By Emily Tran, PHRC Admin, Westlake Village
Pelvic pain can be a source of significant stress and anxiety for individuals. Living with chronic pelvic pain can often lead to feelings of hopelessness, sadness, and even depression. It’s important to recognize the impact pelvic pain can have on mental health. Here are a few ways mental health can affect pelvic pain:
Heightened pain sensitivity- Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety can heighten the body’s sensitivity to pain, making existing pelvic pain symptoms feel worse.
Tension in the pelvic muscles- Conditions such as anxiety and stress can cause tension in the pelvic muscles, leading to pain and discomfort.
Decreased pain tolerance- Mental health conditions can also cause people to have a decreased pain tolerance, making pelvic pain feel more intense.
Negative impact on quality of life- Pelvic pain can have a significant impact on an individual’s quality of life, from their ability to engage in everyday activities to their sexual health. Mental health conditions can exacerbate these effects, leading to increased psychological distress.
Difficulty managing pelvic pain symptoms-Managing pelvic pain symptoms can be challenging, particularly when dealing with a mental health condition. Mental health concerns may make it harder to cope with the pain, and the pain, in turn, can worsen the mental health condition, creating a cycle that’s difficult to break.
It’s important for individuals with pelvic pain to prioritize their mental health needs and seek support when needed. By treating both pelvic pain and underlying mental health conditions, individuals can improve their overall quality of life and manage their symptoms more effectively.
Mental Health Statistics:
- One in five adults (approximately 51.5 million) in the United States experience mental illness in a given year (National Institute of Mental Health).
- Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide (World Health Organization).
- Suicide is the second leading cause of death among individuals aged 10-34 in the United States (National Institute of Mental Health).
- Women are more likely than men to experience mental illness (National Alliance on Mental Illness).
- LGBTQ+ youth are four times more likely to attempt suicide than their straight peers (The Trevor Project).
- Approximately one in eight children in the United States experience a mental health disorder (National Institute of Mental Health).
- Only 43.3% of individuals with mental illness in the United States received treatment in the past year (National Institute of Mental Health).
- Stress affects 77% of adults in the United States (American Institute of Stress).
Mental health is an essential component of our overall well-being. But with the demands of daily life, it can be challenging to prioritize our mental health needs. Here are some strategies for managing your mental well-being:
Practice self-care. Self-care is the act of intentionally taking care of your physical, emotional, and mental health needs. Make time for activities that bring you joy, such as reading, hiking, or yoga. Additionally, ensure you are getting enough sleep, eating nutritious meals, and staying hydrated.
Connect with others. Social support can go a long way in managing mental health. Stay connected with friends and family, join a local support group, or connect with others online. Don’t hesitate to ask for help when you need it, as gathering support can help ease feelings of isolation and improve your overall well-being.
Be mindful of your thoughts and feelings. Pay attention to your thoughts and emotions and observe how they impact your behavior. Practicing mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing, can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings and enable you to manage them in a healthy way.
Seek professional help. If you’re experiencing persistent mental health issues, such as anxiety or depression, it may be time to seek professional help. Mental health professionals, such as therapists and psychiatrists, can provide the guidance and support you need to manage your mental health.
Make time for hobbies and activities. Engaging in hobbies and activities that bring you joy can help reduce stress levels and improve overall mental health. Activities such as painting, playing music, or cooking can be therapeutic and improve your mental well-being.
Remember, taking care of your mental health is a journey, and it’s essential to seek the support you need. Whether through self-care, social support or professional help, there are many ways to prioritize your mental well-being. By taking small steps, you can begin to navigate your mental health journey with greater ease and confidence.
Mental Health Resources
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)- NAMI is an American organization offering resources, support, and education for individuals living with mental illness.
Mental Health America – Mental Health America provides a wide range of resources, including information on specific diagnoses and conditions, as well as treatment options.
Crisis Text Line- Crisis Text Line is a free, 24/7 text message service for people in crisis. Text HOME to 741741 to speak with a trained Crisis Counselor.
BetterHelp- Better Help is an online platform offering affordable therapy and counseling services for individuals who may not have access to traditional mental health care.
SAMHSA National Helpline – SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7 information and referral service for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
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Are you unable to come see us in person in the Bay Area, Southern California or New England? We offer virtual physical therapy appointments too!
Virtual sessions are available with PHRC pelvic floor physical therapists via our video platform, Zoom, or via phone. For more information and to schedule, please visit our digital healthcare page.
In addition to virtual consultation with our physical therapists, we also offer integrative health services with Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS. Jandra is a pelvic floor physical therapist who also has her Master’s degree in Integrative Health and Nutrition. She offers services such as hormone testing via the DUTCH test, comprehensive stool testing for gastrointestinal health concerns, and integrative health coaching and meal planning. For more information about her services and to schedule, please visit our Integrative Health website page.
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FAQ
What are pelvic floor muscles?
