Prolapse

Prolapse is when the bladder, uterus or bowel move down into the vaginal vault. This can cause a myriad of complications and discomfort. Prolapse is caused by chronic repetitive increases in intra abdominal pressure in someone who has core muscle dysfunction. In other words, your core muscles (diaphragm, pelvic floor, and abdominal muscles) should all work in unison to appropriately manage increases in pressure in your abdomen, which happens all day every day - there’s no way to avoid it. As a human, walking on earth upright against gravity you are always faced with increased abdominal pressure. Transitional movements (sitting to standing, standing to sitting), exercising, coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting, and carrying things all increase intra abdominal pressure. When this happens, your core muscles should move in a very specific direction in order to support your organs and keep them in their ideal location in your pelvis. Someone who does not have core muscle dysfunction can withstand and tolerate the day to day increases of intra abdominal pressure because their core muscles properly absorb that load, thus keeping their organs in place. When your core muscles are dysfunctional and they don't properly manage the day to day increases in pressure (which is so common), then that load is no longer absorbed by the core muscles. It’s instead absorbed by the organs and ligaments. Eventually the mismanaged pressure will stretch out the ligaments and fascia that hold your organs in place, which are non contractile (meaning they cannot contract in response to being stretched). Over time this leads to organ displacement and in some cases, prolapse.

The symptoms of prolapse are not straight forward. You can have prolapse and no symptoms. You can also have prolapse with symptoms. The symptoms I'm about to list do not necessarily indicate or diagnose a prolapse, but are commonly present in someone who has prolapse. For a definitive diagnosis, it's best that you are evaluated by a urogynecologist. 

The following symptoms are commonly associated with prolapse: 

• Heaviness or fullness in the vagina
• Pelvic pressure
• Urinary urgency 
• Difficulty emptying bladder or bowel
• A feeling of "lack of support" or "organs falling out" with coughing, laughing, sneezing, exercise, or other exertions  
• Pelvic and abdominal pain and cramping
• Low back pain

If you just got diagnosed with prolapse or had a prolapse surgery years ago and are still suffering, please know that you are not alone or broken. Prolapse is much more common than you may think. Unfortunately, like many other women’s health topics, it’s not often talked about or taught to us. This can leave those of us who get diagnosed feeling in the dark, confused, and sometimes ashamed or broken. I’m here to tell you that you are not alone or broken and that there is in fact so much you can do to naturally heal. 

Contrary to what is commonly taught to women who get diagnosed with prolapse, it is not a life long sentence and surgery is not your only option. With the specific protocol taught in The Core Recovery Method®, you can indeed lift and realign your organs, resolve discomfort, and feel strong again.

Surgery is a bandaid and does not address the root cause of prolapse - which is chronic core muscle dysfunction. After a surgery, if your muscles are still dysfunctional and you still go about your same daily routines and movements in the same way as before, the root of the problem will still persist. Eventually the surgery could give just like the old fascia and ligaments did that caused the prolapse in the first place. The long term solution is to retrain and strengthen your core muscles to function as they were meant to function, so that the pelvic fascia and organs are always supported. Even if you’ve already had a prolapse surgery, it’s of the utmost importance to retrain your core muscles so that they are functioning properly in order to prevent the need for another surgery.

You can permanently lift and realign the pelvic organs through the combination of specific physical therapy techniques, such as self abdominal massage, pelvic floor rehab, postural training, breath work, and the big one: hypopressive training. 

Hypopressive training not only lifts the organs, and strengthens the internal fascia to keep the organs lifted, it also improves bowel and bladder function, rehabilitates the pelvic floor muscles, decompresses the spine, and strengthens the core muscles in a functional and powerful way. It’s one of the safest and best things you can do to treat prolapse.

Even if you have had a prolapse surgery, it’s really important to retrain your core muscles so that they’re functional again in order to prevent the need for another surgery. 

Hypopressive training paired with other physical therapy techniques can help you fully recover, preventing you from needing another surgery. Wherever you are on the prolapse journey, there is a way to heal prolapse naturally and permanently without surgery.

