Photo by Daria Liudnaya
My Unbearable Pubic Pain
Delivering my baby was quite an experience, and the fourth trimester left me feeling tired, sore, and out of touch with my body. I experienced incontinence, hemorrhoids, and nearly unbearable pain when trying to sit on the toilet. I regularly visited the chiropractor during pregnancy, so I knew I was pretty well aligned. I followed up at three weeks postpartum when my upper back and neck were very uncomfortable from holding my little one, and I felt a little less “loosey-goosey” in the hips.
I remember telling her that it felt like my pelvis was moving independently on the left and right sides in the front (my pubic area.) She evaluated me, finding that the left side of my pelvis was down and back when compared to my right. For those who don’t know, a woman’s pelvis is connected by cartilage in the front and held together by ligaments. This can be affected when the hormone relaxin is high (this is needed to stretch the uterus and childbirth process). Even with being adjusted, sitting on the toilet was so painful. Squatting to put my daughter in and out of her car seat on the floor was also uncomfortable.
Ultimately, this last one is what led to seeking out pelvic floor therapy. Thankfully, as a nurse, I was no stranger to the term, but I’d be lying if I said I truly knew what I would experience.
I vaguely recalled seeing a post on my county’s Facebook page for moms about pelvic floor health, so I turned to search for that post at around 4 weeks postpartum. I searched for it and reached out to Emily, explaining my symptoms and asking if she could help me heal myself. She gave me the term “SPD- Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction.” I researched it, and it definitely sounded like what I was experiencing. Thankfully, she offered to help as long as I was cleared by my women’s health provider, my midwife (you may see a physician.)
Another few weeks went by, another chiropractor appointment, and finally, I had an appointment with my midwife. I explained all of my symptoms, my chiropractic care, and my hopes for pelvic floor therapy to her. My midwife did an internal exam to check my pelvic bone structure. Since she did not feel anything abnormal, I was given the okay to go forward with pelvic floor therapy. Finally!
NOTE: I chose a therapist who works independently as a Pelvic Wellness Professional. That means I did not need a referral. However, know that if you want to see a Pelvic Floor Therapist and want insurance coverage for therapy, you will need a doctor’s order/referral. (This may change in the future, but now, those are the insurance rules!)
Symptoms
I want to pause to add symptoms you may be experiencing that pelvic floor therapy can support your healing through. Please be evaluated by a medical professional and receive a referral if needed.
Pregnancy changes our bodies in so many ways. The hormone fluctuations relax our tendons and muscles to accommodate the stretching of our uterus and pelvis. Our lower ribs move outward to make room for baby. Organs get squished and squeezed. Perhaps your lungs took a few kicks in that 3rd trimester! Below are some symptoms you may be experiencing that a Pelvic Floor Therapist can help you heal!
- Incontinence (peeing yourself makes you want to avoid coughing/sneezing)
- Bladder fullness or frequent urination
- Pain during sex or generally uncomfortable during (this affects how comfortable you are with yourself and your relationship with your partner, right!?)
- Diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles)
- Pubic pain or SPD (this is what led me to Emily!)
- Prolapse (the general “falling out” of the uterus/bladder)
- Tight pelvis/hips
- Rib flare (okay, this isn’t the pelvis bit, definitely a PP body change)
Emily – Occupation Therapist specializing in Pelvic Floor Wellness
What a beautiful blessing social media can be sometimes! Emily Parisi had posted about her services on a local mom’s page. I vaguely remembered seeing the post while I was pregnant, so I went on the search. I emailed her about my pubic pain. She replied quickly with a little bit of information about Symphysis Pubic Dysfunction (SPD). I was able to research SPD then and discovered that the symptoms I was experiencing aligned with the “diagnosis,” though she did NOT diagnose me. Nor did my midwife. What Emily did was give me hope. She said she COULD help me ease the pain by teaching me how to re-strengthening my pelvic floor.
My First Appointment
I’d spent the last 2 months post-partum in so much pain while sitting on the toilet and crouching to put my baby in and out of her infant car seat. I was so excited for my first appointment and my first steps towards healing!
Let me say that Emily is so kind, passionate, and knowledgeable. I felt comfortable instantly. She is “raw” with the facts of life that our pelvic floor health affects (sex!) As someone who never likes to “sugarcoat” the facts, I instantly appreciated her approach.
She told me about her life with four kids and how she experienced several of the above symptoms. As an occupational therapist, she believed she could rehabilitate herself. She was so successful that she inspired herself to help other mamas.
Emily asked me questions before assessing my body from head to toe. In addition to the pelvic floor pain, she identified diastasis recti (separation of the abdominal muscles), rib flare, fallen arches, and tightness in my right hip.
She then walked me through several exercises to improve these areas. Doing them with her first ensured I was practicing them correctly. I left her office with a handwritten page of exercises to practice before our next session.
Two of the most notable things she’s said to me:
- “You’re probably breathing wrong. Most people are!” She then instructed me through 365-Breathing and incorporated that into several exercises.
- “If you can only do a few of these exercises well, stop there!” There’s no point doing something if you’re doing it incorrectly. It does not help you heal the body well. So, she told me if I can only do a few of each exercise before it starts to get sloppy, then only do that many.
Sweet Relief!
It wasn’t long before I noticed the difference! Within just a couple of weeks with regular exercises, I noticed a significant decrease in the pelvic pain I had been experiencing. By our next appointment, it was down to occasional twinges of discomfort when I would need to sit longer for a bowel movement. I could pee without pain and was easily able to get my daughter in and out of her infant seat! My incontinence was improving, too. I could now at least get 90% of the way to sitting before the trickle would start!
I returned for a third session, where she gave me more targeted exercises to improve my foot arch support and upper back mobility. Added strain from carrying around my growing baby has caused me to shift my body differently, causing muscle and posture changes.
I still have work to do and can always make another appointment or contact her if I have questions about the exercises she’s already given me. Emily has provided me with more than enough information to heal my body. Now, I need to put in the work! But after just three sessions, I feel empowered to continue my healing journey post-partum.
Emily is amazing, and I will recommend every mama to her I discover that could benefit from her experience and expertise.
Contact Emily (Located in Meyersdale, PA)
I believe so much in Emily and other amazing Pelvic Floor therapists do. I know there are other professionals out there, but if you would like to work with Emily Parisi, you can contact her through her website and follow her on Facebook and Instagram for her informative shares!
Emily Parisi, MOT, OTR/L, PCES
Pregnancy & Postpartum Corrective Exercise Specialist
Occupational & Pelvic Floor Therapist
The Crucial Core (click to be directed to the website)
213 Dale St Suite 5, Meyersdale, PA 15552