What we help with
Coccyx Pain
Coccydynia can be a very painful and debilitating condition of the coccyx. Sometimes it can be related to an injury such as falling on your tail bone. It also be related ti childbirth. The main symptom is pain and tenderness at the base of your spine, near the top of your bottom. It may be a dull pain or very sharp. It can be worse when sitting, opening your bowels, leaning forward or during intercourse.
Constipation
Did you know up to 50% of people with constipation have pelvic floor dysfunction? Increasing pressure on the bladder can contribute to urinary frequency and urgency. Straining to empty your bowels can then put further pressure on your pelvic floor and connective tissue. Over time this may increase your risk of incontinence and vaginal prolapse. Pelvic floor dysfunction. Specifically over active pelvic floors can lead to difficulty emptying your bowels and therefore symptoms of constipation. A flexible pelvic floor which is able to “let go”, lengthen and relax is important for bowel emptying.
Diastasis Rectus
Diastasis rectus is the thinning and widening of the connective tissue between you six pack muscles. It occurs in all pregnancies and is required for your baby to grow. Following delivery most diastasis rectus will recover naturally in the first few months as your body recovers.
Low back pain during or after pregnancy
It is very common to get backache or back pain during pregnancy, especially in the early stages. During pregnancy, the ligaments in your body naturally become softer and stretch to prepare you for labour. This can put a strain on the joints of your lower back and pelvis, which can cause back pain.
Overactive bladder syndrome
Over active bladder syndrome (OAB) covers a wide range of symptoms including: *Urgency and not always being able to make it to the toilet *Needing to go to the toilet often during the day ( some this could be every 30 minutes!) *Getting up in the night for the toilet *Having if in case wee to void having accidents
Painful Intercourse
Prior to having children intercourse may be uncomfortable due to tightness in your pelvic floor muscles. Physiotherapy can teach you how to relax your pelvic floor muscles and advise on other options and treatments that can make intercourse more comfortable. During childbirth you may require and episiotomy or have a tear. These should heal within 6 weeks but if pain over the scar persists or painful intercourse persists you should seek help.
Pelvic Pain
Pelvic Pain is any pain located in the lower abdomen, pelvic floor or pelvic region. We often only think of our pelvic floor as being weak, it can aslo be tight and hold tension. Often tension in the pelvic floor is associated with the following conditions: Vaginismus is a condition where the pelvic floor muscles have become so tense that penetration with intercourse or even the use of a tampons are impossible or at least very painful. Vulvodynia (vestibulodynia) and or pudendal nerve conditions but can also present on its own. Bladder Pain Syndrome is based on the presence of pain in the bladder region, usually accompanied by frequency and urgency of urine.
Pelvic girdle pain during pregnancy
If you are feeling pain in your pubic bone, groin, hips, buttocks and/ or tail bone it may be that this is due to pregnancy related pelvic girdle pain. Previously called symphysis pubis dysfunction or SPD. Symptoms commonly include pain in the pubic bone, hips or lower back. Sometimes all these areas together. Its thought pelvic girdle pain is caused by the abdominal muscles, gluteals and pelvic floor having to work harder as your pregnancy progresses. For a small number of women, pain is due to the hormonal changes of pregnancy. More recently it is thought that pelvic girdle pain results from increased tissue sensitivity and not the above. Treatment provided includes manual therapy, acupuncture, exercises to desensitise the soft tissue structures. General advice is also given towards daily activities and birth.
Prolapse
Although it is common to have a prolapse after childbirth, prolpase is also possible without having children due to poor intra abdominal pressure control, such as very heavy weight lifting. Prolapse through the vagina can be of any of the following: Urethrocele – prolapse of the urethra through the vagina Cystocele – prolapse of the bladder through the vagina Uterine Prolapse – prolapse of the uterus through the vagina Rectocele – prolapse of the rectum through the vagina The rectum can also prolapse through the back passage (rectal prolapse). A prolpase can be due to pelvic floor muscles being weak, or as a result of damage to part of the pelvic floor.
Scar management
Scar management can either be for c-section scars or peroneal scars. Following a Caesarean (commonly known as a C-Section), you may find that your scar feels uncomfortable. It’s very common for your scar to feel like it’s pulling and cause your discomfort. Initially your scar may be red, raised, tight and angry looking. It takes roughly 6 weeks for the initial healing phase. At this point your scar shoulder be closed and ready for scar massage. During childbirth you may require and episiotomy or have a tear. These should heal within 6 weeks but if pain over the scar persists or painful intercourse persists you should seek help.
Stress incontience
Stress incontinence describes the loss of urine during exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing and any other movements. We often think this is just associated with childbirth. Other factors like weak pelvic floor muscles, constipation, obesity and poor pressure management during high intensity exercises can also be a cause