you that you can be referred to. They have Clinical Nurse Specialists which I’ve heard first hand, from friends of mine that have attended centres, are great and very supportive.
well my GP didn't seem to think that a WHP would be able to help me. I didn't challenge her, but I will ask again at my next gynae appt which is this Thursday!
If you have a lot of tension and pain in your pelvic region or incontinence then they should be able to advise and help with that! I find some GPs can be great and some not so much but yeah ask gyne and see what they say!
Hey, my physio is really good, he’s private and costs me £40 a session but he really helped my back pain and hip pain due to endo by giving me stretches and massaging my back. It’s definitely worth looking into xx
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what kind of pain are you in, is it pelvic or general? You can see both a normal physio and a pelvic physio hence my question xx 
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