Physical Therapy & Biofeedback For A Painful Bladder (IC)
Posted Jun 17 2011 7:57am
Part of having an invisible illness that is difficult to diagnose and treat is that most often you have to search for answers for months or, in my case, years. After continuous research on the condition of IC and pelvic floor disorders, I called my doctor to ask him to write a prescription for pelvic floor therapy. I had considered this option over a year ago, but never followed through due to all the additional doctor's visits, and charges I was accruing.
This is my second biofeedback treatment (Not pictured. You wouldn't want to see that!)
The results were encouraging:
My resting state went from a 7.5 to a 2.5. We want it at a 1.
Pelvic floor contractions improved counts from a 15 to over 20. Tina wants it to be over 40.
My ability to retain the contractions did not improve.
She added some floor exercises, some to help strengthen and others to help with relaxation of the pelvic floor (as you see pictured below).
Ouch! I was asked to get as close to the wall as possible. My lower back muscles were so tight that the closest I could get put me 5 inches from the wall. The more I stretch the better it will get.
This was stretching my hamstring. Did you know that your muscles in your upper thighs are connected to your pelvic floor muscles? If my pain is due to my pelvic floor, this explains why I have been having so much trouble with my lower back, and shooting pains down my legs. If all these muscle are connected, I wonder if it could be the cause of my foot cramps.
Geez! That hurts. (see my facial expression) I have never felt that muscle before, and I used to run 3 miles a day!
Yet, again, my friend Maria sacrificed her time to travel to Plano with me. Thanks to her husband Mark for encouraging us to take the George Bush Turnpike--we got there in record time! Also for answering the phone when we couldn't find our way home. I think the road we were looking for and could not find was playing games with us because once we got on turnpike, we found it. I am the world's worst at driving directions!
Part of having an invisible illness that is difficult to diagnose and treat is that most often you have to search for answers for months or, in my case, years. After continuous research on the condition of IC and pelvic floor disorders, I called my doctor to ask him to write a prescription for pelvic floor therapy. I had considered this option over a year ago, but never followed through due to all the additional doctor's visits, and charges I was accruing.
This is my second biofeedback treatment (Not pictured. You wouldn't want to see that!)
The results were encouraging:
- My ability to retain the contractions did not improve.
She added some floor exercises, some to help strengthen and others to help with relaxation of the pelvic floor (as you see pictured below).Yet, again, my friend Maria sacrificed her time to travel to Plano with me. Thanks to her husband Mark for encouraging us to take the George Bush Turnpike--we got there in record time! Also for answering the phone when we couldn't find our way home. I think the road we were looking for and could not find was playing games with us because once we got on turnpike, we found it. I am the world's worst at driving directions!