Odd denim jean experience

So I just put on jeans for the first time in months (it's TOO hot here in Florida to even consider wearing them now, but I'm going to dinner & a movie with my boyfriend and parents, so I'd rather be warm there!)... and I'm having a decent time with the vulvar pain, though I'm probably shooting myself in the foot, as I will likely be complaining later tonight... but hey, I want to try it out!

The weird thing, though, is that since I put them on, I'm having strange shooting pains through my uterine area down to my vagina -- I've gotten a similar feeling before in the midst of my period, but along with a lot of other cramps/discomfort. I don't have my period now and am not slated to get it for another 11 weeks or so (because of my new birth control), and it's just strange that it began right when I put the pants on. Anyone feel anything similar?

I actually did notice that there's a super-sensitive part of my skin in the 'vestibule' area that, when touched, seems to set off a nerve up through my abdomen. Hmmmmm!

Hi Julie,

Does it feel something similar to something like a skewer stabbing you upwards in there? If so, I get that. I'm kinda use to it really. Lately, I just wear leggings whenever I can instead of jeans.

Cheers,

Sue

I'm an ongoing leggings wearer, even skirts I can't handle too much! Leggings are the way forward as they're the only comfy thing

Yes, Sue, it does kind of feel like a skewer-type feeling. I guess maybe it was just the pressure of the jeans..putting on PJ pants helped immensely! Back to square one with clothes, haha.

I never wear jeans- Im all skirts and loose trousers. and when I get home, yanking off my clothes and putting the pj pants on is the first thing I do- even if its the middle of the day

Yeh, I'm not sure what causes the feeling but I find its less likely to happen when I'm wearing leggings. I do get it randomly walking too, but I've always had this problem since I was first diagnosed with vulvodynia. It seems to occur more frequently during times when I haven't done much physio homework too.

Other than that, I can't offer any advice. Sorry!

At least you know you're not the only one =)

Tweety can I ask what you're doing differently in your physio this time around please? I notice previously you said you tried pelvic floor work and it didn't make a difference but this time around you sound more positive, I'm about to embark on the Women's Health Physio route and just wondered if you'd mind sharing what you are doing this time around that seems to be helping?

Hi Sarah,

The last time I did physio, the focus was more on stretching my pelvic muscles inside with the help of a dilator. I was also taught to relax and contract my muscles and breathing exercises to help relax the inner pelvic floor muscle. This was all quite new to me at the time as it was the first time I was ever aware of my pelvic muscles. I did this over a period of time and overall, practising to relax and contract my muscles was a big step.

This time round with my physio (a new one) the focus is about getting my muscles to be in a relaxed stated when it should be i.e. sitting down or sleeping. What I've learnt this time round was that my muscles were constantly in a tense state. This includes my thigh muscles, my stomach, pelvic muscle... generally every muscle in that region. So over a 2mth period, I spent literally 2hrs a day every day massaging into those muscles and over time they've become more "normal". When I do my physio exercises of contracting & releasing my pelvic muscles I can actually feel the movement across my tummy/hip area, which I previously couldn't. And my muscles, when I'm touching them externally, are softer like they're suppose to be. So when you start on your physio, make sure that you're doing you're exercises properly. Ask your physio questions if you're not sure.

The other difference this time round is that the focus of my physio is to ensure anything I do in relation to my physio treatment shouldn't hurt me. My previous experience using dilators was still quite a horrible one... it was always something I tried to bear but did for the sake of it. And I think this has somewhat had quite a negative impact on me. So this time, at least doing physio isn't something I'm scared of or causes me more pain and grief. When my physio introduced the use of a dilator in my physio exercise, it wasn't used as a stretching tool. I use it just to get use to the sense of touch in that region and getting use to a foreign object. So physio does not become something that I associate pain with.

I will say, my past month has been a complete write off. After I had a bit of a breakdown last month, it's been a struggle to get my body back to where it was. My physio had noticed my progress had plateaued and she was right. I've found that my emotions and mental state have played a significant role in my lack of progress this past month. I had reached a really low point and just felt such an overwhelming sense of distress. During this time, I actually started to feel pelvic pain more often because my muscles where starting to tighten up again.
So now I'm at the point where I need to get my outer muscles relaxed again. The next step in my physio treatment will be for her to treat my trigger points. However, she can't do this yet as I'm still too tense & sensitive for any type of internal treatment.

Going through this so far, I've learnt not to be so tough on myself. And this would be the same advice I'd give to you as well. I don't see physio as the end of my problems more as an option which could possibly provide me with some relief. So when you start out on your physio plan, don't put too much pressure on yourself and the treatment. Pressure, stress and depression will only hinder your progress. I know, it's difficult not to feel this way sometimes but for the sake of your mental health.... try not to.
I'm also very fortunate to have a great physio. She has a lot of experience in dealing with women suffering from pelvic floor issues and always makes sure that I'm comfortable with the treatment plan and understand the reasons behind it all.

Hope that helps,

Sue

Sue thanks so much for such a detailed reply. I'm also in the habit of tensing muscles up for no reason, I find I tense my inner thighs all the time even when I'm just sat down etc, I think my brain does it partly because it recognises the hypermobility problems I have and partly out of tension. I used to tense my glutes but managed to stop that, then it went to my hamstrings and again I managed to stop that except when my SI joints are really, really bad (in the dentists chair last time springs to mind) then my hamstrings start tensing again. It seems to move to a different muscle each time I start relaxing the current problem one which I'm sure is because my pelvis is unstable so that could easily be my problem. I do find I sometimes drag the adductors into a pelvic floor lift too which obviously I shouldn't be doing!!

It's taken me a while to get the pelvic floor lift corrcted too, I'm a habitual "breath holder" which means I restrict my ribcage by tensing my upper abs (more tension behaviour) and that in turn forces the pelvic floor downwards so my pelvic floor is a bit of a disaster really. Initially I found I wasn't actually lifting it when I tried I was pushing it down again and then I was squeezing but not lifting so it's taken me ages to get that right. I'm going to start doing some massage on my inner thighs each day, they are really solid and sore, in fact it was the first thing the GU consultant mentioned when she examined me because the leg rests on the table showed off how tight my muscles were, and not in a good way!

Thank you so much for sharing your experience with us all and I hope your progress can get back on track now and continue.

Hi Sarah,

Glad I could help. Yes, it's only after seeing my current physio that I understand how awful my muscles were. I thought I was doing a good job understanding my pelvic muscles when I first started physio years ago. So I can't stress enough how important it is for you to have good physio who can explain to you properly and check that you're doing things correctly.

Once, I started becoming more aware of my muscles I realised they were even more tense when driving because I find driving stressful. And even if I tried to relax them they react and tense up again.. bit like a muscle spasm.

Work on massaging the thighs and also closer to your perenium (I learnt that word through physio). Also remember your belly area too.

Also, if you do exercise, just remember to try relax all your muscles afterwards because when you are active like gym, its natural to tense your muscles. I'm no longer allowed to do sit ups and stomach crunches for the time being.

I totally understand how you feel when it comes to examinations. I use to tense up all the time. I still do but after a bit of breathing and relaxing I can force my pelvic muscles to drop and relax.

Let me know how you progress. Remember, don't be hard on yourself.

Cheers,

Sue

Thanks Sue, I've got my first appointment with a Women's Health Physio this afternoon so I'll see what she has to say about it. She was very non-commital on the phone which is making me wonder if she knows anything about it at all but as she's the only one anywhere near me (she's still over an hours drive away) she's what I'm stuck with! I'll let you know what she said later today.