Along with lower back and pelvic pain and pressure, POP can cause leg fatigue. This typically happens when the mass created by the prolapse compresses nearby nerves. If you have a prolapse and are also experiencing general fatigue, you may need to check in with your mental health.
If your prolapse is moderate to severe or symptomatic:
Balance your activities and exercises with good rest. Put your feet up if the opportunity arises during the day. Try to avoid prolonged standing or heavy/repetitive lifting.
Having a prolapse can indeed make you feel “not in full health, or sick.” Here are some examples: Issues with incontinence or constipation: If your prolapse causes incontinence (leaking urine or feces), you may feel embarrassed and worried about going out.
feeling or seeing a bulge or lump in or coming out of your vagina. discomfort or numbness during sex. problems peeing – such as feeling like your bladder is not emptying fully, needing to go to the toilet more often, or leaking a small amount of pee when you cough, sneeze or exercise (stress incontinence)
Prolapse is also associated with repetitive heavy lifting, chronic constipation, chronic cough, and weak or poor tissue. Prolapse symptoms may be worse at different times in the day. Some women notice that they feel more pressure after walking or standing for long periods of time.
seeing a doctor for any condition that causes coughing and sneezing, such as asthma, chest infections and hay fever, as repetitive sneezing and coughing may cause or worsen a bladder prolapse. keeping within a healthy weight range. Being overweight is known to make symptoms worse.
The longer you sit during the day, the more pressure you exert on the “hammock,” causing damage to your pelvic floor. This can lead to: Pelvic floor dysfunction. Pelvic organ prolapse.
If you have pelvic organ prolapse, avoid things that could make it worse. That means don't lift, strain, or pull. If possible, try not to be on your feet for long periods of time. Some women find that they feel more pressure when they stand a lot.
What type of exercise is best for pelvic organ prolapse? Aerobic exercises three to five times a week (walking, cycling, swimming etc). Aerobic exercise helps your cardiovascular system, muscles, tendons and ligaments to stay strong and will also help you maintain to the correct weight (BMI) for your height and age.
Consider surgery if the prolapse is causing pain, if you are having problems with your bladder and bowels, or if the prolapse is making it hard for you to do activities you enjoy. An organ can prolapse again after surgery. Surgery in one part of your pelvis can make a prolapse in another part worse.
Symptoms of moderate to severe uterine prolapse include: Seeing or feeling tissue bulge out of the vagina. Feeling heaviness or pulling in the pelvis. Feeling like the bladder doesn't empty all the way when you use the bathroom.
You may have a feeling of laxity (looseness) within the vagina, or you may have more difficulty reaching orgasm. POP can worsen or lead to constipation. If a woman's rectum has bulged into her vagina, she may have other bowel problems.
Abdominal bloating and/or flatulence can be a huge problem for women with prolapse problems. Some ladies find that by the end of the day their abdomen is so bloated that it puts strain on their belly and their prolapse causing abdominal pain and pelvic floor dragging and bulging.
If sitting supported, put your buttocks up against the back of the chair and the place a small roll or cushion in the small of your back to maintain a comfortable inward curve. Sit with your weight evenly balanced between both sitz bones (no crossing of your legs).
Pain, pressure and the feeling that there's something inside you mainly occur when walking, standing or during bowel movements. They often go away when you lie down.
Colporrhaphy—Used to treat prolapse of the anterior (front) wall of the vagina and prolapse of the posterior (back) wall of the vagina. This type of surgery is done through the vagina. Stitches are used to strengthen the vagina so that it once again supports the bladder or the rectum.
Avoid heavy lifting. Quit smoking, if you smoke. Seek prompt treatment for a chronic cough, which can place extra pressure on your pelvic organs. Do Kegel exercises to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.
It's most beneficial to do short regular walks though the day alternating walking with sitting out of bed and resting in bed. For example you may be able to walk continuously for 5 minutes at the end of your hospital stay. You'll usually continue walking for 5 minutes, 2-3 times a day when first arriving home.
Maybe you've been feeling better and your prolapse grading itself has improved or the symptoms are getting better until something happens and you suddenly have a flare up of prolapse symptoms. You can have a flare of prolapse symptoms without an increase in prolapse stage.
Before you do any activity likely to cause you to strain down, lift and engage (squeeze) your pelvic floor and always remember – breathe throughout the exercises. If you have symptoms of urinary leakage or prolapse, avoid full squats, and keep your legs no more than shoulder width apart if doing half-squats.
Pelvic floor physiotherapy is very effective at treating prolapses in stages 1 to 3 using the POP-Q. It's important to note that there is no correlation between prolapse stage and symptom severity.
Drink plenty of water, and eat fruits, vegetables, and other foods that contain fibre. Changes in diet often are enough to improve or reverse a partial prolapse. Do Kegel exercises to help strengthen the muscles of the pelvic area. You do Kegel exercises by tightening the muscles you use when you urinate.
Allow yourself to rest each day, you will find the time you need to rest will slowly become less. You may need extra help at home after your operation for the first 2 weeks. Light housework is fine from the time you get home and you should build up to things gradually. Spend some time each day exercising.
Forwards bending can increase the risk or worsening prolapse problems when: Frequently repeated. Lifting from ground level. Lifting a heavy object.
Many women notice their symptoms being worse two days before their period and through their period. When you are aware of these possible fluctuations you can try to manage your prolapse more effectively at this time, by managing your activities of daily living.