What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside of the uterus. Endometriosis is diagnosed via laparoscopy, but women often suffer a long history of problems before they are diagnosed. Although it affects one in ten women, nearly 75% of women with Endometriosis experience misdiagnosis. Women with Endometriosis have an average of 2-5 surgical procedures related to it.

Symptoms of Endometriosis

Symptoms of Endometriosis may vary from person to person and in severity from mild, to life limiting and debilitating.  Symptoms of Endometriosis may include painful and heavy periods, pain during sex, low back pain, constipation or bladder and bowel symptoms.  Interstitial Cystitis commonly occurs alongside Endometriosis and is a very specific issue concerning the bladder lining.  Symptoms are often worsened according to hormone levels and stress can play a part in increasing pain or symptoms.

Endometriosis is a chronic condition and requires a combination of management and treatment of the disease.  Laparoscopic excision of endometrial lesions is the gold standard treatment, performed by a Gynaecologist who has specialist training in this surgery.

How can physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapy cannot cure Endometriosis, but can help alleviate or relieve some of the symptoms.  In your first physiotherapy session we would find out all about your story and what has brought you to this point, discussing what your goals are and how to tailor treatment to help you achieve them.

Physiotherapy treatment for Endometriosis

We will often start with teaching optimum breathing techniques. This is important for reducing stress levels and stimulating the Vagus nerve. This calms your nervous system, bringing your body out of ‘fight or flight’ mode and into ‘rest, recover and restore’ mode.

We will discuss exercise, stretches and movement which will help mobilise the tissues and has the added benefit of improving mental health.

We will then determine whether the pelvic floor muscles or abdominal muscles are contributing to your symptoms. Treatment varies from person to person, but this may include manual techniques where we can help to mobilise the muscle, fascia, nerves, scar tissue, adhesions, trigger points and internal organs (viscera).  Often the pelvic floor is held in tension or spasm as a response to pain. This ‘overactive’ pelvic floor will contribute to symptoms of internal vaginal pain. This can be relieved with internal release work, down training the pelvic floor or teaching the use of devices to help you continue to manage the symptoms yourself at home.

Endermotherapy/LPG treatment for Endometriosis

Endermotherapy or LPG is a mechanised deep massage treatment that uses suction and rollers with a negative pressure, mobilising the skin, fat, and fascia covering muscles. It is specially designed to mobilise the layers of tissue by gently lifting and stretching the tissues, enhancing circulation, increasing blood flow, and stimulating the venous and lymphatic systems to remove lactic acid and other inflammatory toxins.

This type of treatment can help to reduce fibrosis (hardened tissue), scar tissue, adhesions and muscle tension. It therefore can be ideal for treating some symptoms of Endometriosis and help reduce pain.

If you are experiencing any symptoms that you think may be associated with Endometriosis, please do get in touch for a consultation on to discuss this with a specialist Women’s Health Physiotherapist. We are also able to refer you onto a specialist Gynaecologist if this is required.