#25 - Meet a Pelvic Pain Expert Physician - Dr. Gerig!

Dr. Gerig is owner and founder of www.pelvicsolutionscenter.com. She sees men and women who have pain in the pelvic region, which may include the lower abdomen and back, gluteal area, genitals and rectum.

She is an expert in interstitial cystitis (IC). Learn that not everyone that comes into her clinic with interstitial cystitis actually has IC. The classic IC symptom – pain perception in the bladder when it fills up and it is relieved when you urinate. There usually is associated urinary frequency.

Pelvic floor muscle tension (high tone pelvic floor) is more common than IC and is often confused with IC.

IC, pudendal neuralgia and pelvic floor muscle tension are the three main things Dr. Gerig treats.

What a PT and a pelvic floor expert finds on physical exam cannot often be seen on a CT scan.

She integrates the role of physical therapy in her practice. She thinks 95% of her patients need PT. PT is the primary treatment except for ulcerative IC. Ulcerative IC is a condition where there are ulcers in the bladder (Hunner’s ulcers).

Physical therapy is vital in educating women about their bodies and bodily function.

Clean eating is helpful. Your primary fluid intake should be water. Integrate an anti-inflammatory diet. Integrate movement every day into your life. Slowly increase your activity as you are able. Dr. Gerig thinks movement and stress management are very important when you have muscle tension.

Tips for stress management!!!

Healing from pelvic pain takes time. There is no magic wand! It takes time and work.

Medications for IC and pelvic pain. Elmiron side effects. Supplements used – glucosamine and quercetin, aloe vera. Other medications used: histamine blockers, neuromodulators, vaginal muscle relaxants.

Dr. Gerig’s goal is to get her patients OFF medication eventually.

Switching topics, Pudendal neuralgia. This is a pelvic nerve called the pudendal nerve, it feeds the rectum, urethra, genital. Symptoms are burning, throbbing pain, worse with sitting. People often have urinary frequency and a “foreign body” sensation in the pelvis. It can cause pain with urinating, pain with sex, pain with bowel movements.

Post childbirth child pain. Prolonged pressure of the baby’s head on the pudendal nerve can cause urinary issues. Women can have pain with sex, pain in tailbone. Find a PT who is well trained in treating pelvic pain.

Tips and tricks for self advocacy for pelvic pain. www.apta.com . www.hermanwallace.com

What hurts pelvic pain, or what behavior is not helpful? Rumination and catastrophizing. Seeing a therapist can help with this.

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