Prolapse pain

I have noticed alot more pain on my right side since the prolapse. I have irritation in my vagina and more hip pain too. Since my periods are so screwed up, I don't know if the prolapse is causing the pain or it's just changes in my pelvic organs hopefully getting smaller. I do have a history of an ovarian cyst several years ago, and that's where most of my pain seems to be. I had a couple days where I had those stabbing pains in the right side, I figured my old ovary was trying to do something. Also, I wonder if the pelvic pain is due to a new way of sitting and walking trying to stay in the posture that WW suggests. My muscles and ligaments have never been in this position before, I have always had very bad posture. Can't really give you any ideas about what your period will be. I hadn't had one for 9 months then had a light one 3 weeks ago. Some cramps, not bad. I have a tough time trying to figure out what pain is from the prolapse and what pain is from normal changes due to me heading into menopause. Sorry I can't be more help. Connie

I have pain everyday. Some days I would rate it an 8 but most days it's about a 4-5. It has gotten a little better over the months(or I am getting used to it). My pain is mostly caused by my rectocele and tilted uterus. I know most people say POP is painless but that has not been my experience. It is a pain I can't get away from. I have tried Advil and Tylenol but neither one help. The most help I have gotten is from the posture(helped with low back pain) and to allow time to heal the nerves/muscles. My period has yet to return as I am still nursing, so I can't speak to period pain(yet anyway).

Mellie

P.S. I find distraction is great for chronic pain. I just try to focus on my kids, homeschooling, sewing, knitting, etc.

I'm in the lucky group, havent' had POP related pain. but I know others have reported it, so you are not alone
chronic pain is extremely hard to live with. I wonder what it is about the prolapse that is causing the pain? because soft tissue bulging into soft tissue *shouldn't* be painful. so I'm wondering if its coming from malposition of uterine ligaments or nerve impingement, or something like that. if it is, then hopefully, as things start to find their way back to better positions, the pain should subside.

and yes, I can see why someone in chronic pain would opt for surgery. except that chronic pain is a not so uncommon side effect of the surgery itself.

I would get the surgery in a heartbeat to make the pain go away. HOWEVER, I am terrified that it will cause worse pain than I already have. I think it is caused by nerves being pinched. Mine has improved somewhat over time. I am hoping for more improvement as time goes by. I also think in my case some of it is skeletal. I have a rotated pelvis and an inflamed sacroiliac joint. I think some of this causes my spasms. I can't blame everything on the POPs.

Hi Kaismom

What you have to realise is that the fascia surrounding and supporting all our organs belongs to the physical structure system of the human body, as much as the skeleton and the muscles. They are just different parts of the same system. My guess is that your sacro-iliac joints and your rotated pelvis and the prolapse of your pelvic organs are indeed related. Your challenge is to get your body into optimum alignment so your structure is not fighting itself and causing inflammation.

And yes indeed, pelvic repair surgery does often enough result in the continuation of the pain. There is zero guarantee that the pain will resolve with surgery, and you could end up with more on top of it. The way I see it, the risk may be less than x percent but if I drew the short straw I would only have myself to blame, as the doctor would only be acting in good faith.

(?)

I too have pain, and sacroiliac problems that flair up. I have POPs too. I don't know whether or not the POPs cause the pain, but I keep looking for answers, and finding ways of de-spasming, cos the risks of either spine or pelvic surgery are not good enough odds for me.

Cheers

Louise

Hey, can't wait to have my 2nd app. with the PT pain therapist. She will have had Christine's book a couple weeks by 4-1-09.Louise what you said sounds like what she found on exam.Glad to see some of this on site,don'thave much acces to .computer My pelvis was found so rotated,and higher then other side and lower spine a mess.I think she will understand and agree with what we experience.Hopefully things will start to be seen differently.Ijust keep hanging in there. Pat

Hi CL,

I just wanted to chime in and say that I also have pain. It is not constant, but is also sometimes stabbing in my left side and vulva. I wish I knew what was causing it. It is certainly worse around my period, but also comes at seemingly random times. Advil helps me sometimes as well as heat. I use those Thermacare heat packs for menstrual pain. They help me sleep when the pain is too distracting.

Also, I should add that my pain has improved some since I started doing the posture and breathing exercises regularly. Hopefully, it will keep improving as more time is spent doing these things.

Good luck in figuring out what is causing your pain. I'll post about it if I figure out what is causing mine.

-gemommy

Hi CL,

I'm so sorry to hear of your doctor frustration. Did you go to a urogynecologist or a regular urologist? My understanding is that urogynecologists are supposed to be specialists in prolapse. Well, that means they know how to recognize it, 'fix' it with surgery, and all that jazz. My regular gynecologist says she always refers patients with prolapse to a urogynecologist because they know more about what to look for. Of course, you may not have one in your area.

Did he examine you while standing or bearing down? If not, he may not have been able to tell you have prolapses. My urogynecologist did those things and diagnosed my prolapses. She was not that helpful overall and a bit dismissive, but at least she did the exams properly. She also told me that if she hadn't been looking for prolapses, that is not checking while bearing down or standing, that she would not have noticed them.

