Hypertonic pelvic floor

[Fibrous]

Has anyone had this diagnosed? Do you know what caused it? Any tips for getting on top of it?

It's causing me all sorts of problems - difficulty peeing, a constricted anal canal and anal fissures. I do daily yoga, I'm trying to breathe and relax, and I've started using diltiazem to relax my anal canal. Since my diagnosis things have got worse not better - I think the thought of all the tension in the area has now made me even more tense! Thinking of booking a meditation retreat but the pain in my bum hole makes sitting down for more than an hour quite tricky, and I need to pee all the time as I can't really release my bladder fully.

I am otherwise a very healthy 45 year old, not sure what I did in a past life to warrant this toilet trauma!

Yes I saw a great women's pelvic physio and started looking into TMS. Dan Buglio YouTube is a great place to start. Message me if you need more info or I can include here. Good luck x

I'm going to see a pelvic health physio tomorrow for this! My back and pelvis hurt. It aches after I poo and I have a job getting it out. I think it's overdoing it at the gym.

Hi guys, sorry to hear you've had/have the same issues. The physio I saw was great but she still hasn't sent my assessment report and it was over a week ago now - I'm keen to crack on with sorting this out.

@Notsurewheretoturn I found this video really useful for pooing - I got myself a squatty potty and now follow a poo routine. I use castor oil to lube my bum, take some deep breathes, align myself properly and make the 'mmm' and 'ooo' noises she describes - you can feel the different ab muscles activating. It has helped me have a less painful poo although it also confuses my dogs who come running in to see what I'm up to! https://www.pelvicexercises.com.au/anal-fissure-treatment/?srsltid=AfmBOooNoxwh2vJ0iw2h385AySz3EJ7e8HE74zt6xUl6t_fj4T1dYjAe

I brought a copy of my gym routine to the physio appointment and she said I'm doing way too much pelvic load. The gym I was going to was a whole body three times a week barbell gym with pullups etc too. I've stopped going there and now just do weights at home. The physio said only one day per week with a heavy pelvic load.

@Mondaymanic what's TMS? I'll check out Dan Buglio, thanks for the tip. Glad things have improved for you.

Ah just looked him up - the mind body connection. Yes this is definitely sometthing I'm looking to explore as I really seem to carry my worries in my pelvis.

Ah do... He's great. There is a book called headache in the pelvis. V good too apparently but I didn't read it.

Re the physio... They need to be one who does internal release or whatever its called. Sorry if that's tmi. Good luck you will get better... Its just a pain in the arse literally and requires patience which isn't something that comes natural to me lol x

My pelvic physio said if you've ever had a c-section (I've had 2) and no subsequent natural births then the pelvic muscles never relax properly and continue to hold all the tension from supporting the pregnancy. Stretching out and relaxing the pelvic floor before strengthening it is key apparently. My physio sent me some gentle stretching exercises and some breathing exercises, along with some kegal/squeeze type exercises. She said to really focus on the breath throughout all of them. I've only recently started doing them so can't comment on how long for recovery but they do appear to be helping. I've also found Dr Bri on YouTube really helpful, particularly her pelvic floor release videos.

So I saw the physio. She worked magic. My back is so much better! She did internal massage and I have bought a pelvic wand off Amazon for 35 quid! I could feel the tension in my left side go!

This is a great thread. I saw a women's health physio last week and it was very interesting. I have always been proud of my excellent pelvic floor muscles, but apparently mine are too tight! So now I need to relax them while also building up my glutes, so the surrounding muscles can help support things.

I was so nervous going in as I was pretty sure I had found a bladder prolapse, but it is a grade 1/2 so not as awful as some of the ones I'd seen on Google (should know not to look) and nothing else bulging.

I have been trying to hinge forward and tense my glutes while simultaneously relaxing my pelvic muscles but it is so difficult! She also advised a squatty potty so it's great to see them recommended on here. I will have a good look at all the resources mentioned on the thread. Thanks all.

It’s so good to speak to others in the same boat. I’m glad the prolapse wasn’t as bad as you thought.

A squatty potty makes a world of difference! I have to assemble make shift ones with loo rolls or bins when I’m staying in hotels 😆

Glad everyone is getting a lot from their physios. I’m still waiting for my report, I think the physio went on holiday right after I saw her. Although she was also very pregnant so maybe she’s on mat leave!

Yes a squatty potty is on the shopping list! My IBS bowels veer between loose and bunged up and can be very painful. I'm hoping that relaxing the tight pelvic muscles will help.

Have been following this thread closely. A few years before my periods stopped I started feeling like I hadn’t fully emptied my bladder after weeing.
Over time this has got worse, feels like a lift is going down as normal then gets stuck just before the ground floor and takes ages to go a fraction further and a fraction more until it gets there. It can be 10-30 seconds in between bursts of weeing.
Have had two ultrasounds which showed nothing extraordinary. Vagifem and HRT haven’t helped.
A physio treating me for something unrelated suggested Kegels but I read conflicting advice around this. I need to address it properly but I’m not sure where to start.

It sounds like a more specialised ie women's health physio may be needed? I paid £70 to see one privately for approx an hour. Money well spent. The examination was with one gloved lubed finger with me on my back, then standing. She could feel how all the muscles were working. I also had HRT and vagifem years ago and can't say it made any difference. It is quite dry inside (understatement) so the physio said maybe some estrogen cream or moisturiser would help with comfort.

I can relate to the peeing, not getting the last bit out. It is so hard not to clench everything! I'm hoping the squatty potty will help with easier pooing, but don't know re bladder emptying? Maybe other posters can report.

BTW I have spent loads of money over the years seeing an osteopath for my very stiff neck and shoulders, so am obviously inclined to tense up. Looking at the squatty potties, I think I'll be getting the lightest one possible purely so I don't hurt my neck moving it around.

@trainedopossum definitely go for a pelvic floor assessment with a specialist physio, I’m sure they’ll be able to give you specific advice.

@TeaAndStrumpets I have a bamboo one that sits under my toilet and I just kick it into place and kick it back under when I’m finished. It has ridges on it so I can manipulate it with my feet pretty easily. It was a cheap thing from Amazon.

Yes the bamboo ones look much nicer! The trouble is we are selling our house at the moment and before every viewing I am rushing round hiding things so the house looks barely lived in! So something light I can hide in a cupboard fits the bill for now. How daft to care, I know...

@TeaAndStrumpets ha no understood. We were in the same boat last year although didn’t move in the end. Good luck! It was hard work.

I know! I've never dusted so much in my life.

Yes thanks, I think I’ll try that, and thanks for the thorough description of what she did. I also have a sort of pinch in my back and left side, a bit like a stitch but all the time, and I wonder if it’s all connected.
Have also had neck problems forever!

Oh I don't think you will regret it @trainedopossum !

Apart from my neck I have awful pain with IBS so I wonder if a tight pelvic floor isn't helping?

I’ve done some research and have a handful of names but would be great to have a recommendation, ideally in or near SW/W London or W Dorset.

Feels weird emailing strangers about my bladder but here we are 🤷🏻‍♀️