Pelvic Pain Doesn’t Have to be a Life Sentence with Dr. Anna Cabeca and Dr. Allyson Shrikande, Dr. Rucha Kapadia

<p>Dr. Anna Cabeca visits the Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine center to talk with Dr. Allyson Shrikande and Dr. Rucha Kapadia about pelvic pain. Find out why it’s so hard for pelvic pain to be diagnosed properly, especially after childbirth, what you can do to help relieve pelvic pain during intercourse, and how pelvic floor exercises and therapy can prevent a lifetime of discomfort and pain.</p> <ul> <li>Women often deal with pelvic pain after giving birth, post-surgery, and for a number of other reasons.</li> <li>Shrikande started the Pelvic Rehabilitation Center out of necessity for herself. During the final year of her residency, she was experiencing classic pelvic floor pain symptoms and was having trouble getting a diagnosis and treatment.</li> <li>Since the condition doesn’t show up on traditional tests like imaging or bloodwork, it’s a challenge to get a diagnosis and help beyond pain medication.</li> <li>It wasn’t until Dr. Shrikande found an amazing pelvic floor physical therapist did she find a solution. She became fascinated by the whole field of pelvic floor health.</li> <li>As a non-operative physician, she focuses on the nerves and the myofascial system.</li> <li>Cabeca experienced pubic symphysis pain, which led her to learn more about the pelvic system and seek a solution.</li> <li>The pubic bones have connective tissue that joins the pubic bones together, and that tissue can get inflamed during pregnancy. During childbirth, even if there wasn’t a tear or cut exteriorly, there can be a tear on the interior, and depending on how that heals it can cause scarring and pain without being seen.</li> <li>After childbirth, muscle nerve dysfunction can cause pain with intercourse. The muscles can either be tight or loose and either condition can lead to compressed nerves and soreness before and after intercourse. The goal of the Pelvic Rehabilitation center is to release the inflammation of the nerves and see how the patients do.</li> <li>A lot of patients feel like they just have to live with the pain, bu