Guest Shan Morrison, a Specialist Women’s, Men’s & Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, discusses her experience as an ND physiotherapist, holistic treatment for persistent pelvic pain, overlap of neurodivergence and pain conditions, and the importance of screening for mental and physical health. She emphasizes a whole person approach to restoring pelvic health and empowering individuals to live their best life.
Persistent pelvic pain requires a holistic approach encompassing physical, psychological, and social factors for effective management.
Neurodivergent individuals may experience overlapping challenges with persistent pain conditions, emphasizing the importance of nuanced care and understanding.
Healthcare professionals should screen for multiple aspects of mental and physical health to provide personalized interventions for those experiencing persistent pelvic pain.
Deep dives
Understanding Neurodivergence from a Personal Perspective
Neurodivergence is described as having a nervous system strongly influenced by interest and passion, where joy and passion define one's life. Personal experiences revealed during a diagnosis journey with children shed light on the individual's Neurodivergent identity and led to self-realization and official diagnosis.
Embracing Neurodivergence in Professional Challenges
Being neurodivergent as a physiotherapist provided insights into connecting with like-minded individuals and showing empathy towards helping others. Challenges in organizational roles highlighted strengths in generating innovative ideas while facing difficulties with executive functions, bridged by an empathetic team's support and effective communication strategies.
Holistic Approaches to Addressing Pelvic and Sexual Pain
Addressing persistent pelvic and sexual pain requires a multidisciplinary approach encompassing physical, psychological, and social factors. By screening for trauma, neurodivergence, and other comorbidities, healthcare professionals can provide nuanced care integrating pain science education, personalized interventions, and validation of the patient's experiences to empower them towards healing and self-discovery.
Understanding and Addressing Pelvic Pain and Catastrophization
Addressing pelvic pain involves educating individuals on pain mechanisms, particularly catastrophization, where rumination and magnification of pain occur. Encouraging movement without fear of causing harm is crucial, highlighting the importance of pain education and debunking misconceptions. Additionally, calming the nervous system through various practices, such as mindful movement and visualization, aids in relaxation. Assessing pelvic floor muscle function, promoting relaxation through breathing exercises, and desensitization techniques involving touch are vital in managing pelvic pain effectively.
Enhancing Emotional and Physical Safety for Improved Sexual Well-being
Safety plays a significant role in arousal and sexual experiences, emphasizing the need for emotional safety and relaxation to foster desire. Addressing societal influences on sexual satisfaction allows for a shift towards pleasurable and enjoyable sexual encounters. Educating individuals on the connection between neurological responses and sexual well-being is essential, particularly for neurodivergent individuals, to navigate persistent pain, trauma, and enhance their quality of life.
This week on the podcast we interview ADHDer and physiotherapist Shan Morrison. Shan is a Specialist Women’s, Men’s & Pelvic Health Physiotherapist and fellow of the Australian College of Physiotherapists. She has practiced exclusively in pelvic health for 30 years, and is the director of Women’s & Men’s Health Physiotherapy: a private practice based in Melbourne that exists to restore pelvic health and empower every person to live their best life. Shan’s clinical passion is being part of a like-minded multi-disciplinary team that takes a whole person approach to supporting those experiencing persistent pelvic and sexual pain.
In this episode we cover:
Shan’s experience of neurodivergence, particularly as an ND physiotherapist, and her path to discovering her own neurodivergence.
The role of a Pelvic Health Physiotherapist in general, and we learn all about Shan’s specialty of pelvic pain, including the causes of persistent pelvic pain, some common pelvic pain conditions, and factors that contribute to persistent pelvic pain.
Shan’s approach to treating persistent pelvic pain wholistically – what does this involve and how does she do this in her practice.
The overlap of neurodivergence and persistent pain conditions.
Why is it so important to screen for multiple aspects of an individual’s mental and physical health as a health professional, regardless of your specific speciality.
What to do if you are experiencing persistent pelvic pain.
The book ‘Healing Pelvic Pain’ by Dr Peta Wright and Dr Wright’s website which has a number of resources.
Things we mentioned:
Michelle’s on-demand webinar that Shan mentioned, for allied health professionals on Identifying Neurodivergence, can be accessed directly here or through our website.
You can access the study Shan mentioned on psychoeducational needs around persistent pelvic pain in women here.
The qualitative study on heterosexual sexual satisfaction that Michelle mentioned is in ‘Girls & Sex’ by Peggy Orenstein
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