Stephanie Prendergast and Elizabeth Rummer, are the founders of the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center (PHRC), a physical therapy practice that focuses solely on the treatment of pelvic pain/dysfunction for men and women. With locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, Los Gatos, and Boston, PHRC is the premiere pelvic floor rehabilitation clinic in the country with upwards of 10,000 patients treated per year. Both Stephanie and Liz are well-recognized experts and thought leaders in the treatment of pelvic pain/dysfunction. They lecture worldwide and have been interviewed and/or contributed articles to publications such as the New York Times and The Los Angeles Times along with several medical textbooks, including Chronic Pelvic Pain and Dysfunction: Practical Physical Medicine published by Churchill Livingstone. In addition, they teach the leading, post-graduate pelvic floor physical therapy course in four cities worldwide each year as well as hold leadership roles in numerous pelvic pain-related organizations. Also, they publish a well-trafficked blog on pelvic pain, titled Pelvic Health & Rehab, which is syndicated on two leading online health communities, Wellsphere.com and EHealth.com.

'Pelvic pain is not something we run marathons or distribute ribbons for. On the contrary, it’s an invisible condition.' That assessment from a patient captures the sense of isolation and longing for support shared by many who suffer from this complex, challenging, and sometimes chronic malady. Approximately 20 percent of women experience pelvic at some time in their lives. Men get it, too (but are often misdiagnosed). Anatomically, the pelvic floor – a collection of muscles, nerves, and connective tissue – props up abdominal organs, aids posture, and assists with sexual, urinary, and bowel function. Prendergast and Rummer, physical therapists specializing in the treatment of pelvic pain, provide an overview of the causative factors, symptoms, and therapeutic options for the problem. Management of public pain may include physical therapy, injections, topical medication, prescription drugs (anticonvulsants, antidepressants, benzodiazepines), cognitive behavioral therapy, and surgical procedures. Excellent explanations on how pelvic pain and dysfunction impact sexuality and pregnancy are included. Overall, a sound and sensitive discussion about a vexing medical disorder.

• IntroductionPart I: Pelvic Pain: A Roadmap1: Pelvic Pain 1012: How did I get Pelvic Pain?: The Importance of Uncovering Contributing Factors3: Demystifying the Neuromuscular Impairments that cause Pelvic PainPart II: Getting on the Road to Healing4: I have Pelvic Pain, What do I do now?5: Pelvic Pain PT: In the Treatment Room6: A Guide to Navigating Treatment Options7: The Pelvic Floor and Pregnancy: Treating New Moms Right8: Pelvic Pain and Sex: The FactsPart III: In the Driver’s Seat: Taking Control of your Healing9: At-home Self Treatment: Taking Matters into your own Hands10: Exercise to Stay Fit without Flaring Symptoms11: Tips for Optimizing Communication with your Providers12: Tips for Day-to-Day LivingAppendix A: Pelvic Pain ResourcesAppendix B: Evaluation Interview: Complete List of Questions

Stephanie Prendergast and Elizabeth Rummer, are the founders of the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center (PHRC), a physical therapy practice that focuses solely on the treatment of pelvic pain/dysfunction for men and women. With locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, Los Gatos, and Boston, PHRC is the premiere pelvic floor rehabilitation clinic in the country with upwards of 10,000 patients treated per year. Both Stephanie and Liz are well-recognized experts and thought leaders in the treatment of pelvic pain/dysfunction. They lecture worldwide and have been interviewed and/or contributed articles to publications such as the New York Times and The Los Angeles Times along with several medical textbooks, including Chronic Pelvic Pain and Dysfunction: Practical Physical Medicine published by Churchill Livingstone. In addition, they teach the leading, post-graduate pelvic floor physical therapy course in four cities worldwide each year as well as hold leadership roles in numerous pelvic pain-related organizations. Also, they publish a well-trafficked blog on pelvic pain, titled Pelvic Health & Rehab, which is syndicated on two leading online health communities, Wellsphere.com and EHealth.com.

