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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, …

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Autonomic Features of Chronic Pelvic Pain

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Elizabeth Akincilar5 Comments

  By Elizabeth Akincilar   Understanding and effectively treating chronic pain continues to challenge the medical community. Now more than ever, there is a sense of urgency to treat this disease. With the astounding reports of opiate addiction and opiate related deaths in this country, we now know that throwing drugs at chronic pain is not the answer. So what …

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Endometriosis: Beyond the lesions

In Endometriosis by Jandra Mueller2 Comments

  By: Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS, PHRC Encinitas In our second post of our series covering the Third World Congress on Abdominal and Pelvic Pain, I will cover the lecture titled Endometriosis-associated pain, why should we consider the central nervous system? If you missed our first post, click here.     This year at the annual meeting of the International Pelvic …

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3rd World Congress on Abdominal and Pelvic Pain Pain Updates, Part I

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Stephanie Prendergast1 Comment

  By Stephanie Prendergast   Last month, pelvic pain enthusiasts traveled from all over the globe to attend the 3rd World Congress on Abdominal and Pelvic Pain in Washington, DC. The World Congress on Abdominal and Pelvic Pain is joint scientific meeting between the International Association for the Study of Pain Special Interest Group on Abdomino-Pelvic Pain, Convergences in pelvic-Perineal …

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Fertility: The Other F Word

In Pregnancy/Postpartum by Emily Tran2 Comments

The older I get, the more I realize that there is another ‘F-word.’ For many people it is a harmless word, but for others it carries the same weight as any other profanity. I am talking about fertility. For a portion of people who are sexually active, fertility is a scary word. For some, fertility can mean a pregnancy that …

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THINKING OUTSIDE THE GUT: Could Endometriosis be the culprit behind your Constipation or Bloating?

In Endometriosis by Stephanie Prendergast1 Comment

By Iris Kerin Orbuch, MD   Did you know that Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are as common as gynecological symptoms in women with endometriosis? Do you suffer from bloating and/or constipation? Endometriosis may be the cause of your bloating and/or constipation. Over 90% of women diagnosed with endometriosis actually present with GI symptoms as their initial symptoms. Before we delve into why …

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Period Drama: Endometriosis Diagnosis and Treatment

In Endometriosis by Stephanie Prendergast1 Comment

  By Stephanie Prendergast, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Severe menstrual pain is not normal. If you experience severe pain during your period it is possible you are suffering from an underdiagnosed disease called Endometriosis.   Endometrial tissue lines the uterus. In response to hormonal influences, the endometrium of a healthy uterus thickens and then sheds through the cervix, through …

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The Blunt Truth About Medicinal Marijuana and Pelvic Pain

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Shannon Pacella10 Comments

By Shannon Pacella, DPT, PHRC Lexington   Medical marijuana. You’ve probably heard of it. You’ve maybe even used it. But what you might not know about is the tug-of-war going on between researchers and lawmakers, and how this impacts the ability of this stigmatized substance to be studied – potentially missing out on an alternative treatment option for a multitude …

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Treatment Solutions for Endometriosis

In Endometriosis by Stephanie Prendergast1 Comment

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles Did you know that severe menstrual pain is not normal?  If you experience severe pain during your period it is possible you are suffering from a very underdiagnosed disease called Endometriosis.   Endometrial tissue lines the uterus. In response to hormonal influences, the endometrium of a healthy uterus thickens and then sheds …