apple
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Post by apple on Nov 20, 2006 14:39:21 GMT -5
Hi all, I had my dr appointment last Friday. I am not sure if you all remember that I've been having pain on my right side abdomen, going to my back and leg. This pain is all the time and it is hard to me to stand for long period of times (walking & sitting feels better). So I was wondering about my endo affecting my intestine and probably having organs stack together (appendix, uterus, ovaries, intestines,etc) on my right side. But my doctor has examined and he said that what I have is a knot on my right side, like a muscle spasm for the chronic pain, the following described what is that I have and it is common in women that suffer from endo: Pelvic Muscle Floor Spasm: The bottom of the pelvis is comprised of a series of muscles. These muscles extend from the pubic bone in the front to the tail bone in the back. Whenever we are in pain, the natural tendency is to tense up our muscles. This applies to pelvic pain as well. Often, without even realizing it, a patient is clenching the pelvic floor muscles. Over time, months or years, these muscles can go into spasm and become scarred and unable to fully relax. This condition is similar to a knot in the muscle in your back. It is not a matter of just relaxing the muscle to make the knot go away, this is impossible. Just as deep tissue massage is needed to get rid of the knots (muscle spasm and muscle fibrosis) in the back, deep tissue massage can be needed in the pelvic area. A qualified physical therapist who deals with pelvic pain and is experienced in trans vaginal (through the vagina) deep tissue massage of the pelvic muscle floor is usually needed to correct pelvic muscle floor spasms. Although muscle spasms may not seem like a serious condition to some, anyone who has experienced a severe spasm in the calf knows how excruciatingly the pain can be. Imagine having this pain level constantly in the pelvic area. This pain can require treatment with high levels of narcotic pain medications. This is one reason why patients can continue to experience pain after endometriosis is removed. The condition that started the pain is gone, but this secondary condition, which was stared because of the endometriosis, now has a life of its own. A physical therapist with these specialized skills can help with this last step in resolving your pain.I did not know about this and it makes sense since this is similar at the pain that I have on my shoulder. He wanted to give me an injection to dissolve this knot but since this will help for a week and a half I decided to not have it and try to find if there is some kind of "deep massage" that I could get instead of this drug that does not get rid of the issue anyway. Does anyone been diagnosed with these? or hear about this? I found this info on the following link www.pelvicpain.com/learn.html , and I like it since is mostly what my doctor has explained to me. I am still kind of worry since he has not ordered a CT scan or anything to confirm this diagnosis but he seems pretty sure that is what I have.
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Post by erzulie on Nov 20, 2006 16:11:43 GMT -5
That sounds similar to problems I am having apple. Where is your knot located? I can feel a knot on the right side of my lower back and have had chronic pain there and in my hip for 11 months. I have been thinking of seeing a doctor about it soon since it's obviously not going to go away on its own. I am a little bit worried about this trans-vaginal massage idea. That sounhds like something that would hurt like hell, not like something that would help! Also I wonder if insurance would cover that at all.
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apple
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Post by apple on Nov 20, 2006 17:28:36 GMT -5
Well my knot is in the lower area, where I guess we have the intestines and appendix, right above my "ovary area". I while ago I felt a knot but now I can't find it but when I had my examen last Friday my doctor found it and made me touch as well but I could not feel it quite well but he said that he felt it and he've seen this condition before. My pain goes to my hip and back as well and sometimes irradiates to my leg, this pain started around July, now that I think that is when I stopped going to Yoga so it makes sense since when taking Yoga I was doing all these positions that probably prevented this knot to be created... Yes that deep massage sound not fun at all! , is kind of that "Clear Passage" massage that is been offered in NY. But I hear that is quite expensive and plus I am from Canada so my insurance won't covere it. I am going to try to find a physiotherapist here, my insurance cover physio so I guess it should cover this, but I am not sure where to find this kind and it would be quite embarrass going to a physiotherapist to ask her/him to do a "trans vaginal (through the vagina) deep tissue massage " ha ha probably not many would know about this! I guess if they deal with chronic pain they may! I'll let you know if I get any info. I am kind of frustrated though since It seems that my endo is having babies but not me! will all these related illnesses and issues that endo is producing, even though if I get rid of endo I may get stuck with its children (chronic pelvic and shoulder pain)! So I need to find a way to fight these pains before it gets out of control! I may start yoga back again, (I like tai chi better) or can hopefully find a physiotherapist that knows about this. Also is better that this is the pain and not having the organs stuck as I was worried! so it was a good news some how!
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Post by erzulie on Nov 21, 2006 14:04:17 GMT -5
Thanks for your response apple. I don't know if that's what is going on with me or not but I am going to a doctor today to talk about it. I hope they will be able to help me, and without costing me a fortune! I'm afraid they'll either brush it off and do nothing or insist that I have every expensive test out there in order to find out what it is. I don't really want to have an x-ray because I feel I've had enough of those and I don't want to keep being exposed to radiation. An MRI wouldn't be so bad but that's really expensive!
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apple
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Post by apple on Nov 23, 2006 10:25:53 GMT -5
Hi erzuly, Have you seen your doctor? Any comments about this condition? I went to my family doctor yesterday, and I commented this to him and he said to me that he is not familiar with this and is rather a rare condition but if my GI diagnosed that this is what I have he is the one with experience in the area. So no much help there! But anyway I asked him about a physio or someone that may treat this and he suggested me to contact the pelvic floor clinic but probably without a referral they won't give much of attention. Anyway I'll continue my search. I am not sure but I believe my GI has put a request for CT scan anyway to rule out other problems but here it may take months before I get an appointment anyway. I'll keep you updated if I found any info. I also requested from my GI to send a referral to a new pain clinic that is called "Clinic fro Mind-Body Medicine" is kind of a holistic approach to treating pain without using pain killers. At first he was quite reluctant to make the referral but since I insisted he said that he will do it and they will contact me to arrange an appointment so I guess I can always check with them regarding this new pain.