'Pelvic pain is not something we run marathons or distribute ribbons for. On the contrary, it’s an invisible condition.' That assessment from a patient captures the sense of isolation and longing for support shared by many who suffer from this complex, challenging, and sometimes chronic malady. Approximately 20 percent of women experience pelvic at some time in their lives. Men get it, too (but are often misdiagnosed). Anatomically, the pelvic floor – a collection of muscles, nerves, and connective tissue – props up abdominal organs, aids posture, and assists with sexual, urinary, and bowel function. Prendergast and Rummer, physical therapists specializing in the treatment of pelvic pain, provide an overview of the causative factors, symptoms, and therapeutic options for the problem. Management of public pain may include physical therapy, injections, topical medication, prescription drugs (anticonvulsants, antidepressants, benzodiazepines), cognitive behavioral therapy, and surgical procedures. Excellent explanations on how pelvic pain and dysfunction impact sexuality and pregnancy are included. Overall, a sound and sensitive discussion about a vexing medical disorder.

• IntroductionPart I: Pelvic Pain: A Roadmap1: Pelvic Pain 1012: How did I get Pelvic Pain?: The Importance of Uncovering Contributing Factors3: Demystifying the Neuromuscular Impairments that cause Pelvic PainPart II: Getting on the Road to Healing4: I have Pelvic Pain, What do I do now?5: Pelvic Pain PT: In the Treatment Room6: A Guide to Navigating Treatment Options7: The Pelvic Floor and Pregnancy: Treating New Moms Right8: Pelvic Pain and Sex: The FactsPart III: In the Driver’s Seat: Taking Control of your Healing9: At-home Self Treatment: Taking Matters into your own Hands10: Exercise to Stay Fit without Flaring Symptoms11: Tips for Optimizing Communication with your Providers12: Tips for Day-to-Day LivingAppendix A: Pelvic Pain ResourcesAppendix B: Evaluation Interview: Complete List of Questions

Stephanie Prendergast and Elizabeth Rummer, are the founders of the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center (PHRC), a physical therapy practice that focuses solely on the treatment of pelvic pain/dysfunction for men and women. With locations in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Berkeley, Los Gatos, and Boston, PHRC is the premiere pelvic floor rehabilitation clinic in the country with upwards of 10,000 patients treated per year. Both Stephanie and Liz are well-recognized experts and thought leaders in the treatment of pelvic pain/dysfunction. They lecture worldwide and have been interviewed and/or contributed articles to publications such as the New York Times and The Los Angeles Times along with several medical textbooks, including Chronic Pelvic Pain and Dysfunction: Practical Physical Medicine published by Churchill Livingstone. In addition, they teach the leading, post-graduate pelvic floor physical therapy course in four cities worldwide each year as well as hold leadership roles in numerous pelvic pain-related organizations. Also, they publish a well-trafficked blog on pelvic pain, titled Pelvic Health & Rehab, which is syndicated on two leading online health communities, Wellsphere.com and EHealth.com.

'Pelvic pain is not something we run marathons or distribute ribbons for. On the contrary, it’s an invisible condition.' That assessment from a patient captures the sense of isolation and longing for support shared by many who suffer from this complex, challenging, and sometimes chronic malady. Approximately 20 percent of women experience pelvic at some time in their lives. Men get it, too (but are often misdiagnosed). Anatomically, the pelvic floor – a collection of muscles, nerves, and connective tissue – props up abdominal organs, aids posture, and assists with sexual, urinary, and bowel function. Prendergast and Rummer, physical therapists specializing in the treatment of pelvic pain, provide an overview of the causative factors, symptoms, and therapeutic options for the problem. Management of public pain may include physical therapy, injections, topical medication, prescription drugs (anticonvulsants, antidepressants, benzodiazepines), cognitive behavioral therapy, and surgical procedures. Excellent explanations on how pelvic pain and dysfunction impact sexuality and pregnancy are included. Overall, a sound and sensitive discussion about a vexing medical disorder.

• IntroductionPart I: Pelvic Pain: A Roadmap1: Pelvic Pain 1012: How did I get Pelvic Pain?: The Importance of Uncovering Contributing Factors3: Demystifying the Neuromuscular Impairments that cause Pelvic PainPart II: Getting on the Road to Healing4: I have Pelvic Pain, What do I do now?5: Pelvic Pain PT: In the Treatment Room6: A Guide to Navigating Treatment Options7: The Pelvic Floor and Pregnancy: Treating New Moms Right8: Pelvic Pain and Sex: The FactsPart III: In the Driver’s Seat: Taking Control of your Healing9: At-home Self Treatment: Taking Matters into your own Hands10: Exercise to Stay Fit without Flaring Symptoms11: Tips for Optimizing Communication with your Providers12: Tips for Day-to-Day LivingAppendix A: Pelvic Pain ResourcesAppendix B: Evaluation Interview: Complete List of Questions