Confused

[Popcorn12345]

I thought tight pelvic floor was treatable. But from what I've read here you just have to suffer with no end. What's the point in that?

[Rileysmom]

hey, if you truly have pelvic muscle tension and a tight floor please see a pelvic physio. I had my own nightmare of experience with a hypertonic pelvic floor caused by situational anxiety, saw 2 gynaecologists with no answers.

Finally found some answers on Reddit and saw a pelvic physio. They are amazing. They do an internal exam and then you know right away how bad your tension is.

After that though the work is on the patient I think about it like seeing a personal training or coach. They tell you what exercises you need to do (yoga stretches while diaphragmatic breathing) and behaviours to change eg posture, don’t sit for long periods etc. but you have to do your homework and you will get better.

For me I followed what my physio said religiously . I went to her every 2-3 weeks. After about 5 months I was back to myself.

There is 100% hope.

[CherylVacc in reply to Rileysmom]

Good news Rileysmom, I started with a Pelvic physio 6 weeks and I determined it may take 3-6 months before I see results, and based on what you speak of, I'm thinking correctly. I'm about 6 weeks in to a long recovery, but worth it.

[Popcorn12345 in reply to Rileysmom]

What were your symptoms?

[Rileysmom in reply to Popcorn12345]

Symptoms were basically a phantom UTI so burning and feeling like I wasn’t getting bladder relief, sometimes for hours on end. The burning was the worst. Also, one of the worst things was pain to sit. Pain in the vagina/vulva area. Even for as short as 5 mins, car rides were terrible. I couldn’t sit comfortable and I couldn’t cross my legs either without pain. I got a standing desk but I still had this feeling like a heaviness in my pelvic floor all the time.

Intercourse was unimaginable and I had to ease back into it.

it’s odd because I have always had pelvic floor muscle tension but never knew what it was. 37 now but it started on and off at 20 yo after a bad UTI. Once in a while, Some weeks I feel like I’m getting a UTI but then it goes away on its own. Sometime intercourse was slightly painful and I always was tight down there but I didn’t know about pelvic floor muscles.

Anyhow, it wasn’t until I hit rock bottom and was hypertonic from anxiety last year that I finally got answers. I’ve learned so much and am so thankful to have had a wonderful pelvic physio therapist.

I was at my wits end and thought I would have to live in chronic pain but there is hope.

Tbh it took mental health help too. I went on meds for situational anxiety and depression while also working on the physio. I think it was necessary for my mind to rest in order for my body to relax too. Mind and body are so intertwined.

Lastly I would say not to sit for long periods. I got a standing desk and I wouldn’t sit more than 30mins during my recovery. I think that was huge on top of the physio exercises.

[Rileysmom in reply to Rileysmom]

Popcorn12345 I also recommend taking Magnesium Bisglycinate daily too. I do 400mg per day, started shortly after physio. I saw people saying it on Reddit and my Pelvic PT totally agreed it was good for muscle tension. It’s a vitamin so can’t hurt right 😉

[Tryingtolive62 in reply to Rileysmom]

Do you mean a pelvic floor pt? What’s a pelvic physio?

[Rileysmom in reply to Tryingtolive62]

Yes pelvic floor physio therapist.

[Tryingtolive62 in reply to Rileysmom]

Thank you!

[Skye22]

You may have to do a bit more research and make informed choices about what treatments are available and what would be beneficial for your symptoms. For me a really good womens physio who performs internal external vaginal trigger point therapy which can help to deal with painful tight pelvic floor. I also receive botox injections into the pelvic floor muscles the combination of treatments whilst do not eradicate pain help to alleviate symptoms.

I was diagnosed with levator ani syndrome which I will always have. But a positive mindset and celebrating the good days help keep me sane.

Hope you find the treatments that work for you.

[RobertVerde]

Its definitely treatable. Physical therapy saved my life. Read this book: A Headache in the Pelvis