Most of all, trust yourself. You know what is and is not normal for you. I wish you luck in finding a health professional who will help you properly.

I'm sure others with more knowledge and experience will give you more detailed advice and help.

-gemommy

I really don't know, Crazylady, but with all the pain and your gut feeling that something isn't right, maybe the cystoscopy is a good idea? It could be a cyst or any number of other things causing the protrusion and i'm surprised the uro dismissed it so quickly. Be persistent until you feel confident this has been thoroughly checked out. A good gynecologist will have an excellent working knowledge of the urethra. Keep us posted! Christine

Hi Crazylady,

When I was 30 weeks pregnant, my OB wasn't sure whether my prolapse was a urethrocele, vaginal varicose veins, or a urethral diverticula. (Unfortunately I didn't know what it looked like then because I was afraid to look, but I think my urethra was pretty red and swollen, but no blood). Anyway, they referred me to a urologist who did a cystoscopy. After the cystoscopy, he felt confident that it wasn't a diverticula. I hadn't been having any UTI's, just increased frequency until my uterus rose out of my pelvis.....Now that I've looked down there, I would say I still have mainly a urethrocele, or front vaginal wall prolapse. It doesn't look like the pictures of the cystocele on the self examination page. I can push it all back up, and it just comes back down again. I can't feel my uterus, and I don't think I can feel my bladder, just rough vaginal tissue (rugae) that just wants to fall and present at the opening ( I assume my urethra comes down with it). It is no longer red and irritated, so I don't know why your gynae would assume it would have to be bloody to be a urethrocele......Also, one tip I tried to reduce irritation and I think it has worked, use natural detergent to wash clothes/underwear, and wear cotton panties. I was using Tide, and apparently this is the WORST detergent for causing irritation. I now buy a good natural detergent with Borax.........If you don't mind me asking, where did you get your article on Urethroceles, I've been looking all over for a picture?

I am wondering if anyone has had terrible low back pain with the cystocele? Mine is very painful in my buttock area and lower back. I thought it might be bursitis or pilondial cyst, then I got a pessary, and it seems to be much better now, though not completely gone yet. I also wondered if it could be an infection of some kind in the muscles.

Brendaelk

Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I may not forget you.

Hi All

There is a word called 'haemorragic' which I have heard used by a doctor in relation to irritated nasal passage lining tissue which is so inflammed that there is blood almost oozing out of it. That might have been the word the doctor used, rather than 'bleeding'. This is why you sometimes get blood on a tissue when you blow your nose, as opposed to a blood nose where it drips or flows out of a damaged vein.

Guess what? The lining of the vagina is quite similar to the lining of the nasal cavity. They are both mucosa of sorts, aren't they?

Maybe it is less irritated now that your posture has adjusted a bit, and it is no longer rubbing against either your vulva or your knickers.

Cheers

Louise

Hello,
My first time posting, just thought I'd chime in.
I have a prolapsed bladder. I will be getting a hysterectomy and a bladder sling on May 26th. I'm 42.
I too have abdominal pain, but it recently started the last couple weeks. Feels like menstrual cramps, I think it's related to the prolapse from what I've been reading on here. When I was first diagnosed with the prolapse, my reg Dr and I both thought it was a UTI. She put me on antibiotics and after I was done them, it felt like the UTI was still there. I then went to my Gyno and with a pelvic exam informed me about the prolapsed bladder.
I also have extremely heavy periods, they're terrible, and was diagnosed with fibroids in my uterus after an ultrasound. That's why my periods are so awful and also why I am getting the hysterectomy. Just thought that would be something to also think about if you have pain and bad cycles.
I'm actually looking forward to the hysterectomy because I have been suffering with terrible periods for years (back aches, cramps, etc) do it will be nice to have it gone. I am a bit nervous about the bladder sling, but I am hoping I am in the 1-5 percentile that wont have problems.

Hi AzSarah,
It may be best for you to keep reading around this site, and possibly even booking a consult with Christine. This site does not endorse surgery, quite the opposite actually.
If you read around enough, you will find that there is a whole better option in the whole woman posture. Take some time and do some reading here to find out more about Christine Kent's work.

Hi there - if you have just joined the forum then you have probably seen the welcome page which explains the mission here, which is to provide support and information for women pursuing the Whole Woman work.
https://wholewoman.com/newpages/forum.html

We are trying to keep women off the operating table where countless debilitating "repairs" are performed every day. Please consider watching Christine's interview with Nora Coffey, founder of HERS:
https://wholewoman.com/newpages/video/coffey.html

And here is a overview of the Whole Woman work:
https://wholewoman.com/newpages/video/ww101.html

A prolapsed bladder is extremely manageable. Hysterectomy can cause a host of problems including rectocele and vaginal vault prolapse. Please read around the site. Read what Christine has to say. Read Nora Coffey's book, The H Word. You have been given some horribly bad advice from your doctor. There is no turning back once the surgical route is taken. You have nothing to lose by delaying and considering safer choices for yourself. I hope you will take this message to heart. You need your uterus. It protects your heart and supports your entire system. It is a part of who you are. - Surviving