Heather and her staff blog about male and female chronic pelvic pain, prostatitis, incontinence, upcoming events and more

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Written by Heather Jeffcoat, DPT

Published: 25 January 2021

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• covid-19
• vaccination
• New England Journal of Medicine

We wanted to share this article that we found published by the New England Journal of Medicine. We all have a lot of ongoing questions about the ongoing COVID-19 vaccine, and this is a great resource that answers nearly every question we’ve had regarding testing, vaccines and more.

Covid-19 Vaccine — Frequently Asked Questions

Image courtesy of NEJM

Read more: New England Journal of Medicine: Covid-19 Vaccine — Frequently Asked Questions

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Written by Staff Therapist

Published: 29 January 2021

Hits: 209

• pelvic pain
• prostatitis
• nonbacterial prostatitis
• chronic pelvic pain
• male pelvic pain
• male pelvic floor therapy

Research draws a connection between histamines and chronic pelvic pain

Also linked to histamine response, inflammation disorders, and chronic nonbacterial prostatitis.

What is Chronic Pelvic Pain?

Chronic pelvic pain is generally defined by chronic pain in the region of the pelvis (Lai, 2015).

It is a common symptom that can be caused by several different structural and functional dysfunctions/disorders that affect the anorectal area, urinary bladder, reproductive system, and pelvic floor muscles. Unlike pelvic pain caused by structural diseases like endometriosis, pelvic pain linked with functional disorders cannot be explained by an organic or other specified pathological reason (Clemens, 2008).

Functional disorders that can cause pelvic pain are classified into three general categories:

Read more: Histamines and Chronic Pelvic Pain, Chronic Prostatitis - the Connection

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Written by Staff Therapist

Published: 26 October 2020

Hits: 328

• pediatric incontinence
• pedatric bladder
• enuresis
• bedwetting

Bedwetting In Children - When is it a problem?

I think most people can remember a time when they were a kid and accidentally wet the bed.

The occasional accident is a normal part of childhood, however for some kids constant bedwetting may be a sign of an underlying pelvic floor issue. Some kids with toileting issues will start to feel it affect their self confidence, ability to participate in social activities, and that’s when you might consider getting some extra help.

In this article we will discuss the signs of an underlying pelvic floor dysfunction in children and how pelvic floor therapy can help.

Read more: Pediatrics and Pelvic Health: Bedwetting In Children - When is it a Problem?

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Written by Staff Therapist

Published: 29 September 2020

Hits: 211

• pediatric
• pediatric incontinence
• pediatric bowel issues
• pediatric pelvic floor
• pediatric pelvic health

Frequent Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs) in children can be closely tied to bowel and bladder dysfunctions

According to the International Children’s Continence Society, frequent urinary tract infections (UTI) in children can be closely tied to bowel and bladder dysfunctions, which are closely tied to pelvic floor dysfunction.

UTIs can signal different things for infants vs. older kids

Read more: Pediatrics and Pelvic Health: Chronic UTIs, Bowel and Bladder Dysfunction

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Written by Staff Therapist

Published: 24 September 2020

Hits: 648

• pediatric
• pediatric bowel issues
• pediatric pelvic floor
• pediatric pelvic health

Skid marks and fecal accidents can be a sign of constipation in children

Here’s what you can do about it.

Does your child have fecal accidents or skid marks in their underwear? This may be a sign of constipation.

Encopresis is fecal soiling associated with functional constipation in a child. The soiling often happens in the underwear, where the child loses whole pieces of formed bowel, liquid bowel, or has fecal staining on the underwear due to the inability to get clean when wiping. Constipation and encopresis are common problems in children. Encopresis is most common between ages 3 and 7 years.

Read more: Pediatrics and Pelvic Health: Encoporesis, Skid marks, Poop Accidents, and Constipation

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Written by Staff Therapist

Published: 08 September 2020

Hits: 326

• back pain
• sexual wellness
• healthy sex
• hip impingment
• sex and back pain
• sexual health
• hip pain

September is Healthy Aging Month

We here at Fusion Wellness PT consider pain free sex an important factor of aging healthfully! Today we talk about two common orthopedic complaints when engaging in penetrative sex: achy backs and bad hips.

Orthopedic Considerations and Penetrative Sex

As we all know, sex is an important activity for many and an important aspect of quality of life, especially as we age. In this article we’ll cover some common orthopedic issues associated with penetrative sex that people have with sex as they age and some suggestions for what you can do about it.

Read more: Healthy Aging Month: Sex and Your Bad Back and Hips

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Written by Staff Therapist

Published: 17 September 2020

Hits: 273

• pelvic pain
• male chronic pain
• chronic pelvic pain
• male pelvic pain
• penis pain
• male pelvic floor therapy

Did you know that chronic pelvic pain can happen to all bodies, regardless of your sex?

If you have a human body, you have pelvic floor muscles and these muscles can be dysfunctional, causing pelvic pain in the low back, pelvis, groin, genitalia, and hip region. Pelvic pain is often described as a "headache in the pelvis," but can often times have more acute pain areas including painful penis and testicles. Read on for more information. 

