hooked up to machine

Submitted by tucson on July 11, 2009 - 4:50am
Body: 

Well I'm back and I now have a used laptop.I thought when the PT department had Christine's book for4 months,and seemed to agree, my situation would be understood. But I have a big question re:the latest kagel thing PT had me do last week and plans for this week.She put 2 little stick on things by butt and had me hooked up to a machine with a screen.Laying on back she had me do couple ks and rest.The screen would show degree of relaxation of pelvic area.I said I would not do it more and she didnot understand why.Having had the book for months,I had to explain would be pulling away from organ placement.She was ok with that and I did them on stomach.The point being as i could see the screen I could have control of verry tight area.I had to contract for 10 sec. and relax for 20.I could see I had little control,and contracting was not comfortable.Anyway my concern is I had severe pain for 2 days in bladder area.I don't think this is ok to continue.Ialso had to "go"a lot.I had to hold my lower belly when I would walk for feeling of support.I spoke with her on phone and she didnot know why this would be.I asked why ks,because I had told her my thinking on them earlier.She said because had to get oxygin in area ,and learn to relax area.I am not thinking this is how I should feel,and I would like some feedback.The next step would be to place prob in vag. or rectum. I have other issues but this is enough for now.Since I now have laptop I can stay in touch.It is almost 3:00a.m. and have to get up in 3 hours so will check back later.I still have slight pain in area.thanks,Pat

louiseds

July 11, 2009 - 5:42am

Hi Pat

The physio doesn't sound like she can answer your questions, so here goes. Firstly, find out from her what the point of the machine is.

Is it for biofeedback, to teach you to associate the screen image with what you are doing, in order to change what is on the screen to do it better?

Is it to teach you how to do Kegels?

Is it to get the nerve pathways working better so you can use the muscles to greater effect, ie get them more responsive?

Are the pelvic floor muscles in spasm, and the machine is teaching you to relax them?

Once you know what the PT is trying to achieve and how the machine will do it, you will be in a better position to know whether to continue or not, and whether you need to stay at that level, drop back to less strenuous level, or ramp up the level a bit.

For me with postpartum pelvic floor, or even now, with quite strong and responsive pelvic floor muscles, holding a Kegel for 10 seconds then relaxing for 20 seconds, then repeating it a few times, would be very strenous work. No wonder you are in pain! Your muscles are probably tired and sore. Assuming that you are aiming for better bladder control, I would be checking that I could get all the necessary muscles to move at all, then having established that, starting with holding for 5 seconds and resting for ten seconds, and doing five reps at a time. Then repeating that maybe five times a day. I would do that for a week, then the following week go for 6 seconds at a time, then later, more repeats, spread out over the day, up to about 50 max. That might take several months. Something like that anyway.

The point of exercising muscles is that
1 you have to establish that you can get some movement with all the muscles
2 get the movements to get bigger
3 learn to hold the contraction for a few seconds
4 learn to hold for a few more seconds
5 learn to do more repeats
6 recognise when the muscles are repeatedly tired at the new level and drop back.

All these steps go hand in hand. These muscles are only stabilising muscles. The fibre type is not the type that lifts load, so learning to do a hundred a day, and hold each one for ten seconds, is in my 'totally not professional' opinion is a bit pointless, and is likely to result in very tired pelvic floor muscles that find it difficult to function at all. Having said that, if your pelvic floor muscles are not responding very well to your requests for them to move, then all this work will be worthwhile.

Have a look at Christine's Blog entry about doing Kegels properly.

It is a gradual process, that should not be arduous, but will recover the function of any wasted muscles gradually, over several months.

On the other hand if the physio is getting you to do these exercises to reduce your POPs, ask her for the research evidence that shows that it will work. I do not believe that she will find any evidence. Her name is not Tasha, is it?

tucson

July 13, 2009 - 9:26am

It seems everybody has a different understanding on what is problem.One approach contradicts the other.Since I seem to have various pelvic problems,and no M.D. seems to be corodinating things ,just sending me to PT.I'm not incontinent,but have a number of Dx.The SIjoint seems to be issue and one in wwstore seems like it would work. PT think they have some ,but would it address the POP,not even sure what kind of POP.I had the pain after last session with machine in bladder but also have been told I brobably have IC as diet can cause bladder pain also.Then the GYN says Vulvodynia.This term never seen on WW site.So I don't know who really knows anything.Thepudendal nerve seems involved ,and on and on it goes at snails pace with PT schedule.THis PT belongs toInternational Pelvic Pain Society, but I don't think POP is part of training.I have severe burning pain in v area, but also trouble in walking.Anyway have to get ready for therapy and decide how to get sense of whatI need to do.Pat

louiseds

July 13, 2009 - 8:32pm

Hi Tucson

Vulvodynia is another word for pain related to the pelvic region and the vulva. Try www.tipna.org to find out about pudendal nerve stuff. They have a Forum I think. The two are often related. Pudendal nerve neuralgia is to do with the irritation of the pudendal nerve as it passes between two ligaments up near the sacrum. It gets stretched when the perineum becomes lower and rubs. I figure that the best way to elevate the perineum is with WW posture. If you are very overweight, extra fat volume in the pelvic region could also be a factor in keeping the perineum down. Good luck.

Cheers

Louise

Christine

July 13, 2009 - 9:19pm

Hi Pat,

Just want to offer my hopes and prayers for resolution of your pain and discomfort. Listen to your instincts regarding “the machine” and insist your PT give you reasons for her actions based on anatomic realities. PT philosophy and practice are very sketchy around women’s pelvic floor disorders. More men than women suffer from rectal prolapse and I have serious doubts they are prescribed kegels or e-stim. It would be worth asking a colorectal doctor that question. The sphincters have little to do with prolapse and many women here have described similar symptoms after reps of kegels.

Vulvodynia/LS is another gynecologic hornet’s nest that I’m researching furiously. I will write out my findings before too long.

Love and hugs to you, Pat.

Christine