Nicole Cozean
Nov 19, 20204 min
Who are We at PelvicSanity?
At PelvicSanity, it's our mission to support patients with pelvic pain and pelvic floor symptoms, regardless of where you live. We can help with:
In-person treatment for those in Southern California at the PelvicSanity clinic
Immersive Out-of-Town program for those able to travel
Remote Consultations to get you expert 1:1 help, advice and an action plan
Online patient courses on Interstitial Cystitis and Movement for Pelvic Health
A Facebook support group for patients called Finding Pelvic Sanity.
A flare is a sudden spike in pain or symptoms. Sometimes we know the reason, other times it may not be clear.
One myth to dispel is a flare means 'you're back to square one.' In fact, nothing is further from the truth. As you're improving your body is changing, moving to a new normal. While there may be setbacks, it doesn't mean you're starting over!
For many patients, when they're in a flare it becomes hard to focus and prioritize their options. At PelvicSanity, we realized this was an issue and developed a Flare-Busting plan we use with all our patients so they are prepared for a flare and know exactly what to do to get out of it.
This takes the mystery out of how to respond to a flare. It's also a great reminder that flares are often expected and something we can prepare for.
First, we ask every patient to list two or three flare-busters of their own. These have to be something you can do entirely on your own, so they're completely within your power.
Common personal flare-busters include ice or heat, OTC pain medications, deep breathing, meditation, a warm bath or gentle stretching.
The next aspect of the pelvic pain flare-busting plan involves identifying which medical practitioners are most helpful in reducing your pain levels.
In the midst of a flare sometimes patients will cancel appointments with providers who can provide the most relief.
When a flare occurs, identify the most helpful member of your medical team and do your best to get in for an appointment as soon as possible! This can often be your pelvic PT, but could also be an acupuncturist, urologist or urogynecologist.
If you have trigger foods or dietary sensitivity, record and understand what your 'safe' or comfort foods are. Foods you know won't irritate your symptoms. When you're in a flare, make sure your diet is as good as it possibly can be to help get you out as soon as possible.
Finally, it's really important to work to understand the cause. While some flares truly can 'come out of the blue,' in the vast majority of cases you can identify some factors that may have led to the flare.
Common factors include sexual activity, stopping or changing your self-care regimen, added stress, prolonged sitting, changes in physical activity or exercise, diet change or medication change.
Understand the root cause(s) of your flare gives you back a sense of control and lets you know there's something you can also do to get out of it!
If you haven't developed a flare-busting plan with your medical team, you can create one on your own to make sure you have a concrete plan of action when something change
If you do need help finding a referral or more information, feel free to contact PelvicSanity to see if we know anyone in your area or if there's another way we can help!
Dr. Nicole Cozean is the founder of PelvicSanity Physical Therapy in Orange County, CA. PelvicSanity treats patients from all over the world with remote consultations and the Immersive Out of Town Program. She also runs Pelvic PT Rising, training other pelvic PTs to better serve patients.
Named Physical Therapist of the Year, Dr. Nicole is author of the award-winning book The Interstitial Cystitis Solution and the first PT to serve on the ICA Board of Directors, Her passion is helping those with pelvic health issues - regardless of where they live - find lasting relief.