So you have pain down there, and like many people, you don’t know what to do about it. Many women ignore their pelvic pain for reasons such as – they are embarrassed, they hope it will go away or they think it’s normal to have pain (especially after having kids).
Pelvic pain is NOT normal and should be assessed by a professional.
Pelvic pain may be associated with or caused by one of the following:
A long or complicated labour, C-section scars or episiotomies
Dyspareunia (pain with sex)
Dysmennorhea (painful periods)
Pudendal Nerve Irritation
Sacroiliac Joint Dysunfction
Interstitial Cystitis
Vaginismus
Vulvodynia
Endometriosis
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
If you think you might have one of the conditions above, you most likely have high tone (or tightness) in your pelvic floor. Other than pain, pelvic hypertonicity may cause symptoms such as:
Incontinence
Urinary or fecal urgency, incomplete voiding or hesitancy
Constipation or straining with bowel movements
Unexplained pain in your low back, hips or groin
And much more…
So what should you do? First of all, STOP doing your kegels! Many people think that they can resolve their pelvic issue by strengthening their pelvic floor. Other than the fact that you’re probably not doing them properly, kegels can actually make matters worse. A tight pelvic floor requires relaxation and lengthening first in order to prepare the muscles for strengthening later on – and we can help with that! Make an appointment with a pelvic health physiotherapist for a full assessment and a
start on the road to pelvic recovery!
Sandra Ghaly, Pelvic Floor & Paediatric Physiotherapist
Sandra graduated from Dalhousie University with a Masters degree in Physiotherapy after completing her Bachelor of Kinesiology degree with honours from McMaster University. She has worked with a variety of clientele but has developed a true passion in working with both the paediatric and women’s health populations. Sandra has extensive experience assessing and treating a variety of paediatric conditions and most recently has become certified as a pelvic health physiotherapist. She also has additional training in acupuncture and kinesiotaping. Sandra finds great value in guiding each individual through a tailored rehabilitation program to optimize their function and quality of life. In her free time, Sandra enjoys yoga, pilates, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
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