If you’re experiencing any discomfort in the pelvis or pelvic floor area, it’s a good idea to consult with a pelvic floor physiotherapist. At our clinic, we address various symptoms, such as:

• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI)-like symptoms, such as burning, frequency and urgency with urination. These symptoms are often treated with several doses of anti-biotics despite any confirmed presence of infection. Overuse of antibiotics can wreak havoc on your digestive system and can lead to additional problems. Importantly, pelvic floor dysfunction may mimic UTI symptoms without the presence of an actual infection. This emphasizes the need for a comprehensive assessment to identify the root cause and tailor the treatment accordingly.

• Painful Bladder symptoms: A condition known as Painful Bladder Syndrome (PBS). Individuals with PBS often experience urinary urgency, frequency, and a persistent feeling of needing to urinate, even when the bladder is not full. Pain or discomfort may be felt in the lower abdomen or pelvic area. The exact cause of PBS is not fully understood, but it is believed to involve a combination of factors such as bladder lining irritation, muscle dysfunction, and nerve sensitivities. Diagnosis can be challenging, as there is no specific test for PBS. It typically involves ruling out other conditions and assessing symptoms over time. Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy can help with the management of PBS through various evidence-based pain management techniques.

• Interstitial Cystitis (IC) symptoms: Shares similar symptoms as PBS, however the distinguishing factor is that IC is generally considered a more severe form of bladder inflammation. In IC, the bladder lining may develop ulcers (Hunner’s lesions) or pinpoint bleeding, distinguishing it from PBS. IC tends to be a chronic condition with periods of remission and flare-ups. The severity of symptoms can vary widely among individuals. It can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, leading to discomfort, disrupted sleep, and emotional stress. Individuals with this condition may find relief through various treatment approaches, including medications, lifestyle modifications, dietary changes and Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy can also be extremely effective in managing the pain accompanied with this condition.

• Bloating, gas, constipation, diarrhea, or digestive pain may in fact be an indication of a sensitized nervous system (a.k.a your alarm system). Learning how to evoke the relaxation response and/or performing remapping exercises (if indicated) as well as evidence-based pelvic floor physiotherapy treatments can often help settle these types of symptoms. Collaboration with other health professionals may also be required depending on your unique situation.

• Nerve pain possibly caused by entrapment, such as pudendal nerve entrapment can be a tremendous source of pain. Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy can help with the management of this painful and often debilitating condition by using manual therapy on the pelvic floor muscles. Often internal pelvic exams are used for the treatment of this condition.

• Pain during sexual activity (a.k.a Dyspareunia) affect 1/5 women between the ages of 18-29. Only 60% of these women seek treatment and over 50% of these never receive a formal diagnosis. This unsettling journey often involves consulting an average of 5 physicians before receiving proper diagnosis and/or referral to pelvic floor physiotherapy. Can you imagine the stress this alone creates?

• Pelvic Pain due to muscle strain, sprain, or spasms in the hips, buttocks, lower back, and pelvic floor muscles. Often such conditions can be treated with evidence-based pelvic floor physiotherapy interventions often involving internal pelvic exams.

• Persistent/Chronic Pelvic Pain is a complex process involving both sensory and emotional experiences, designed to protect us from actual or potential harm and is often described in terms of tissue damage. If your medical tests have ruled out serious concerns, then your next crucial step is booking an appointment with a pelvic floor physiotherapist who can explain pain to you, in a manner that you can understand and apply to your own life. Research has shown that Pain neuroscience education, mindfulness, relaxation techniques and evidence-based pelvic floor physiotherapy interventions are effective in the management of persistent pelvic pain.

To assist individuals with these symptoms, we adopt a holistic approach, considering the entire body as the origin of the issue is often not isolated to a single cause. For optimal results, we combine physical therapy with mindfulness and pain education techniques. When required, we collaborate with qualified psychologists, naturopaths, nutritionists, and urologists to effectively treat the source of one’s persistent pain.

If you are currently experiencing ongoing or acute pain anywhere around the pelvis, book an initial assessment today!