The Longest Shortest Time

Heal Pelvic Pain (Without Surgery!)

I’ve mentioned before that I’m a pretty private person, and that as much as I share on this blog there is plenty about early motherhood that I keep to myself. Because so many people seem to genuinely find solace in the experiences and resources I post here, I’m going to share one of those things I’ve been keeping to myself. Back when I started LST, I wrote about my double episiotomy and how it impacted my first months as a mom. What I neglected to mention is that it never stopped impacting my life. For the last two years I’ve continued to have pain from my scar. I’ve seen three doctors—one who said if the pain didn’t dissipate soon she could just “snip” me again; another who said my situation might require a surgical procedure that would leave me “unable to be a Playboy centerfold—but not to worry, I’d be fine; and another who said she could see nothing wrong with me. I had basically resigned myself to the fact that I’d have postpartum pain for the rest of my life . . . until a friend of a friend who is a midwife recommended that I check out Beyond Basics, a physical therapy practice founded by Amy Stein.

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Beyond Basics specializes in pelvic floor pain and dysfunction. I saw a therapist there and I can now happily report that I am virtually pain free after going only two times. Two times. I truly can’t believe it. I don’t think such quick results are typical but the therapists in this practice treat women for postpartum pain all the time. It was a crazy intense experience that I’m not going to get into here. But if anyone out there is experiencing pelvic floor pain from surgery or pregnancy or labor, I urge you to seek out a pelvic floor physical therapist. Beyond Basics is in NYC, but if you live elsewhere they might be able to point you to someone reputable in your area. And you can also check out Amy Stein’s book, Heal Pelvic Pain.

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Before going for my first PT visit I read Stein’s book and found her approach reassuring, though the amount of stretching and strengthening she recommended was intimidating. An actual person will help you develop a manageable “homework” plan that is right for your particular situation.

OK. That’s all. I hope this helps some of you who are in a similar boat. Are any of you in a similar boat? I have no idea how common this is.

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