In light of Endometriosis Awareness Month, let us look into what Endometriosis is and how a Women’s Health Physiotherapist can contribute in managing this condition.
In a nutshell, endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining inside of the uterus grows outside of the uterine cavity. These not only include the outer layer of the uterus, but also can affect the ovaries, bladder, pelvic floor and the intestines. This growth can cause severe inflammation, scarring and cysts.
Commonly dismissed as “just period pain”, its symptoms persist throughout the menstrual cycle. It is a chronic condition with symptoms including, but no limited to:
• Pelvic pain
• Hip/stomach/groin pain
• Muscle cramps
• Painful sex
• Fatigue
• Fertility issues
• Bladder/bowel dysfunction
1 in 7 women (and those who identify as gender diverse or non-binary) suffer from endometriosis, with the symptoms differing from person to person. However, it still takes 6-10 years to diagnose via laparoscopic surgery. Despite its prevalence, the disease is often underdiagnosed and many individuals feel unheard during their journey.
Current gold standard treatment is excision surgery which involves removing the endometrial tissue growth. However due to its chronic nature, the muscles around the pelvic girdle are in constant tension to try to protect from the pain. So even after the excision surgery, symptoms may still persist. Hence, along with a good GP and a gynaecologist, pelvic physiotherapists play a vital role to manage the symptoms.
Along with manual therapy, women’s health physiotherapists provide pelvic floor relaxation training which is a crucial part of the treatment to reduce pelvic pain. Reintroducing gentle exercise/physical activity to your daily routine is also an important part of the treatment to ease muscle tension and tackle fatigue.
Other physiotherapy treatment strategies can include:
• Bladder Training
• Bowel Training
• Pain education and management strategies
• Post-operative rehabilitation
• TENS therapy
• Lifestyle modifications
It is important to ensure you pick a physiotherapist specialised in this area to develop an individualised management plan to improve your quality of life.
If you or someone you know is suffering from the above mentioned symptoms, book an appointment with our Women’s Health Physiotherapists to develop a tailored treatment program for you.
Further information, resources and support can be found at https://endometriosisaustralia.org/.