Pelvic Floor Dysfunction: It May Be Time to See a Specialist

The pelvic floor supports a woman’s reproductive and urinary tract. These muscles attach to the pelvis, tailbone, and sacrum. Apart from giving support, these muscles help control bladder and bowel function. Pelvic floor dysfunction can lead to pain, pressure, pelvic pain, incomplete urination, bowel movement dysfunction, and other symptoms that can interfere with a person’s everyday functioning. Experts who specialize in McDonough pelvic floor health can recommend the right treatment for pelvic issues depending on the cause of the problem.

Causes of Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor dysfunction can happen when the pelvic area sustains traumatic injuries. Other causes include pregnancy, pelvic surgery, pelvic muscle overuse, being overweight, and advancing age. Also, this dysfunction can run in the family.

Diagnosing Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

Pelvic floor diagnoses start with a full medical history including a catalog of symptoms, history of trauma, and medical issues. This information will guide the diagnosis, letting the doctor carry out a physical examination to determine any physical abnormalities.

Manual techniques may be used to assess the pelvic floor function and evaluate the patient’s ability to contract and relax the muscles. The doctor will look for signs of muscle knots, spasms, and weakness in the area where the hip bones meet.

Treatment for Pelvic Pain Dysfunction

Treatments are focused on helping the patient regain muscle control of their pelvic floor. They are meant to help the patient move their bowel easily and have more control over their bowels. The following are the treatment options for this dysfunction:

• Medication- Muscle relaxants may be prescribed to help with the patient’s symptoms. These medications can prevent the muscles in the area from contracting. Also, trigger point injections are used to offer relief until the cause of the issue can be corrected through physical therapy.
• Pelvic floor muscle training- Physical therapists can rehabilitate pelvic muscles, correct other musculoskeletal issues that contribute to pelvic floor dysfunction, and strengthen the muscles.
• Biofeedback- With this therapy, patients can better pinpoint and coordinate their muscles to retrain them.
• Surgery- Surgical procedures are performed to correct pelvic organ prolapse or a certain kind of incontinence. The doctor will perform minimally-invasive procedures, so the patient can get back to their daily activities quickly with minimal recovery time.

Pelvic floor dysfunction can be hard or embarrassing to talk about. However, those who suffer from it must see a specialist and have an honest conversation with their doctor.