Pelvic floor problems can be challenging to diagnose and treat and frustrating for patients who are living with it. The goal of the Bladder Fitness Program at FUA is to diagnose and treat pelvic prolapse, bladder and bowel control problems like IBS, and pelvic pain and improve the quality of life for our patients.
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) is a spectrum of disorders involving spasm or weakness of the group of muscles that support the pelvic organs known as the levator muscles. Sometimes the levators will involuntarily and abnormally contract (spasm). The spasms can be extremely painful and can lead to other symptoms such as difficulty with urination or having a bowel movement and painful intercourse. PFD may also be caused by an impairment of the sacroiliac joint, lower back, coccyx or hip joints. Tissues surrounding the pelvic organs may have increased or decreased sensitivity or irritation resulting in pelvic pain.
The major known causes of PFD include pregnancy and childbirth, infections, poor posture, trauma such as after a fall or as the result of surgery, obesity and menopause. Some woman may be more likely to develop PFD because of an inherited deficiency in their collagen type. Some woman have a congenitally weak connective tissue and fascia and are therefore at increased risk for urinary incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse.
Treament for Pelvic Floor Dysfunction:
Pelvic Floor Dysfunction can be treated in a multitude of ways depending on its origin and is focused on optimal patient outcomes using a comprehensive approach to the disorder.
- Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
- Electrotherapeutic Modalities
- Medications (Muscle relaxants)
- Interstim (sacral neuro-modulation)
- Botox for the Bladder
- Surgical options