Pelvic floor dysfunction after hysterectomy: Symptoms to watch out for
Did you recently have a hysterectomy, or are you planning for an upcoming surgery? If so, you probably have questions about the changes your body will experience and what symptoms to watch out for. At Peak Pelvic Health, we have a team of pelvic floor specialists who regularly help women prepare and recover from a hysterectomy due to pelvic floor dysfunction. This is a huge change for your body to go through, and our goals from a recovery perspective are to optimize tissue healing, restore normal pelvic floor function with peeing, pooping, and sex, as well as promote resilience in your body to return to all of the activities you enjoy! Let’s discuss the big symptoms to watch out for with a hysterectomy:
Short-term symptoms
In the first few weeks following surgery, it is normal to experience mild vaginal bleeding, abdominal bloating, and soreness in your back, pelvis, and abdomen. These symptoms should only last a short time though, and if you are experiencing moderate to significant bleeding, a large increase in pain, or any signs of infection, you should contact your doctor.
Symptoms to watch out for regarding pelvic floor dysfunction
After a surgery, your body may have a difficult time adjusting to missing an organ! A hysterectomy will change the pressure system in your abdominal cavity, leading to symptoms like urinary leakage, constipation, and back pain. Another change you may experience following a hysterectomy are hormone fluctuations. Whether or not you had your ovaries removed with a hysterectomy, your body will likely begin to experience symptoms of menopause. This significantly decreases the amount of estrogen you have, and can result in symptoms such as vaginal dryness, urinary leakage, or painful sex. One other symptom you may experience, as simple as it sounds, is pelvic pain. Surgeons do their best to minimize the residual effects of a hysterectomy, but more often than not, there will still be swelling, scar tissue, and sensitivity in your pelvic floor.
When to see a pelvic floor therapist?
Part of our mission at Peak Pelvic Health is to raise the standard of pelvic floor therapy. We think that anyone that has had a hysterectomy should be assessed for pelvic floor dysfunction. Your surgeon may do a check-up to make sure the surgical site is healed, but rarely will they ask about your pelvic floor function. When women come into Peak Pelvic Health for a pelvic floor assessment after a hysterectomy, they will be thoroughly screened for bowel and bladder changes, pelvic pain, breathing mechanics, postural changes, and movement analysis to ensure that you get back to living life without lingering post-operative issues.
One big thing to consider is: what was the reason you had a hysterectomy in the first place? Was it because of painful periods, endometriosis, or intimacy issues? Even though the uterus itself is not causing these problems anymore, your body has likely developed patterns of pain and movement compensation that need to be fixed for you to feel like yourself again.
Adjusting to life after a hysterectomy can be a challenging time, but you don’t have to go through this alone! We have a team of pelvic floor specialists who have extensive experience and knowledge helping women prepare and recover from a hysterectomy.
What’s the next step?
If you are looking for individualized care in Colorado Springs, reach out to us by phone 719-362-0330 or request more info by filling out this form.