Men and people with male anatomy can often have pain and various symptoms including:

• Painful penis: along any part of the penis- base, shaft, head, and can be felt as numbness, tingling, aching, dull, sharp, coldness, or burning.  
• Painful testicles: numbness, tingling, aching, dull, sharp, coldness, or burning (Chronic orchialgia)
• Trouble starting urine flow

Read more: Male Pelvic Pain: What You Should Do If You Have a "Headache in Your Pelvis"

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Written by Staff Therapist

Published: 04 February 2021

Hits: 106

• erectile dysfunction
• Prostatectomy
• prostate cancer

Are You Experiencing Erectile Dysfunction Post Prostatectomy?

Prostatectomy Procedures can Lead to Erectile Problems and Sexual Dysfunction

Prostate cancer is often treated with a radical prostatectomy - a procedure wherein cancerous tissue of the prostate is removed. Approximately 85% of men who undergo the surgery complain of erectile dysfunction (ED) after the procedure. Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to achieve and maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual performance.  Around 6-8% of men report urinary incontinence after radical prostatectomy.

Other commonly reported symptoms of sexual dysfunction in male survivors of pelvic cancer include problems with ejaculation, low levels of sexual desire, urinary incontinence and orgasmic dysfunction. 

Read more: Erectile Dysfunction Post Prostatectomy and How Pelvic Floor Therapy Can Help

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Written by Staff Therapist

Published: 17 May 2020

Hits: 485

• cycling
• cyclist syndrome
• erectile dysfunction

As an approved way to get exercise during the COVID-19 pandemic in California and other places, people are dusting off their bicycles and riding the streets for exercise. 

Over the years, some literature has shown a connection between bicycling, pelvic pain, and sexual dysfunction including erectile dysfunction.  Fortunately, studies also show there are some specific preventative strategies in terms of how you’re riding and the equipment you’re using that can help mitigate the risks.

In the end, there are many health benefits to cycling, including improved cardiovascular health, better weight control, and decreased risk of breast cancer in women (Greenberg, 2019).

Read more: Cycling and Erectile Dysfunction: The Connection

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Written by Staff Therapist

Published: 10 May 2020

Hits: 563

• interstitial cystitis
• bladder health
• erectile dysfunction
• Prostatectomy
• prostate cancer
• mens health

Doctors have known for decades that smoking affects lung and heart health, greatly increasing risk of both lung cancer and heart disease. In recent research, they have been finding that smoking increases risk to various urologic diseases as well.

Bladder Cancer

Cigarette smoking triples the risk for bladder cancer when compared with the risk in nonsmokers, about 50% of bladder cancer in men and 20% in women can be attributable to smoking (Freedman, 2011). Cigarette smoke contains about 60 different carcinogens, and many of these are identifiable in the urine of smokers (Manatonski, 1981). Cigarette smoking is one of the largest risk factors we can control to prevent the development of bladder cancer in men and women. 

Prostate Cancer

Although the cause of prostate cancer is not clear, some researchers believe it may be due to various factors including genetics, diet, inflammation, infectious agents, hormonal imbalance, or exposure to toxins like cigarette smoke (Dwivedi, 2012). A 2012 study by Dwivedi found that smoking increased

Read more: How Bladder Health Can Affect Prostate, Erectile Function, and Pelvic Health

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Written by Staff Therapist

Published: 11 February 2021

Hits: 143

• male pelvic floor therapy
• erectile dysfunction
• mindfullness
• Improved Sexual Satisfaction for Men
• male pelvic health

Studies Have Shown that Mindfulness Can Help with Erectile Dysfunction

Improve your sex life and sexual function by increasing arousal, erectile function, lowering judgement, improving relationship satisfaction, and improving self esteem. 

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is Common

Erectile dysfunction is the persistent inability to attain or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfying sexual performance (Bossio et al., 2018). At least one-third of men will experience ED at some point in their lifetime, with rates increasing to over 75% for men 70 years of age or older.(Lewis et al., 2010; Bossio et al., 2018). 

Current beliefs about male sexual response show that it is complex, involving inhibitory and excitatory mechanisms of the nervous systems (Bossio et al., 2018)—in plain language--some things have to relax, while other things have to get excited.

What is Mindfulness?

Mindfulness can be defined as an open or a receptive attention to and awareness of what is taking place, both internally and externally, in the present moment (Barnes et al., 2007).

Read more: How Mindfulness Can Help with Erectile Dysfunction

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Written by Staff Therapist

Published: 10 August 2020

Hits: 299

• male pelvic floor therapy
• sexual dysfunction
• male sexual dysfunction

A 2019 literature review by Twitchell et al. shows there is ample evidence that sexual dysfunction is commonly reported in male cancer survivors regardless of age, cancer diagnosis, or treatment of cancer.

In their analysis, they also found that many of the men reported negative psychological effects from their sexual dysfunction including low self-esteem, body image, and mental health.

Commonly reported sexual dysfunction in male survivors of pelvic cancer including prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and bladder cancer include ejaculatory dysfunction, low sexual desire, ED, and orgasmic dysfunction.

Procedures That Affect Sexual Function

Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are often used to treat cancer, including pelvic cancers. While surgeons and oncologists always use procedures to minimize nerve damage and tissue damage, these negative side effects cannot be completely avoided (Twitchell et al., 2019).

Read more: Male Sexual Dysfunction in Pelvic Cancer Survivors