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6 Unexpected Reasons to See a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

In Bladder Dysfunction, Bowel Dysfunction, Interstitial Cystitis, LGBQT Healthcare Rights, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy, Pelvic Health, Pregnancy/Postpartum by Stephanie Prendergast

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Pasadena   Urinary leaking during sneezing and coughing is common. Constipation affects millions of people. Irritative bladder symptoms plague women at multiple points in their life for a number of reasons, and bother men too. If one stops to think about orthopedic surgeries for broken ankles and shoulder dysfunction, why isn’t pelvic floor physical …

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“How Hernias Can Cause Pelvic Pain”

In Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy by Stephanie Prendergast64 Comments

  This week, our guest writer Dr. Shirin Towfigh will discuss Inguinal Hernia’s and how they may be related to pelvic pain.  Hi all. This is Dr. Shirin Towfigh. I am a Board Certified General Surgeon who specializes exclusively in all things hernia, with specialty in hernias among women and complications related to hernia repair. Inguinal hernias are a common …

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A Second Look at Pudendal Neuralgia.

In Surgery Prehab/Posthab by Stephanie Prendergast39 Comments

By Stephanie Prendergast, PHRC Cofounder I treated my first patient with Pudendal Neuralgia in 2002. As a young, excitable pelvic floor physical therapist, I was on a mission to help people suffering from pelvic pain and thought it would be just like what they said in PT school: stretch, strengthen, achieve goals, discharge. So when my patient began treatment for …

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The Case of Post-prostatectomy Urinary Incontinence

In Bladder Dysfunction by Stephanie Prendergast12 Comments

Patient History Ted is a 67-year-old male with a primary concern of stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and secondary concerns of erectile dysfunction. Ted reports he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in September 2013 and underwent a “bilateral nerve-sparing radical suprapubic prostatectomy”, a procedure in which the nerves must be cut in order to remove the cancerous tissue, later that fall. …

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How do I know if I have Pudendal Neuralgia or Pudendal Nerve Entrapment?

In pudendal neuralgia by Stephanie Prendergast561 Comments

Part I in the “Demystifying Pudendal Neuralgia” Series For so many the term “pudendal neuralgia” conveys a frightening and mysterious chronic pain diagnosis. And to be sure, at one time, receiving a diagnosis of pudendal neuralgia, or “PN” as it’s commonly called, was truly terrifying, especially considering that it was against the backdrop of a medical community that didn’t have …

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Male Pelvic Pain: It’s Time to Treat Men Right

In Male Pelvic Pain by Stephanie Prendergast and Elizabeth Rummer308 Comments

Tony is one of those people who seem superhuman. In his early 30s, he’s lean and athletic. When he isn’t chasing after one of his three young children or helping to run a successful family business, you can find him surfing, hunting, snowboarding, golfing, swimming, or playing basketball. It’s hard to believe that at one time, this guy who has …