Let’s dive a bit deeper into Endometriosis.
Did you know that it can take an average of up to 7-10 years before an individual is correctly diagnosed with endometriosis? This is a long time to live with cyclical or almost constant pain, especially if the pain is severe.
If you refer to my previous email on endometriosis, you will see that the signs and symptoms vary greatly. Endometrial type tissue outside of the endometrium can cause pain, infertility, and organ dysfunction due to inflammation, invasion into structures in the body, and scar tissue. In addition to this, the intensity of the symptoms varies as well.
As a physical therapy practice that specializes in all types of pelvic health related diagnoses, we treat patients with all or many of the symptoms of endometriosis every day and truthfully, most of our patients do not come in with this diagnosis. And yet, according to research approximately 10% of our female patient population who are in their reproductive years is dealing with endometriosis.
So, why is endometriosis so difficult to diagnose?
The difficulty is that the gold standard of diagnosis is via biopsy (where a pathologist looks at the tissue type) which is done during surgery.
Thankfully, we are living in a day and age where we have tools such as MRIs and US to help us see and gain a better understanding of what is happening in the body, but still these tools cannot completely tell a physician everything.
And the truth is although there are different theories as to why this type of cellular tissue is found outside of the endometrium, the underlying cause of endometriosis is not yet known. Treatments options could potentially be influenced by the provider’s belief about the cause of endometriosis. It is important to work with a provider who has a good understanding of and experience in treating patients with endometriosis.
Often individuals with endometriosis have other conditions that will need to be addressed too, such as pelvic floor dysfunction and muscular pain, adenomyosis, irritable bowel syndrome, or interstitial cystitis (also known as painful bladder syndrome).
A team approach of multidisciplinary providers is usually best for those living with endometriosis.
In my last email about endometriosis, I will discuss potential treatment options.
P.S. I am going to give a short Facebook Live in my Holistic Health Your Way FB Group this afternoon around noon on Endometriosis. Please join me and be sure to share so that those who may be suffering from this disease without knowing it can potentially be helped.