The pelvic floor muscles are a group of muscles that run from the coccyx to the pubic bone. They are part of the core, helping to support our entire body as well as providing support for the bowel, bladder and uterus. These muscles help us maintain bowel and bladder control and are involved in sexual pleasure and orgasm. The technical name of the pelvic floor muscles is the Levator Ani muscle group. The pudendal nerve, the levator ani nerve, and branches from the S2 – S4 nerve roots innervate the pelvic floor muscles. They are under voluntary and autonomic control, which is a unique feature only they possess compared to other muscle groups.
What is pelvic floor physical therapy?
Pelvic floor physical therapy is a specialized area of physical therapy. Currently, physical therapists need advanced post-graduate education to be able to help people with pelvic floor dysfunction because pelvic floor disorders are not yet being taught in standard physical therapy curricula. The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center provides extensive training for our staff because we recognize the limitations of physical therapy education in this unique area.
What happens at pelvic floor therapy?
During an evaluation for pelvic floor dysfunction the physical therapist will take a detailed history. Following the history the physical therapist will leave the room to allow the patient to change and drape themselves. The physical therapist will return to the room and using gloved hands will perform an external and internal manual assessment of the pelvic floor and girdle muscles. The physical therapist will once again leave the room and allow the patient to dress. Following the manual examination there may also be an examination of strength, motor control, and overall biomechanics and neuromuscular control. The physical therapist will then communicate the findings to the patient and together with their patient they establish an assessment, short term and long term goals and a treatment plan. Typically people with pelvic floor dysfunction are seen one time per week for one hour for varying amounts of time based on the severity and chronicity of the disease. A home exercise program will be established and the physical therapist will help coordinate other providers on the treatment team. Typically patients are seen for 3 months to a year.
What is pudendal neuralgia and how is it treated?
Pudendal Neuralgia is a clinical diagnosis that means pain in the sensory distribution of the pudendal nerve. The pudendal nerve is a mixed nerve that exits the S2 – S4 sacral nerve roots, we have a right and left pudendal nerve and each side has three main trunks: the dorsal branch, the perineal branch, and the inferior rectal branch. The branches supply sensation to the clitoris/penis, labia/scrotum, perineum, anus, the distal ⅓ of the urethra and rectum, and the vulva and vestibule. The nerve branches also control the pelvic floor muscles. The pudendal nerve follows a tortuous path through the pelvic floor and girdle, leaving it vulnerable to compression and tension injuries at various points along its path.
Pudendal Neuralgia occurs when the nerve is unable to slide, glide and move normally and as a result, people experience pain in some or all of the above-mentioned areas. Pelvic floor physical therapy plays a crucial role in identifying the mechanical impairments that are affecting the nerve. The physical therapy treatment plan is designed to restore normal neural function. Patients with pudendal neuralgia require pelvic floor physical therapy and may also benefit from medical management that includes pharmaceuticals and procedures such as pudendal nerve blocks or botox injections.
What is interstitial cystitis and how is it treated?
Interstitial Cystitis is a clinical diagnosis characterized by irritative bladder symptoms such as urinary urgency, frequency, and hesitancy in the absence of infection. Research has shown the majority of patients who meet the clinical definition have pelvic floor dysfunction and myalgia. Therefore, the American Urologic Association recommends pelvic floor physical therapy as first-line treatment for Interstitial Cystitis. Patients will benefit from pelvic floor physical therapy and may also benefit from pharmacologic management or medical procedures such as bladder instillations.
Who is the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Team?
The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center was founded by Elizabeth Akincilar and Stephanie Prendergast in 2006, they have been treating people with pelvic floor disorders since 2001. They were trained and mentored by a medical doctor and quickly became experts in treating pelvic floor disorders. They began creating courses and sharing their knowledge around the world. They expanded to 11 locations in the United States and developed a residency style training program for their employees with ongoing weekly mentoring. The physical therapists who work at PHRC have undergone more training than the majority of pelvic floor physical therapists and as a result offer efficient and high quality care.
How many years of experience do we have?
Stephanie and Liz have 24 years of experience and help each and every team member become an expert in the field through their training and mentoring program.
Why PHRC versus anyone else?
PHRC is unique because of the specific focus on pelvic floor disorders and the leadership at our company. We are constantly lecturing, teaching, and staying ahead of the curve with our connections to medical experts and emerging experts. As a result, we are able to efficiently and effectively help our patients restore their pelvic health.
Do we treat men for pelvic floor therapy?
The Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center is unique in that the Cofounders have always treated people of all genders and therefore have trained the team members and staff the same way. Many pelvic floor physical therapists focus solely on people with vulvas, this is not the case here.
Do I need pelvic floor therapy forever?
The majority of people with pelvic floor dysfunction will undergo pelvic floor physical therapy for a set amount of time based on their goals. Every 6 -8 weeks goals will be re-established based on the physical improvements and remaining physical impairments. Most patients will achieve their goals in 3 – 6 months. If there are complicating medical or untreated comorbidities some patients will be in therapy longer.