Endometriosis: Find Relief With Physical Therapy

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Do you ever have a severe abdominal, low back, or pelvic pain right around your period that seems like it’s way outside of the scope of ‘cramps’? Does it ever get so bad that you have to miss school or work because the only way you get pain relief is from lying down? THIS IS REAL, and you might have endometriosis.

Endometriosis is a disease where tissue that usually grows inside the uterus grows outside the uterus. This produces a chronic, inflammatory reaction, which can be incredibly painful. It is estimated to affect 10% of women of reproductive-age women, and diagnosis is complicated and often delayed.

Common signs of endometriosis include:

  • Painful periods

  • Painful intercourse

  • Lower abdominal pain, pelvic pain and/or low back

  • Changes in bowel habits

  • Painful urination

  • Pain is most severe right before menstruation

  • Pain is worse in upright or standing positions and diminishes when lying down.

Endometriosis itself is not curable, but you have options!! Physical therapy can be extremely useful in alleviating the symptoms of endometriosis and can be used in conjunction with medical management such as hormonal contraceptives, sclerotherapy (vacuuming of the extra tissue) or surgery.

How can physical therapy help you?

PT focuses on restoring normal posture and normalizing muscle activity by using manual therapy techniques, relaxation training, dilators, and therapeutic exercise. For example, diaphragmatic breathing, or also known as belly breathing, is an effective exercise that can help to reduce pelvic pain by lengthening and relaxing the pelvic floor muscles.

If you think you may be suffering from endometriosis, please call us. As a Women’s Health therapist I have done extensive amounts of specialized training specifically so that I can help you learn about conditions like this, work with you on treatment options and take control of your pain.

How to perform diaphragmatic breathing:

Video Demonstration

  1. Lie on your back with your knees slightly bent. Place one hand on your chest and one hand on your stomach.

  2. Slowly breathe in through your nose as if you are smelling roses. You should feel your stomach fill with air so that the hand on your stomach rises, while the hand on your chest remains still.

  3. Slowly exhale through your mouth as if you are blowing out candles.

  4. Repeat 10 times.