Endometriosis is a debilitating disease for women and men.  Often there is constant pain present in the pelvis, abdomen and other areas throughout the body. Endometriosis is when endometrial type tissue is present anywhere outside the uterus. 

Endometriosis treatment includes excision surgical procedures to remove disease. Removal of disease is the only treatment.  Often given medications do not remove the disease. 

Physical therapy for people with endometriosis can provide education, understanding and direction on how to reduce pain both pre and post surgery, and assistance on interventions that will help with lifelong skill sets to allow for a higher quality of life with this disease. 

1 in 10 women have endometriosis. Depending on the severity, endometrial type lesions can be found on fallopian tubes, ovaries, in the space between the rectum and vagina and on other organs such as the bladder,colon, along diaphragm, liver, etc and even in old surgical scars.

These endometrial lesions may produce acyclicial or cyclical pain patterns in the body. These patterns of pain can cause symptoms such as diarrhea, constipation, nausea, vomiting, bladder and bowel dysfunction, such as burning with voiding, or pain before and during bowel movements.  There can be abdominal and pelvic bloating and resulting local and generalized inflammation. This can lead to inflammation and irritation to the nerves in the pelvic and abdominal cavity or anywhere these lesions are located. There is often infertility, fear and loss of desired lifestyle.

What Is Endometriosis Physical Therapy

Endometriosis physical therapy is the assessment of pelvic or women’s health in relation to their pelvis, spine, and abdomen. They evaluate the alignment, musculature, fascial systems, and movement patterns in the pelvis and body for issues that activate your pain and decrease your quality of life.

From the analysis, our physical therapists can help you with quality of life interventions.

How Does Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy Help

Pelvic floor physical therapy helps by educating, supporting and providing access to the latest evidence for the physical lifestyle treatment of endometriosis. It helps the body learn how to recognize pain from endometriosis and then teaches physical coping strategies to assist in mitigating that pain.  It also teaches relaxation methods, deep breathing exercises and also helps with pelvic decongestion by stimulating the lymph system.

When Do Women Need Endometriosis Physical Therapy

Women who have endometriosis can start physical therapy both pre and post surgery. The most common age for women who experience endometriosis is between 25 to 35 years, but data indicates that endometriosis can occur as young as 11 years old in girls, but many believe that it is present even before that.  

Estimates suggest that 20% to 50% of women being treated for infertility have endometriosis, and up to 80% of women with chronic pelvic pain may be affected. This is a staggering number considering 1 in 3 women have a pelvic floor disorder causing pelvic pain.

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Need pelvic floor physical therapy? We’ll help  you get a doctor’s referral. Use the form below or call 208-457-3435

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Endometriosis Surgery and Endometriosis Specialists

Minimally Invasive Surgery Laparoscopy – Doctors can diagnose and treat endometriosis with this procedure, which uses a thin instrument called a laparoscope. It has a light attached to it, along with a lens that lets your doctor see inside your pelvic area to look for endometriosis. 

During the procedure, your doctor will inflate your abdomen with gas and make a small cut to insert the laparoscope. This is the most reliable way to diagnose the condition. Your doctor may remove a small sample of tissue during the procedure to confirm the diagnosis.

If your doctor finds endometriosis, they will excisionally remove the lesions. 

The use of robotic surgery is becoming more  common for excision surgery thanks to Lumeinis. 

In the Pacific Northwest there are three “Nancy’s Nook Education MD’s”.  The closest MD is endometriosis specialist Dr. Adam Duke.

What to Expect After Laparoscopy

Most women have less endometriosis pain after excision surgery and now healing can begin without disease present. 

You’ll probably be able to go home the day of the surgery, but you might need to stay overnight if your surgery is complex or takes longer than expected. Sometimes the postoperative pain from the procedure can be prohibitive and people are kept overnight to help resolve this. 

Physical therapy usually begins after approximately two weeks and is an integral part of this step of the process because you can now begin new physical movement strategies with less pain present. 

Where Services Are Offered

Lake City PT has offices located in Coeurd’Alene, Hayden, Post Falls and the Spokane Valley. 

Our service providers are ready to help you reclaim your quality of life and help you manage your endometriosis symptoma, 

Need endometriosis physical therapy? We can  help you get a physician referral. Use the form below or call us at (509) 891-2623.