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Post by erzulie on Nov 23, 2006 11:37:31 GMT -5
The doctor I saw was a resident, she could find nothing wrong and was going to prescribe some pain medication although I was a bit concerned that it would make me too sleepy (I haven't had a lot of experience with pain medication, but on the occasions when I have taken it it has always wiped me out to the point that I couldn't do anything but sleep, so it would be quite literally impossible for me to do my job if I were taking it). Then she consulted with the doctor that she is studying under and he told her not to give me pain medication, but to send me for an x-ray and refer me for physical therapy! So I had the x-ray although I really didn't want want and doubt it will show anything, I haven't heard anything about that yet. Anyway my first physical therapy appointment is December 6, so we'll see if that helps at all! It would be nice to get to the bottom of what's causing the pain but I don't know if we will. If you had to see a GI doctor to have it diagnosed I probably never will get it figured out because I've never seen a GI doctor, I don't have enough GI problems to get referred to one!
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Post by ouchy on Nov 23, 2006 11:51:26 GMT -5
^ You could probably just request a referral. My doctors are always very good about that.
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Post by erzulie on Nov 23, 2006 13:59:40 GMT -5
It seems silly to request a referral to a GI doctor for hip pain though, considering hip pain is not a GI problem.
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apple
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Post by apple on Nov 23, 2006 14:47:24 GMT -5
Ups... Sorry instead of GI I meant gynecologist doctor sorry about that. I was diagnosed by my endo specialist he is a gynecologist nor a GI. I Wanted to see a GI but I did not get a referral from him at the moment.
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Post by ouchy on Nov 23, 2006 18:37:55 GMT -5
HAHAH! I didn't even read it! I just saw that you were having a hard time getting a referral! I just spouted you could ask for one!
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Post by erzulie on Nov 23, 2006 21:42:24 GMT -5
Ah, now it makes more sense! I suppose if I don't get anywhere with my current path that I could try seeing my gynecologist about this. I have a general gynecologist phobia but if I absolutely have to do it I'll go. First I'll see if the physical therapy helps. Of course if the only thing that will help is trans-vaginal massage, I guess I'll just have to live with the pain!
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apple
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Post by apple on Nov 24, 2006 10:11:44 GMT -5
I have signed up for a workshop about "exercising your pelvic floor" this is just a two days workshop and is organized by the pelvic floor clinic so I'll let you know of any tips, exercises etc..
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Post by erzulie on Jan 22, 2007 10:59:53 GMT -5
To revive an old thread, what did you learn in your pelvic floor workshop apple? I've been going to physical therapy for over a month now and so far have only gotten worse. What the therapist did today really helped though--she gave me a massage for the first time and I walked out feeling noticably better. I hope it lasts! It does not appear that my problems are actually caused by the endometriosis, though it's still uncertain what the cause is. I am having serious problems with the muscle that goes from my hip to my lower back. I hope we can figure out what to do fast because my other hip is starting to give me some trouble too!
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apple
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Post by apple on Jan 23, 2007 11:28:00 GMT -5
Well the workshop was interesting. It was mainly focus for people with incontinence (bladder, colon) and the idea was to teach to exercise your pelvic floor to improve this condition as well as for women planning to get pregnant and they also provided some tips to prevent this conditions: Like.. not wait! When you have to go! GO! Otherwise you bladder/intestines can get enlarge and this may cause prolapse. They also talked about this condition, prolapse. I mentioned my condition to the instructor, about having a knot on my right side,l ike a muscle spasm on my pelvic floor and she said that she hear about this and suggested to see a physiotherapist that specialized on this. I have not made an appointment yet. About my pain at the moment? Some how it got better. Not quite sure but here some things that I have changed/introduced that might contribute with the improvement of my symptoms.: ** I have been trying some relaxation CDs and some breathing techniques that my pain doctor gave to me (I will post a threat about this later) so I am not sure if this was coincidence but my pain got better. Still there but much better ** I also apply castor oil on the area and it seems to work, same when I have some pain or inflation. If you have not tried this I suggest you to try it, it is also good to remove toxins from your body. ** Driving was making my pain worst. I have not been driving for a while now, almost nothing. But I'll start again to see if the pain comes back. (hope no, ) On my case my gynecologist was able to touch the knot some months ago. He said that was caused by the pain caused by endo, he said that he does not believe there is endo itself on the area, like adhesions, etc; just a muscle spasm. This makes sense since with this pain I do get quite tense! Does you pain go to your right leg as well. Mine sometimes does, but is like a nerve kind of pain, like if this knot is pressing on a nerve or something. I do also get back pain as well. You are right the longer you have this pain the other side will get affected sooner or later. If you have time read my post about relaxation it might help and if you can try castor oil. I am also starting Tai Chi so I will see. This class is quite convenient, it is provided by a non-profit association of Taoist Tai Chi so is quite affordable. But you stand all the time on Tai Chi so I will see how I do. Keep you posted.
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Post by erzulie on Jan 23, 2007 18:10:11 GMT -5
** I have been trying some relaxation CDs and some breathing techniques that my pain doctor gave to me (I will post a threat about this later) A threat? So what are you going to do to us if we don't try these breathing techniques??? (I know what you mean, your typo just made me laugh) There was one day when I felt pain going all the way down my leg, but otherwise that hasn't happened. I tried castor oil a few times for cramps but after I ran out I never got any more. Those bottles are so tiny that it's all gone after two uses! Maybe I will find a good deal on a jumbo bottle.
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