PT questions - I have hope!?

Submitted by northtexasmommy on June 12, 2009 - 1:54pm
Body: 

I am new to all of this and did a little researching about PT's on here. I wanted to post what I had found out to see what you all thought.

I found out that my friend's mom-in-law is a PT who specializes in women's health and even more specifically pelvic floor disorders. After talking to her, she shared with me that she has had an 85% success rate with her patients who have POP. She told me she was able to rehabilitate a 90 year old woman who had a severe POP (to the point of outside the vulva area.) Of course, I was elated! She told me that she would first look at how I am doing Kegels - strength, etc., but did also mention that doing too many Kegels can actually destabilize the pelvic area based on certain factors. She then looks at how my pelvis is in alignment and other parts of the body as she said with pregnancy, etc., that sometimes something may be off and causing the weakening of the muscles needed to keep the pelvic organs in place. She also said that my postpartum state and lack of estrogen is making a difference in my pelvic muscles.(I am breastfeeding.) Of course my paraphrasement of all of this may be way off, but this is what I heard.

Does this lady sound like she is onto something in line with Christine's philosophy? I'm new to all of this, so please share your thoughts.

My doctor has to prescribe the PT treatment, so I am waiting for a call back.

Thanks!

Christine

June 12, 2009 - 3:01pm

I think it’s highly likely that any PT who is Internet savvy and staying connected to her field knows all about wholewoman. We’ve had a large Web presence since early 2004 and almost anything googled regarding the pelvis will bring us right up. So it’s not surprising, and entirely delightful, that PTs are questioning the value of endless kegels as well as beginning to teach posture. Our long-time members can tell you this was not always the case.

That said, the Whole Woman perspective is that there is only one pelvic organ support system and if we are not learning about how the breath, gravity, the natural shape of our spine, and the weight of the organs themselves create proper positioning we will not see dramatic results.

Oh...and I haven’t forgotten about our earlier discussion about compression of the SIJs, and am creating a blog post on the subject. Am swamped here and hope to have it up by Sunday night.

:) Christine

granolamom

June 12, 2009 - 3:34pm

I think it sounds like this PT has some ideas that sound similar to WW, such as avoiding over-kegeling, looking at alignment, etc

the BIG idea here (as far as I understand it) is that the muscles you squeeze for a kegel are NOT able nor responsible for supporting your uterus, bladder and rectum. that job is too big for those tiny muscles, no matter how strong they are or how correctly you can contract them. pelvic organ support largely comes from the shape of the spine, once a PT reads christine's description I would imagine it would seem obviously simple, nothing more than the basic physics of understanding direction of force.
as a PT myself, I can tell you that I never before coming here, heard of prolapse presented in this way, but it makes so much sense. especially since I've seen it first hand ; )

as far as the estrogen thing, I'm wary. all estrogen has been shown to do (in terms of prolapse) is to bulk up (and lubricate) the vaginal wall. I really haven't come across anything that convinces me that estrogen can pull up a sagging bladder and support it.
and don't forget that once you resume menstruating pp, your estrogen levels are back to near normal levels, even if you are bf still. there have been some mothers here who've weaned in part to speed up the healing process but iirc, they haven't posted any success with that. many pp mothers see improvements as that first year goes by, I think the rising estrogen levels are coincidental. 'course I have no proof. If you take her comments about estrogen as reason to stay hopeful and positive, great. but I wouldn't act upon it (ie early weaning or supplements).

northtexasmommy

June 12, 2009 - 9:45pm

I got the okay from the doctor! That was the first hurdle to getting to the PT. Oh, she (the PT) also talked about postural retraining - so I'm hopeful she is in the same mind frame as you. I can't wait to order your book, Christine! I think it will help me tons. I feel such hope from reading this site, and my newly discovered PT. BTW...I am one of those people who has a very hard time with spatial concepts. It is difficult for me to look at a picture or diagram and then try it myself. (Refolding maps - forget it!) My husband had to help me do a plank correctly. LOL.