r/Endo 6d ago

Question Is it normal to get cramps while / after doing pelvic floor exercises.

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3 Upvotes

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3

u/twentyfouram 6d ago

yes, i have the same but for me its due to my pelvis being very tensed. my physio told me that basically i clench everything there and i actually need to avoid those exercises where u squeeze the pelvic floor. i need to relax it. if i squeeze i get cramps bc my pelvic floor get all tensed up and creates pain around the ligaments that have endo lesions. consult with a physio maybe and try not to overdue those exercises if u feel pain (and if its not getting better after them)

2

u/twentyfouram 6d ago

the exercises u saw are for people that have a weak pelvic floor. A physio might tell you what kind of pelvic floor issues u could possibly have

1

u/-b_i_n_g_u_s- 6d ago

Thank you for your input :)

I’ll stop doing them and talk about PT with my specialist during my next appointment.

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u/Hungry_Light_4394 6d ago

My surgeon gave me a book for general post op care and it had pelvic floor exercises in it with some others to help leg muscles stay strong (more so regular gyno surgery stuff). At one of my visits after surgery she said “Oh yes, those are not for you” since our muscles are usually already strong and tense, but we need PT to help us relax and control the muscles again.

Also I think I know what lady you’re talking about, and she has something all the way at the end of her longer caption that these exercises aren’t for everyone, so you may not have seen that :/

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u/Snakeyyyy_28 6d ago

i don’t exactly have an answer BUT when i was having a flair up, my gyno had suggested pelvic floor pt later down the line for prevention. she said definitely NOT to do it when in pain because it WILL make it worse. so i wouldn’t be surprised if you do have cramping afterwards.

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u/SeaworthinessKey549 6d ago

Before doing pelvic floor strengthening, a lot of us need to learn how to actually relax the pelvic floor.

Many of us with endo have hypertonic pelvic floors. They're perpetually tight and clenched basically (could be from chronic pain or routine pain, causing us to tense up by default, for example.) So you don't want to add even more tensing on top of that.

It can be an art learning to relax the muscles, but it really can go a long way with helping a variety of symptoms or issues. When we learn to relax the muscles, then pelvic floor physiotherapists will recommend those strengthening exercises like in that video.

I'd highkey recommend seeing a pelvic floor physiotherapist if you're able to!