As a doctor of physical therapy, I also come from a western medicine background where I was taught that prolapse cannot be fixed without surgery... Unfortunately this is just what is currently taught in the field of western medicine. Thankfully, after a life changing experience working with an amazing urogynecologist to help women pre and post prolapse surgery, I discovered a variety of techniques that are truly effective at healing a prolapse that does not require surgery.

After years of working with an amazing urogynecologist who was helping women heal and recover from prolapse using specific physical therapy techniques and protocols, my life and career changed forever. Witnessing women’s incredible results from this protocol is what inspired me to create The Core Recovery Method® online program and I’m grateful to continue to help women on their journey to healing prolapse naturally.

First - don't freak out. Prolapse can be healed naturally. And you are on the right site to do so. Second - consider your source. If it was a PT who told you that you have prolapse, take it with a grain of salt, and understand that it’s not in our scope of practice to diagnose prolapse. If it was a gynecologist or midwife who told you, take this more seriously. If it was a urogynecologist who took actual measurements, then you can rely on this as a gold standard diagnosis. Third - start cleaning up your bladder and bowel hygiene, and reducing the pressure in your abdomen with posture and breathing exercises. Fourth - learn and start a regular practice of Hypopressive training. You can do all of this through The Core Recovery Method® online program. And the fact that you just found out about the prolapse and are already seeking an active natural resolution means you are on the right track!

Yes! I have witnessed many patients with a Grade 3 prolapse completely heal and reduce the prolapse to Grade 0 with the protocol taught in The Core Recovery Method®. Consistency with the protocol is the key to results. When your core muscles are functioning correctly and the pressure in your abdomen remains low, your organs will naturally lift back into their optimal position. And if you are consistent with your hypopressive practice, the internal fascia and ligaments will strengthen, and overtime, your organs will stay in their lifted optimal position!

Yes. Even if you need surgery for prolapse, The Core Recovery Method® can help you prepare for surgery and heal afterwards. Training your core muscles to function as they were meant to function (to lift and support your organs) will improve your surgical outcomes and help you heal faster. Please reach out to Dr. Angie directly for extra pre- and post- operative support and guidance.

Absolutely. The Core Recovery Method® will ensure that the surgery holds. Without retraining your core muscles to reduce the pressure in your abdomen and support your organs, the surgical sites will be stressed and this could lead to needing another surgery. The root cause of prolapse is how your core muscles manage the pressure in your abdomen that occurs with normal daily life (and is unavoidable). When the core muscles are dysfunctional and there is chronic pressure in the abdomen and pelvis, prolapse results. So treating the root cause (core muscle function) is key to a good surgical outcome. Please reach out to Dr. Angie directly for extra post- operative support and guidance.

Yes! Having a hysterectomy, or partial hysterectomy, involves removing some of the supportive ligaments and fascia that support the bladder and bowel. When these supportive structures are removed, the bladder and bowel are at a higher risk to prolapse into the vagina. My years of experience treating women post hysterectomy who then got a prolapse, was one of the things that sparked the creation of this protocol. Implementing The Core Recovery Method® can absolutely prevent prolapse from happening after a hysterectomy.

The root cause of prolapse is how your core muscles manage the pressure in your abdomen and pelvis. If your core muscles are dysfunctional and don't properly manage the pressure in your abdomen, the normal forces of daily living will be generated through your organs (and the surgical sites and/or surrounding fascia and ligaments), instead of being absorbed by the core muscles. This can result in the need for another prolapse surgery. Implementing The Core Recovery Method® treats the root cause of prolapse and can prevent the need of surgery all together, or can ensure that the surgery holds.

Yes, The Core Recovery Method® is a long term solution for prolapse.The root cause of prolapse is core muscle dysfunction. So training your core muscles to function the way they were meant to function- so that they properly manage the pressure in your abdomen and keep your organs in place- is the long term solution to healing prolapse. Consistency with the protocol is key for achieving the best results and long term healing.