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Clinical Manifestations of Endometriosis

In Endometriosis by Jandra Mueller

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas   Endometriosis is well known for its significant menstrual pain (dysmenorrhea), and often silent infertility. It has long been thought that this disease is a ‘women’s’ disease or menstrual disease allowing for a long history of hysterectomies and hormone suppression aimed at suppressing menstruation.    Sampson’s theory of retrograde menstruation has been perpetuated …

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As The Pelvis Turns: Top Blogs of 2023

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Emily TranLeave a Comment

By PHRC Admin Team   As we find ourselves on the cusp of a new year, it’s time to take a nostalgic walk down memory lane and revisit the top blogs of 2023. This year has been a rollercoaster ride, filled with insightful discussions, enlightening discoveries, and inspiring stories from all across the globe. So, let’s wrap up the year …

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Fusobacterium and Endometriosis: New Insights or Media Frenzy?

In Endometriosis by Jandra MuellerLeave a Comment

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas   The recent study titled “Fusobacterium infection facilitates the development of endometriosis through the phenotypic transition of endometrial fibroblasts” by Muraoka et al. has generated significant attention and frenzy in the media.  The media coverage of this article has been intense, with headlines highlighting the potential breakthrough in understanding the pathogenesis of endometriosis, …

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March is Endometriosis Month; Current News and Updates

In Endometriosis by Jandra MuellerLeave a Comment

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas   March is the month where we get to talk about all things Endometriosis. Endometriosis (‘endo’) is an estrogen mediated, inflammatory disease characterized by endometrial-like tissue found outside of the uterus. Most commonly it is found in the abdominal and pelvic cavity, but can be found elsewhere in the body as well. Endo …

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What is Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder (PGAD/GPD)? Part 2

In Female Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   In 2021, a panel of experts published a consensus and management of care paper on Persistent Genital Arousal Disorder/Genito-Pelvic Dysesthesia (PGAD/GPD) in the Journal of Sexual Medicine. The paper describes a treatment algorithm involving five different therapeutic targets for PGAD/PGD! The paper describes how clinicians newer to treating this diagnosis can …

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Pelvic Hip Pain, A Patient Success Story

In Female Pelvic Pain by Emily TranLeave a Comment

By Jillian Giannini, DPT, PHRC Pasadena, Jennifer Keesee, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village and Emily Schwerdtfeger, BA, PHRC Westlake Village “I’m the exception, right?” “It could never happen to me.” Emily is a 25 year old female that has had left hip pain for five years now. She describes her hip pain as:   Achy or sharp  In front of L …

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Setting Up for Success after Endometriosis Excision Surgery

In Endometriosis by pelv_adminLeave a Comment

By Jennifer Keesee, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village & Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas   Congratulations on taking the next step in your healing journey! You’ve found a great doctor and decided to proceed with endometriosis excision surgery. If you’re like me, after many years of managing endo symptoms, you’re probably excited to address the root cause. If you have …

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Endometriosis: A PT’s Journey to Diagnosis & Treatment

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By Jennifer Keesee, DPT, PHRC Westlake Village March is endometriosis awareness month, and here at PHRC we want to help spread the word about this complex disease that is often hidden in plain sight. Endometriosis is a condition that affects approximately 10% of women, which also includes trans-men, and those who do not identify as a woman, but were born …

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Dear Doctor, Your Patients are Human; An Open Letter

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Emily TranLeave a Comment

By Emily Schwerdtfeger, PHRC Westlake Village Admin Assistant A patient submitted this letter following their personal experience with patient care   An open letter to any doctor who’s ever seen a patient. To patients who have experienced something similar, I’m sorry and you didn’t deserve it.   “I understand that doctors have limited time with patients and that medicine is …

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New Perspectives on Endo: Gut-Immune Link & IG Live w/ Dr. Orbuch

In Endometriosis by Jandra MuellerLeave a Comment

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas   March is Endometriosis Awareness Month, AND National Nutrition Month – what a great time to talk about how optimal gut health and nutrition impacts endometriosis. Optimal gut health and nutrition play a crucial role in one’s endometriosis journey because having a healthy gut means improving our mental health, optimizing our immune system, …

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Nutrition Awareness Month: Integrative Health & Nutrition Services

In Digital Health by Jandra MuellerLeave a Comment

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas   March is Nutrition Awareness Month and we’d love to share the services we offer here at PHRC and talk about why nutrition is so important, especially for those with pelvic health conditions.    What is Integrative Health and Nutrition?    In contrast to conventional medicine, which places emphasis on treating a disease, …

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Integrative Health & Nutrition Services Now Offered Virtually Through PHRC!

In Digital Health by Jandra Mueller5 Comments

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas I’m Jandra, and I am a pelvic floor physical therapist here at PHRC, and the Director of PHRC Encinitas. I am very excited to announce that I have just completed my Master of Science degree in Integrative Health and Nutrition from Maryland University of Integrative Health.  A little about me: a few years …

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Success Story: How Jennifer Beat Endometriosis

In Endometriosis by Jandra Mueller1 Comment

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas Jennifer was referred to PHRC by her urogynecologist who diagnosed her with interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome (IC/PBS). For more information on this condition, check out Melinda’s webinar on IC/PBS.  She was diagnosed with IC in 2012/2013 because she had been experiencing significant cramping in her bladder, as well as urinary urgency and frequency. …

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Summary from IPPS 2019: Chronic Pain in Endometriosis

In Endometriosis by pelv_admin2 Comments

By: Morgan Conner, DPT, PHRC Los Gatos In October I had the pleasure of attending the International Pelvic Pain Society’s Scientific Meeting with a number of my colleagues here at PHRC. On the second day of the main conference, Catherine Allaire MDCM, FRCSC gave the James E. Carter keynote lecture titled Endometriosis: Towards Prevention of Chronic Pain. There were two …

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Pelvic Pain Explained: Endometriosis + Resource List

In Endometriosis by Jandra Mueller2 Comments

By Jandra Mueller, DPT, PHRC Encinitas At PHRC we want to do our part to help people better understand pelvic pain syndromes and more importantly, help people suffering with these diagnoses get the help they need to recover. Since knowledge is power we created 6 videos and blog posts that we hope people find useful. This week, in our sixth …

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What to Know About Your Menstrual Cycle

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by pelv_adminLeave a Comment

By: Rachel Daof, DPT Here at PHRC we see conditions that affect that dreaded time of the month: our periods. As we have written before, conditions like endometriosis can directly affect menstruation. Other menstrual related issues include period cramps, nausea, bowel movement issues, headaches, and many other symptoms all driven by our cycle. To many of us, these are things …

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Managing Life on or after “The Pill”

In Female Pelvic Pain by Jandra MuellerLeave a Comment

By: Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas If you are a female reader of our blog, have experienced painful intercourse, and happened to have come to the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center (PHRC) for treatment, then you are probably familiar with our talk about how systemic birth control like oral contraceptives (OCPs) or “The Pill,” may be the underlying culprit. …

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The Blunt Truth About Medicinal Marijuana and Pelvic Pain: Part 2

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Shannon Pacella2 Comments

By Shannon Pacella, DPT,  PHRC Lexington First things first: if you haven’t already read the Part 1 to this post, please do so first!   There are a few updates since my first post regarding laws and legislature for marijuana (cannabis) use throughout the United States. Updates Currently, 29 states plus Washington, D.C. have legalized the use of medicinal marijuana, …