Anyone out there with pelvic floor / bladder issues

[YosemiteGirl]

Hi ladies,
I'm new to this website and have just begun to check out all of the excellent information on painful hoo-hoos, etc. I'm in the process of having a custom bike made and fit to me to overcome the health issues I bring up below. Crossing my fingers that that will do the trick and get me riding again!

What I'm wondering is, do any of you have a chronic problem in that area that is _unrelated_ to cycling? I have a tentative diagnosis of something nasty called interstitial cystitis (but mine is pretty well controlled so don't feel too bad), but one of my docs thinks it's pelvic floor dysfunction. So nice when the doctors don't know what's up, right?

All of this forced me off my bike for about nine years. I'm determined to get back in the saddle and would be inspired to hear from women who have managed to do so with similar health issues. What are you doing to make your return to cycling a success?

Thanks for the great advice on these boards. I'm used to being the only woman I know who loves her bike -- now I know there are others!

[KnottedYet]

Just popping in really quickly to say that physical therapists are working with pelvic floor and bladder issues, too. Maybe your doc could hook you up with a PT who could give you some help with the pelvic stuff and how it relates to biking?

[YosemiteGirl]

Thanks for the note! I am working with a PT who specializes in fitting injured cyclists to bikes -- he's a guy though so I'm not sure how up on pelvic floor issues he is. I've let him know what my deal is and am hoping for the best.

My doc hooked me up a while ago with a PT who helped a ton, but she moved 3000 miles away and there isn't really anyone else nearby who does that kind of thing.

My PT says that it isn't normal at all for a woman to have discomfort after a ride, which sounds like a crock to me. How long do you ladies stay uncomfortable? Before I had health problems, my chafing, etc., would resolve in a few hours after a ride. It would usually hurt to pee the first time I went to the bathroom after the ride, but that was it -- it was fine after that. I'm curious about what "normal" is, so I can figure out how far away from that I am, exactly.

[RoadRaven]

Obviously your PT has no idea how hard or fast or long women ride their bikes for!

Normal for me after a time trial (where I have sat without moving for 35-50 minutes - depending on distance 18-25km) is numbness, awkwardness to walk, vague pins and needles and if I go pee straight away then the area feels a tad uncomfortable. After a tt I often have pain in my lower belly from the muscles - like when you have used muscles you don't usually use and they hurt for a few days. When I have that muscle pain, it hurts a little inside to pee - I guess because I am using the muscles... (also when I coff, sneeze or go up or down stairs)

Normal after a commute (40-50 minutes) to work is little or no discomfort, I just need a stretch and I'm fine. This is probably because i stand up, and shange my sitting position during the ride.

Normal after a long training ride (anything up to 3 hours) is similar to the tt, but without the painful muscles.

Dunno if any of that is useful? Best wishes in making everything fee better.

[anakiwa]

I suspect the PT people who specialize in bladder issues/ pelvic floor problems don't know much about cycling and the PT people who do bike fitting probabably don't know much about pelvic floor problems (Kegel exercises and monitoring, biofeedback etc). I may be wrong, but I suspect you're not going to get it all from one PT.

What exactly is the problem you're having?

[KnottedYet]

I'll be one of those mythical PT folks who knows both bikes AND pelvic floor! Get my pelvic floor final training next week.

(and I'm a girl.... which does make a difference!)

I can ride 50 or 60 miles without anything other than tired legs. But I've got a saddle that fits me *beautifully*, which I think is utterly priceless. Without my saddles, I'd not be so comfortable.

[Grog]

I also have no discomfort after long rides (2-3 hours). No nothing at all if the ride is under an hour. If it's over 3 hours, I need to stop to stretch once in a while, or I'll be sore. While I'm sitting on the saddle, sometimes I feel my pelvic area to be a little compressed and it's not super comfy but then my thoughts move on to something else and it's fine. If I've ridden for four hours on a given day, there's only a light chance that I'll be intersested in sex later that day or night, though! Although I get used to the long rides, too. It's all about TITS - time in the saddle - for me. I seem to be lucky to have a great saddle + fit.

I would say it's COMMON for women to hurt somewhere after riding, but I wouldn't say it's NORMAL. In other words, I expect it, but will try to fix something on the bike (or my posture) if it happens.

[KnottedYet]

Hoooray! I now have my certificate for pelvic floor rehab!!!!

(and I can fit bikes/check bike fit for musculoskeletal issues)

Yosemite, where are you? I have a list of resources and some good contacts for you. PM me if you'd rather.