How can Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Help Nerve Pain?

Nerve pain is a big part of pelvic pain- it’s like sciatica of the pelvic floor! It is often described by patients as burning, knife-like, hot, sharp, or zinging!  Nerve pain can be caused by various reasons, and it typically occurs when nerves are being pinched, obstructed, or irritated… worst of all, it’s annoying AF!

Imagine your nerves as a highway, and the surrounding muscles are like bridges and trees. Sometimes, a muscle can get so tight that it causes the bridge or tree to collapse on the highway, blocking the nerve pathway. Pelvic floor physical therapy clears the bridge or tree from the highway in two ways.  First, releasing the tightness of the muscle and second, giving you exercises that maintain that clearance so that the nerves can keep traveling

Pelvic floor physical therapy can help with nerve pain:

  1. Pregnancy: During pregnancy, the growing baby and expanding uterus can put pressure on the nerves in the pelvis. This pressure can result in sensations similar to sciatica, thigh numbness, or even "lightning crotch." Pelvic floor physical therapy can help restoring balance in the pelvis and pelvic floor to alleviate this pressure and reduce the associated discomfort.

  2. Pelvic Floor Muscle Tightness: When the pelvic floor muscles become tense, they can clench down and restrict the information that passes through the nerves- again think of lots of bridges and trees blocking a highway! This can lead to conditions like pudendal neuralgia and can cause pain or numbness in areas such as the clitoris, penis, or rectum. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help relax these muscles and release the pressure on the nerves!

  3. Surgical Injuries: Surgeries like C-sections, tummy tucks, or hernia repairs can sometimes lead to nerve injuries. After surgery, patients may experience numbness or discomfort for several months. For example, people who have a c-section often have numbness for 6-12 months. Pelvic floor physical therapy can assist in scar massage and nerve desensitization to aid in the recovery process.

  4. Back Pain and Sciatica: Nerve pain can sometimes originate from the back or from the pelvic floor. Nerves can take a complex and winding pathway, and issues with pelvic floor muscles can contribute to back pain or sciatica. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help address these muscle-related factors.

Treating nerve pain is a complex process! Your pelvic floor physical therapist will discuss pain science theories with you and explain the neuroanatomy if you're interested, or read this blog I wrote! In essence, the role of physical therapy is to clear the metaphorical bridges and trees along the nerve highway by releasing muscle tightness and providing exercises to maintain a clear highway. By doing so, the goal is to ensure that the nerves can continue to transmit signals without obstruction or interference, ultimately reducing or eliminating nerve pain.  Curious? Email us at info@empoweryourselfpt.com or call 832-463-1152!

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