And for our blog’s grand opening, sorry we won’t be giving out freebies, but we will be sharing information about the products we love!
Have pelvic pain with sitting? The typical donut cushion does not provide the appropriate pressure relief needed by most patients with pelvic pain. My personal favorite, and most popular cushion is “Cushion Your Assets” Twin Cheeks folding cushion. It comes with 2 Velcro adjustable supportive cushions, that can be set to custom fit your sitting width. It comes with handles, and is easy to take on the go and for long car rides. It provides 100% pressure relief throughout the midline of your Perineum and is good for both females and males. My patients with tailbone pain love it as well. CAPPS Pelvic Seat Cushion produces a cushion that has very similar features. Thera-seat is another great alternative, for those who like a thinner, softer cushion. There is a round and oval option for pressure relief.
When it comes to Lubricants, not all are created equal. Actually, some can be the source of irritation, like the common KY Jelly which contains alcohol and chemicals. In the clinic, we use Slippery Stuff (water-based, paraben free, glycerin free), and or Almond Oil. Both being great choices if you are hypersensitive. If you like to be mindful of the environment, try Good Clean Love; it’s organic, vegan, glycerin and paraben free!
Have an itch? Experiencing vulvar discomfort? V-Magic, an intimate skin cream that blends oils, avocado, and healing honey to soothe your vulva. Guess what? It’s organic, and all natural too! And if you were looking for a home-remedy, try coconut oil. Coconut oil calms down inflammation, redness, and irritation.
Do you find yourself placing a block of ice to numb the pain? Check out the Femme pad, it’s a gel perineal ice pack that fits right in your underwear, and even comes with disposable covers!
Constipated? Squirmy on the toilet? Check out the bowel changing, life changing Squatty Potty! This cool stool, tucks neatly under the toilet seat. When seated on the toilet, one’s Rectum is curved, making elimination more difficult. The Squatty Potty puts one in the optimal toileting position, reducing the angle of the rectum.
Feeling tight or a tearing sensation with sex? Painful? Do you have some fear about penetration? I don’t promote self- diagnosis and treatment; however here are some tools we use with patients to help reduce hypersensitivity, reduce the fear of penetration, release Pelvic Floor muscles spasm and guarding. We like the Syracuse Medical Dilators. They vary in size from XS to L+, making size progression very tolerable. The Therawand, also coined by a patient of mine as her “magical wand”, truly works wonders. This S-curved hook, allows one to access sore spots, and perform a release both Vaginally and Rectally. Other brands exist, such as Soul Source and EZFit and EZ Magic. Some people like silicone dilators and some prefer ones made from glass. Patients use dilators primarily as a home program as we want them to be in a comforting environment.
And for those of you who are bookworms, or want some more knowledge than Dr. Google can provide, I highly recommend the following reads;
- Explain Pain by David S. Butler and Dr. Lorimer Moseley
- Why Pelvic Pain Hurts by Adriaan Louw, Sandra Hilton, and Carolyn Vandyken
- Pelvic Pain Explained by Stephanie A. Prendergast and Elizabeth H. Rummer
- Heal Pelvic Pain by Amy Stein
- Healing Painful Sex by Deborah Coady and Nancy Fish
- The V-Book by Elizabeth G. Stewart and Paula Spencer
And now for those of you who are more tech savvy…. we will review DVD’s, apps, and vaginal fit bit devices:) Exercise DVD’s we like “HAB-IT”, a DVD that focuses on pelvic floor strengthening, which is typically for those with prolapse, postpartum moms, and stress urinary incontinence. You can also check out “Roll for Control: Exercises for Back, Balance, Bladder and Bowel” for pelvic floor uptraining as well. For those of you on the other end of the spectrum, we like “Your Pace Yoga: Relieving Pelvic Pain”, by Dustienne Miller which guides you through pelvic floor muscle relaxation and lengthening.
The Protectometer is an interactive app where patients can challenge themselves and overcome activities associated with chronic pain. The Protectometer is also available as a book. There are several Vaginal “fitbit”-like devices which offer exercise tracking (Kegel/Pelvic Floor exercises). There are linked to an app providing you feedback. I have had personal experience with the K-Goal and Elvie. The K-goal offers tactile vibration and visual feedback on the app, however is larger in size. The Elvie, provides visual feedback, however is smaller in size, (which can be a plus for patients who have pain with insertion).
Lastly, I’ll review some common support belts/garments I typically recommend to my patients. Sacroiliac instability belts are helpful when women feel relief with compression along belt area. The Serola belt (sturdy and easy to put on) and the Com-Pressor Belt (has 4 removable pieces to customize support) are 2 favorites in our clinic. For women who feel more relief with their belly supported, I like the Best Cradle (Prenatal Cradle Ultimate Pregnancy Support). It lifts off the weight of the baby using a figure 8 belt around the belly and upper body. For pelvic heaviness I like V-2 supporter or EVB compression shorts.
Products: things that can make a little difference, but hands on treatment, guided exercise and neuromuscular re-education +products can make a HUGE difference!
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