Table of Contents
- What is pelvic floor dysfunction?
- What is the best way to deal with pelvic floor issues?
- Do you require surgery?
- What factors exacerbate pelvic floor issues?
- Who provides expert treatment?
What is pelvic floor dysfunction?
In order to urinate or have a bowel movement, you must be able to relax and coordinate your pelvic floor muscles. Not being able to is known as “dysfunction”. Women may have discomfort during sex, and men may have difficulty obtaining or sustaining an erection (erectile dysfunction or ED). Pelvic floor muscles are located near the base of your pelvis on the “floor” (the bottom of your torso).
The pelvic floor muscles are like a house’s foundation since they support organs including the bladder, uterus and rectum (and prostate in males). These muscles provide structural support for your body, ensuring that everything stays in its proper position. By wrapping around your pelvic bone, your pelvic floor muscles provide support for many of your organs. Some of these muscles create a sling around the rectus abdominis, which in turn helps stabilize the spine.
The following organs are located in the pelvis:
- Urinary tract (kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra)
- The uterus and cervix (in women)
- The testicles and prostate (in men)
- The rectum
What is the best way to deal with pelvic floor issues?
Treatment for pelvic floor dysfunction is usually straightforward. If you need physical therapy, you should expect to feel better after a few sessions, but it may sometimes take longer. Non-surgical treatment is available with pelvic floor dysfunction. Among the non-surgical options are:
Biofeedback: This is the most prevalent kind of therapy, which is carried out under the guidance of a physical therapist. Over 75% of persons with pelvic floor dysfunction benefit from non-invasive biofeedback. To retrain your muscles, your physical therapist can utilize biofeedback in a variety of methods. When you relax or clench your pelvic floor muscles, they may utilize sensors and video to see how you respond. After this, your therapist will offer you feedback and work with you to strengthen the coordination in your muscles.
Physical treatment for the pelvic floor: Physical treatment and biofeedback therapy are often used in conjunction. During treatment, your therapist will identify any stiff muscles in your lower back, hips or pelvis/pelvic floor, then give you stretches to help loosen up those muscles.
Medications: Prescription drugs that help you maintain regular and smooth bowel movements are important for treating pelvic floor dysfunction.
Techniques for calming the mind: Acupuncture, yoga, warm baths, and meditation may all be recommended by your doctor or physical therapist in addition to other treatment options.
Do you require surgery?
Because a problem with your muscles causes pelvic floor dysfunction, surgery is not a preferred option to address it. If physical therapy and biofeedback don’t help, your doctor may refer you to a pain injection expert. This is a very unusual occurrence, however. A small needle is used to inject numbing and calming drugs directly into tense or painful muscles by experts who specialize in this technique. “Trigger point injection” is the medical term for this procedure.
What factors exacerbate pelvic floor issues?
Symptoms of pelvic floor dysfunction may not improve for many months despite using prescription bowel and
urinary drugs and also doing pelvic floor physical therapy. The most critical therapy component is perseverance; not taking your prescription can keep your symptoms going, and they might worsen if you forget. Additionally, delaying physical therapy visits or not doing exercises might cause your recovery to be slowed.
Any action which causes your pelvic floor muscles to become more tense or painful might exacerbate your symptoms. Exercises like heavy weightlifting and frequent leaping, for instance, can exacerbate pelvic floor issues by increasing pelvic floor stress.
To avoid constipation, go to your doctor and keep a careful eye on your food if you have firm bowel movements or stomach discomfort due to gas. It’s critical to keep hydrated (at least 8 glasses per day) and consume a balanced diet. Taking fibre supplements or eating foods rich in fibre may make your bloating and gas discomfort worse. If your symptoms worsen, stay away from these foods.
Who provides expert treatment?
When it comes to treatment, this can be provided by your usual doctor, a physical therapist, a doctor specializing in pelvic pain anesthesiology or a surgeon specializing in the pelvic floor.
For more information on the treatment of pelvic floor dysfunction, visit Fraser Life online or call us in Langley at (778) 278-4755 today.
< Previous | Home | Next >
Recent Comments