Most people have never heard of Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy (PFPT) unless they have a baby or are diagnosed with pudendal neuralgia.

This is an explanation of what a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist (PFPT)

should do and when to know when you are being exploited so you don’t

waste your time, money, or risk injury.

 

A Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) is mandatory to practice as a

physical therapist in the U.S. A person must first earn a four-year

bachelor's degree from an accredited institution. After that, a PT can

enroll in a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree program.

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To become a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist (PFPT) to treat pudendal neuralgia, one MUST EARN one of two accreditations after earning their DPT:

1. Women's Certfied Specialist - developed by the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialties (ABPTS)

2. PRPC – Pelvic Rehabilitation Practioner Certfication - developed and offered by Herman & Wallace

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      Examples of names on business cards:

              Emily Smith, PT, DPT, WCS

              Helen Jones, PT, DPT, PRPC

 

Pelvic Floor Physical therapy is an effective treatment for

both women and men.

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What to except from a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist and sessions:

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1. You should have a private room with your PFPT. She should offer

2. you a sheet to cover from your waist down and leave the room

3. for a few minutes will you undress and situate yourself on the table.

4. The PFPT should offer enough time - at least 60 minutes for your first appointment.  They should perform an internal, vaginal and/or rectal exame and an external exam the pelvis (strength/flexibility of spine, hip, and abdomen).

5. After the initial appointment, the PFPT should schedule 45-minute to 60-minute sessions.
   You should once a week or every two weeks for one to three months or longer if needed.

6. Your PFPT should listen to you if the pressure is too painful. The first few sessions are the most difficult because you pelvic floor muscles will be the tightest, most hypertonic.

7. All PFPTs should have a 3D model of a female and male pelvis that includes removable muscles.

 

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If you don’t feel comfortable with a PFPT or the person is not fit for your needs, always seek out a second opinion.

 

There are PFPTs who take insurance. Do not feel you must see someone who only accepts cash. You will need many sessions and it could become prohibitively expensive.

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Also, there is no oversigte. EXAMPLE: The first PFPT I saw in Los Angeles accepted cash only at $175 an hour. She never touched me. She just talked to me from about three feet away about my

feelings. I knew something was wrong but I had no idea what

to expect. Listen to your intuition.

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BOTOX (listed under Conservative Treatments) - It can be very helpful to get injections of Botox  into your pelvic floor (under anesthesia) every four months in conjunction with pelvic floor phsyical therapy as it will paralyze the muscles therefore helping them to relax.

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For women, see an experienced urogynecologist.

For men, see an experienced urologist, but many urogynecologists also do the injections for men.

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Pudendal Neuralgia Alliance

contact@pudendalneuralgiaalliance.org

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