Pelvic floor spasms

Hi Malaseb, I’d advise caution about diagnosis via Google! How often have you been doing your pelvic floor exercises and when did you start? i was told it needs to be done very gently and not for too long at first and wonder if you may have been overdoing it. It may also be your bowel settling down post op. I’d advise calling your ward or your CNS for advice as it’s still not long since your op.

Hi

Thank you for responding

I was doing my pelvic floor exercises 3-4 times a day and holding them for about 5-7 seconds then rapid ones as suggested by the physio. 

I have spoken to my CNS,  111 and also been to the hospital to the emergency gynaecology ward who have arranged the scan. I referred to Google as each medical professional i have spoken to has given me a different diagnosis, fever, fissures, fluid in pelvis! The pain was so bad and not being touched by co codamol i felt the only thing to do was my own research. 

at the moment the breathing exercises are helping with the excruciating pain as it appears to release the tension but just wondered if anyone had these types of symptoms and what helped them. 

My CNS told me to do gentle short squeezes only at first and no rapid ones. I’d check with her again re these. 

Will do

Thanks 

Hello Malaseb

i had exactly the same experience as you a few weeks after my hysterectomy and was diagnosed as having Proctalgia Fugax.  I was referred to a gynae physiotherapist and she found that my pelvic floor muscles were very tight - partly from having overworked the muscles doing the exercises given to me when I left hospital!   I still have very tight muscles and have exercises I do to help to relax them.  I also have regular internal physio.   I still have occasional agonising spasms - I know exactly what you mean about the red hot poker - but they occur much less often now.  If you google “exercises to relax pelvic floor muscles” you should find some things that will help.  Applying heat, or sitting in a hot bath is also good.

Thinking of you and I hope you won’t have many more episodes.  It’s good that the hospital are checking you out, but if they don’t find anything then you may well be right about the proctalgia fugax.  
 
Take care

Pippa xx

Thanks for your reply Pippa,

it’s nice to know I’m not going mad and this has happened to other people (although I wouldn’t wish this on anyone) 

if the scan shows all clear, I’ll speak to the GP about physio. I’ll have a look for exercises too, thanks you so much xxx

Hi Malaseb 

This sounds really painful and distressing for you. I haven't experienced this post total hysterectomy myself, but just wanted to send some support.

I hope the scan tomorrow helps you get some answers at last. 

Best wishes

Kxx

That’s interesting Pippa that it was partly due to overdoing pelvic floor exercises. I do think that some of us are not given adequate advice on these at the time. My CNS told me to just do a few gentle short squeezes each day for several weeks and not to overdo it, but others seem to not get told anything or just given a general leaflet. 

Hello Marmite

Like you, I was advised to go slowly, but I was so desperate to get better quickly that I stupidly disregarded the advice and did too much, too fast.  My gynae physio said that Proctalgia Fugax is quite often caused by hysterectomy alone though, and that she sees a lot of women who suffer from it post-surgery.   Mine was probably caused by a combination of overdoing it and the surgery itself.

Hope you’re continuing to do well

Pippa xx

Hi Pippa

Did you get any medication to help with the spasms or was it just physio? Xx