Pittsburgh Pelvic Pain

The term “pelvic pain” encompasses a variety of diagnoses and includes many symptoms. Often these conditions can contribute to years of discomfort or pain and can be easily overlooked or misdiagnosed. We work with your doctor to search for the underlying causes of your pain and to walk with you to overcome it. Because the body and brain are so intrinsically connected in pain responses, it’s important to take a “whole body approach” to treating these conditions.

Common symptoms:

• Vaginismus
• Vulvodynia
• Pudendal Neuralgia
• Interstitial Cystitis/Painful Bladder Syndrome
• Post-surgical pelvic, abdominal or genital pain, including painful scarring
• Endometriosis
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome

Treatment techniques that we use to help you get better:

1. Therapeutic exercise: pelvic floor strengthening or relaxing, stretching and strengthening of pelvic girdle and trunk muscles
2. Postural education and ergonomic recommendations for reduced pain with your daily activities
3. Biofeedback: for pelvic floor strengthening, relaxing or improved coordination
4. Manual therapy: trigger point and soft tissue massage, myofascial release
5. Pelvic floor muscle neuro re-education – may use a dilator or pelvic wand such as this
6. Relaxation training including: deep breathing, guided imagery, progressive relaxation, mindfulness, restorative yoga and autogenic retraining (abdominal warmth, breathing for cardiac/respiratory regulation, weighted blankets for neuromuscular relaxation)
7. Behaviors and psychosocial considerations including stress reduction, social support and dietary considerations