Many people living in the United States have significant concerns related to diet and concomitant health issues affecting their gastrointestinal tract, including various disease states and medication use. It is estimated that greater than 20% of Americans suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Most conventional medical practices focus on symptom management, failing to  address the underlying causes of the symptoms that significantly affect our health. Integrative or Functional Nutrition focuses on identifying the root cause(s) of disease and approaches treatment from an integrative systems perspective, relying on functional lab testing, dietary analysis, and thorough health history to determine the best approaches for lifestyle and dietary management. Many people suffering from pelvic pain also have underlying gastrointestinal concerns and nutritional deficiencies that are either causing or exacerbating their pain symptoms. Working with a provider that understands chronic pelvic pain and digestive health is ideal in making a full recovery back to health! 

With the growing popularity of digital health, we are able to offer these services to those throughout the United States as well as internationally. Therefore, we’re able to help those that would otherwise not have access to a medical provider who can address both their physical complaints as well as underlying contributors to their pain.

Symptoms

  • Nutritional deficiencies are associated with poor quality of life and overall diminished lifespan
  • Nutritional deficiencies can be the cause for unwanted weight gain/loss, fatigue, inflammation, mood changes, pain, hormonal dysfunction, endocrine dysfunction, poor healing, gastrointestinal symptoms, and cardiovascular disease
  • Gastrointestinal issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth (SIBO), and slow motility can affect pelvic pain from a functional and physiologic perspective and are correlated with many conditions such as Vulvodynia, Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome, Endometriosis, prostatitis, and constipation or outlet disorders

Symptoms

  • Nutritional deficiencies are associated with poor quality of life and overall diminished lifespan
  • Nutritional deficiencies can be the cause for unwanted weight gain/loss, fatigue, inflammation, mood changes, pain, hormonal dysfunction, endocrine dysfunction, poor healing, gastrointestinal symptoms, and cardiovascular disease
  • Gastrointestinal issues like Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Small Intestinal Bowel Overgrowth (SIBO), and slow motility can affect pelvic pain from a functional and physiologic perspective and are correlated with many conditions such as Vulvodynia, Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome, Endometriosis, prostatitis, and constipation or outlet disorders

Causes of Nutritional Deficiencies

  • Lack of knowledge related to dietary needs and choices and the ‘Standard American Diet’ 
  • Prescription medications
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
  • Behavioral disorders like eating disorders 
  • Genetics
  • Underlying medical conditions

Causes of Nutritional Deficiencies

  • Lack of knowledge related to dietary needs and choices and the ‘Standard American Diet’ 
  • Prescription medications
  • Gastrointestinal disorders
  • Behavioral disorders like eating disorders 
  • Genetics
  • Underlying medical conditions

Treatment:

How We Can Help You

People experiencing pelvic pain often report gastrointestinal distress, disordered eating behaviors, and have little knowledge about dietary needs. Some people simply eat a standard American diet. Most people can benefit from an evaluation with a nutritionist to help improve their pelvic pain symptoms and optimize their overall health and wellbeing. During the evaluation, we review your health history, relevant complaints, perform a full dietary analysis and lab review, considering all aspects of health. This includes stress, relationships, and diet and lifestyle behaviors. We may also recommend functional lab testing and create a plan of care that encompasses personalized dietary recommendations and addresses the underlying antecedents, triggers, and mediators for your symptoms. Patients have routine follow-up visits to review lab results, adjust dietary recommendations, and offer recommendations to other providers as needed so that you can ultimately obtain the most balanced diet possible, reduce health concerns, and improve symptoms.

About PHRC’s Integrative Health and Nutrition Services

Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS started out with PHRC Los Angeles in 2016 and developed an interest in the connection between digestive health, nutritional deficiencies, and diet in relation to pelvic pain and therefore went on to receive her Master’s of Science degree in Integrative Health and Nutrition with a focus on Human Nutrition from Maryland University of Integrative Health in April 2020. She offers nutrition services via digital health for those suffering from pelvic pain throughout the country in addition to her role as the Clinic Director and physical therapist in PHRC’s Encinitas location.

About PHRC Encinitas

Jandra Mueller, DPT, MS started out with PHRC Los Angeles in 2016 after she returned to her home state, California, from Hawaii. After a few years in Los Angeles, she wanted to move somewhere more like Hawaii and so she landed in Encinitas, CA. We opened PHRC Encinitas in December 2019, making it our 9th PHRC location, serving those in San Diego county and the surrounding area. While Jandra treats all aspects of pelvic health, her primary passion is for those suffering from Endometriosis and other gynecological and inflammatory conditions like Vulvodynia and Vestibulodynia as well as male pelvic pain. In addition to her role as Clinic Director, she offers Integrative Health and Nutrition Services via digital health.

Treatment:

How We Can Help You

How Can We Help You?

Please use the form below to send us any questions or comments. You must include your e-mail address in order for us to send a response. Please be assured that all of your information will be kept confidential.

How Can We Help You?

Please use the form below to send us any questions or comments. You must include your e-mail address in order for us to send a response. Please be assured that all of your information will be kept confidential.

Join The Newsletter. Win a copy of our book, “Pelvic Pain Explained!”

We love getting to know our website visitors. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and get the latest info via PHRC e-newsletter!
*Subscribers automatically eligible to win our book, “Pelvic Pain Explained.”

pelvic pain explained

At its heart, Pelvic Pain Explained is the story of how patients develop pelvic pain, the challenges patients and providers face throughout the diagnosis and treatment process, the difficult task of sifting through the different available treatment options, and the impact that an “invisible” condition has on a patient’s life and relationships, and much more.

Join The Newsletter. Win a copy of our book, “Pelvic Pain Explained!”

We love getting to know our website visitors. Please tell us a little bit about yourself and get the latest info via PHRC e-newsletter!
*Subscribers automatically eligible to win our book, “Pelvic Pain Explained.”

At its heart, Pelvic Pain Explained is the story of how patients develop pelvic pain, the challenges patients and providers face throughout the diagnosis and treatment process, the difficult task of sifting through the different available treatment options, and the impact that an “invisible” condition has on a patient’s life and relationships, and much more.