Fibromyalgia and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

[Written by Website Blog Content Writer - Michelle Silcox]

But, can fibromyalgia cause pelvic floor dysfunction?  

What is Fibromyalgia?

80% to 90% of people diagnosed with Fibromyalgia are women.

Fibromyalgia, also called fibromyalgia syndrome, is a long term condition that causes pain all over the body.  

As well as widespread pain, it can also cause an increased sensitivity to pain, muscle stiffness, difficulty sleeping, problems with mental processing (known as fibro-fog), headaches, irritable bowel syndrome, and feelings of frustration, low mood or worry. 

The exact cause of fibromyalgia is not known. It is thought that it is related to abnormal levels of specific chemicals in the brain which changes the way the central nervous system processes pain messages.  

Some people may be more prone to developing fibromyalgia owing to genes that are passed down from their parents, and the condition may often be caused by physical or emotional stress factors.

Can Fibromyalgia cause pelvic floor pain?

In short, yes it can.

Since there are usually numerous pain areas, a complex array of other symptoms and conditions can develop, and the pain can lead to pelvic floor dysfunction. Fibromyalgia can affect the body as a whole but can be highlighted by pelvic pain and pelvic floor dysfunction, making it a common problem for sufferers. 

It is worth remembering that the pain from fibromyalgia tends not to stay in the same place all the time, so it is best not to rule out the fact that a constant pelvic pain could be caused by something else, such as sex, menstrual cycle or some other factor, so it is worth consulting with your healthcare provider.

Why is Pelvic Floor Pain Linked to Fibromyalgia?

Many women with fibromyalgia also suffer with pelvic floor pain. 

The condition is more common in women than men, and recent research has found that pelvic floor and urinary distress is also common in women with fibromyalgia, with as many as one in five women with fibromyalgia experience pelvic floor pain and bladder pressure, according to a recent study. 

The relationship between fibromyalgia and pelvic floor pain is not fully understood, however, according to Verywell Health, some researchers now believe that Fibromyalgia and many causes of chronic pelvic pain are all types of illnesses called central sensitivity syndromes, which all involve an underlying mechanism called central sensitisation. 

Central sensitisation involves abnormalities in your brain and nerves which make you extremely sensitive to things such as pain, sound and temperature.

How To Ease Pelvic Floor Pain

If you are suffering with pelvic, whatever the cause, please don’t suffer in silence. There are a number of things you can do to help manage the symptoms. 

If your pelvic floor dysfunction is causing an overactive bladder, Kegel exercises are a great place to start. 

Kegels are where you strengthen your pelvic muscles through a consistent routine of exercises, which involve tensing and relaxing the powerful little muscles that keep us from letting out a little bit of wee when we least expect it.

It is a good idea to get into a daily routine of pelvic floor exercises even if you are not experiencing some level of incontinence, to help keep your pelvic floor in tip top health, and incorporating some Kegel Weights into your regime will have your pelvic floor muscles fighting fit in no time.

Your healthcare specialist may recommend that you need a course of antibiotics or pain killers, or even hormone treatments, depending on the identified cause of the pelvic floor pain, and they may also suggest physiotherapy.

So Kegels are worth doing and making sure that you are doing them right. 

Have a go with our Kegel weights, or maybe sign up for one of our 30 Day Pelvic Floor Challenge, to get you into a good habit. Starts Monday 5th June 2023.

In addition, along with doing your Kegels regularly, and using our Kegel Weights to make your workout even better, altering your posture can help get things back in order as soon as possible.

If you believe you have chronic pelvic pain, talk to your healthcare provider to get the proper diagnosis so you can get treatment as soon as possible and get on with your life.

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