PT Center for Women

So congratulations! You’ve had your baby, and now you’re excited to get back into those favorite clothes that you haven’t worn in quite awhile. You feel like they should fit, because after all, your baby is five weeks old already. But, your jeans are still two sizes too small So, what do you do? You promptly jump onto the treadmill, turn up the incline, and start jogging. Fast. For like, two minutes. And then something happens. You notice that you’re wet. Not wet with sweat, just wet. In the saddle region, and at that moment you realize that your body is not quite like it used to be prior to that beautiful baby you now have. The very next thing you do is call your girlfriend, mom, sister, or all three and shout, “DID THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!?”  It’s true, and it happens all the time. Women have a baby, and then they want to pick up their life where it left off prior to pregnancy. The little story I just told you about is only one of several potential hiccups that new moms experience whe...

As many of my patients are aware, I have recently suffered a herniated disc in my neck. It was for no reason at all. I just woke up with it. Here’s a little background on me professionally: Before switching my practice to pelvic health, I did spine care for over a decade. Because of my training and experience, I immediately recognized my symptoms; I have witnessed my patients go through the same thing for many years. I didn’t waste any time, and I called my doctor for help. And help me she did! She prescribed me steroids right away, and she ordered an MRI of my neck. The MRI confirmed my suspicion that I had a herniated disc. (I hope you don’t mind me nerding out for a moment: First of all I was correct. Secondly, I was off one spinal level, as I had guessed it was at C6-7, when it was in fact at C5-6). Six weeks have gone by since my initial diagnosis, and I have seen the physiatrist. A physiatrist is a doctor who specializes in physical medicine and rehabilitation, which is a fan...

So, let’s talk about constipation. Oooh. Is that a conversation inhibitor? Shouldn’t be, as the importance of bowel movements is undeniable. So let’s discuss what’s normal, what’s not normal, and the causes of constipation. There are many causes of constipation. One could be a musculoskeletal problem where the muscles are tight in the pelvic floor region and it is not allowing the stool to pass. The second cause may be that the guts just aren’t pushing the food through the digestive tract and it’s not getting to where it needs to go to be eliminated. Another cause of constipation can be diet, as many foods slow the digestive tract (cheese and dairy products). There can be emotional causes as well. The whole purpose of a bowel movement is to eliminate all of the by-products from our foods that are not used in our digestive system. If left in too long, they just don’t feel good. They don’t become toxic, but it does affect our other systems. With eating food, it goes from our mouth ...

“Find a job you love and you never have to work a day in your life.”    This quote seems incredibly appropriate for my time at PT Center for Women. For those of you who haven’t heard, I will be moving to Tennessee at the end of December. While my husband and I are excited for our next adventure, I will definitely miss my job, my co-workers and the patients with whom  I have had the pleasure of working.   I started at PT Center for Women about a week before we knew what COVID was, so it has been an interesting two and a half years. I have truly enjoyed my time working here, treating and educating women in all stages of life and helping them to reach their goals in life but also in fitness. This clinic is unique and gave me opportunities to collaborate and learn from other physical therapists, doctors, and fitness professionals.   One of my favorite patient populations I have had the pleasure of treating has been post-partum women. This treatment can inc...

Pelvic floor dysfunction affects many women who will see multiple providers before they are diagnosed. Often, women are left to feel that the problems they are experiencing are normal and should just be endured. The simple truth is that pain is not normal. Women dealing with symptoms that can include urinary incontinence, constipation, pelvic or low back pain, discomfort during sexual intercourse, muscle spasms or pressure in the pelvic region can look to physical therapy to find relief. And in finding the right physical therapist to meet your needs, you might see certifications listed to which you might give a cursory glance, but these often missed abbreviations are very meaningful to your search. Physical therapists that specialize in pelvic pain have one or both of the following: Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Pain (CAPP) Biofeedback Certification Institute of America – Pelvic Muscle Dysfunction Biofeedback (BCB-PMD) The Certificate of Achievement in Pelvic Health ...

Treating pelvic pain has taught me that every pain syndrome is unique. I continued my education to be certified in the treatment of pelvic pain so I could provide treatment options for my patients. Here’s a short class (looks long I know, but it isn’t) for your own personal edification: There are two types of pelvic pain, acute and chronic. Acute pelvic pain: Starts over a short period of time, anywhere from a few minutes to a few days Many times is experienced after surgery or with soft tissue injury Is often short-lived but may be severe Is often a warning sign that something else is wrong and should be evaluated promptly Chronic pelvic pain: Severe and steady pain, dull aching or sharp pains with cramping, pressure or heaviness with the pelvis Pain with intercourse, having a bowel movement or sitting Persists for a period of three months or longer May be intermittent or constant; intermittent chronic pain will usually have a cause while constant pelvic pain may be the result of ...

“Why do I hurt so much?” is a question I hear nearly every day. The answer is chronic pain, which tends to tamper with your quality of life. At the present time, there is no known cure for chronic pain. No test to diagnose it. No pill to cure it. No procedure to fix it. No surgery to remove it. This blog is merely a commentary on chronic pain and for a better understanding of your particular situation; you may need to have several conversations with several healthcare providers. The negative consequences of chronic pain are certainly astounding, to say the least. However, patient advocacy groups and patients themselves have demanded better care. Better care starts with a better understanding of the problem. And a better understanding begins with research. Chronic pain often co-exists with other conditions: fibromyalgia, painful bladder syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, chronic pelvic pain, TMJ pain, irritable bowel syndrome, dysautonomia, depression and anxiety often times go tog...