Author: Leslie Toldo
After 25 procedures on her bladder and a round of bladder cancer, Patty developed incontinence. She suffered bladder leaks and gushes.
“It affected my confidence. I always needed to have a change of clothes readily available,” 71-year-old Patty said. “One of my doctors sent me home with Kegel exercises on a piece of paper, with no explanation of how to do them.”
For 29-year-old Allie, the issue was intense menstrual pain. She’s endured it since she first began having periods.
“I was told that birth control was the only thing that would help. I started it as a sophomore in high school,” Allie said. “I was on it for 10 years, but it impacted my depression in such a way that I was missing work. I stopped taking it and was back to my normal self, with the same pelvic pain.”
Two women, two different conditions, and each one suffering without a workable solution. That is, until they both found doctors who referred them to Lisa Priestap, a McLaren Flint physical therapist who specializes in men’s and women’s pelvic floor health issues.
“Most people still do not know that physical therapy is a treatment for conditions like Patty’s and Allie’s,” Lisa said. “There is also a misconception that Kegel exercises are the only thing pelvic floor therapy involves. For some, Kegel exercises can make their symptoms worse. Pelvic floor physical therapy is there to work on finding the best individualized treatment program. I am passionate about helping people with these very personal issues.”
Pelvic floor physical therapy may involve a variety of exercises, including using weights and relation training, along with behavioral changes and education. Therapy will vary depending on what is going on for the individual whether the muscles are loose and weak or painful and tight.
“Physical therapy was whole body,” Patty said. “Working core muscles helped with the pelvic floor. The muscles that connect the pelvic floor to your hip muscles connect to your legs and back. So, my entire body needed to strengthen itself to heal.”
That whole-body approach has brought both Patty and Allie the relief they sought for so many years.
“I am so much more aware of my body. When I am anxious, I will tense up like I used to, but now I have the tools to help me relax my body,” Allie said. “I found out I was in more pain than I actually knew when I experienced ‘normal.’ Having the new normal has been phenomenal.”
Having the tools to manage their conditions has been life-changing for both Allie and Patty.
“My symptoms have gone in a new direction,” Patty said. “It will never be 100 percent. You learn techniques to prevent leaks and gushes. It strengthens my ability to go to a 3-hour play and know that I’m going to be okay. “
Pelvic floor issues are often very difficult for both men and women to talk about, and it is easy to feel hopeless.
“It affects your mental health in ways you don’t realize until you come out the other side, Allie said. “Now, I can function. I can go do things with my friends when I have my period. “
For Lisa, being able to provide solutions to these very personal and often debilitating issues is rewarding.
“It is amazing to see the positive changes in patients’ lives by the end of therapy,” Lisa said.
Patients average nine to 18 visits, spread over the course of several weeks to work through pelvic floor issues with physical therapy. If you are interested in the program, click here to learn more.