Hi there, I’m a 40 years old woman with weak pelvic floor muscles. I had this problem since 8 years now, when I delivered my first kid, and things have worsened when I delivered my second kid 4 years ago.
I have urinary incontinence when walking and running, and a low quality of sex. I also have a mommy pouch that I think is related to the weak muscles. Physical therapy didn’t help much, and I’m looking to hear from you if you have the same symptoms.
Thank you!
Poor you! This sounds horrible. When you say 'physical therapy didn't help much', do you mean physiotherapy? And what did you actually try? The first thing, I imagine, must be to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles as much as possible. But you will have been working on that: how did you go about it? I have found the exercises make a big difference.
The 'mommy pouch' is more likely (as I understand it) to be related to core and after-effects of pregnancy probably, depending on how much weight you're carrying. A bit more detail might help you get some more replies.
😘
Yes I did physiotherapy to strengthen my pelvic floor muscles.
I want to know if a pessary would be helpful in my case?
I would like to add that I’m 5ft6 tall, weighing 160lbs
I can't say Patcho. I'm just another prolapse punter. A pessary can't strengthen your pelvic floor muscles, that's for sure. Only exercising them appropriately can do that. A pessary might relieve some pressure that is contributing to urinary leakage, but you haven't been told that this is the cause of the problem, so it might be pointless trying that. Only an expert, who has carried out an examination, is in a position to advise.
However, it does sound as though either the exercises you did were not effective in strengthening PF muscles (in which case, if I were you, I'd want to know why) or alternatively perhaps that wasn't the only thing causing the problem.
On this site, people can tell you their own experience, but none of us is exactly the same. It sounds from what you say as though the professional advice you have had so far has not helped you much. Perhaps you need to go back and get a second opinion from another physio or another uro-gynaecologist?
If you're uncomfortable and unhappy, don't give up. Go back to them!
I have started using an Emsella Chair for strength ending pelvic floor muscles. I am paying £90 for a 30 minute session. I have only just started today so cannot comment yet on its effectiveness. They have advised 6/8 sessions over a three to four week period should work with intermittent maintenance going forward. It is supposed to deliver over 11,000 level exercises in one treatment using focused electromagnetic technology. One cannot have it if pregnant, have a pacemaker, or have metal plates such as hip replacement, copper coil or IUD. I will review after I have had 8 sessions, hoping it will have been worth the eye watering cost. I had a vaginal hysterectomy, anterior repair with levatorplasty and perineorrhaphy on the 2nd June 2023 so have experienced much improvement already. I am hoping the emsella chair will restore the muscles in the pelvic floor area as I find it very slow doing pelvic floor exercises and am hoping for a quick fix . I am a reasonably fit 70 year old. Would love to hear from anyone who may have gone down the route of the Emsella chair.
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