Tag Archive for endometriosis pain

The Invisible Disease: Chronic Pain

August 4, 2011 alishiac 2 comments

Chronic Pain: The Invisible Disease

You awake in the morning with Pain.

Pain tells your body that it would be easier to stay in bed. You ignore Pain and push back the covers, wincing with the seemingly simple motion. Pain accompanies you as you prepare for the day, tugging and pulling at your joints and muscles with each movement.

Pain travels with you to yet another doctor’s appointment and nods as you describe him with painstaking detail as the doctor scribbles on his notepad.

But when the doctor runs tests, takes x-rays, and orders a CT scan, Pain hides. Despite the doctors attempts to catch a glimpse by prodding and poking, Pain makes no appearance.

The doctor explains that there is nothing there – that Pain is merely in your head like an child’s imaginary friend. You are filled with rage and frustration at Pain as you try to explain his physical presence, but your attempts merely furrow the doctor’s brow as he scribbles a prescription on his notepad. “You’ll just have to learn to live with it,” he says, “But in the meantime, try this.” He hands you the chicken scratched note on his way out the door.

You leave the office defeated, disempowered, and depressed.

Chronic pain leaves thousands of people searching for answers to a pain that seems invisible. Treatments and drug prescriptions often mask the symptoms but provide no relief for the root cause. This pain is given many names: endometriosis, fibromyalgia, myofascial pain syndrome, to name a few. However, the true cause often goes by the name adhesions.

Adhesions form as a natural part of the healing process. Much like thick nylon ropes, they form wherever the body heals from a trauma, surgery, infection or inflammation. Unfortunately, as these adhesions grow and attach to nearby tissues and organs, they can also cause a myriad of health problems.

Adhesions are often the underlying cause of chronic pain, infertility, endometriosis pain, and bowel obstructions.  Because these thick internal scars are invisible on traditional medical tests, such as x rays and CT scans, they often go undiagnosed by physicians and health care professionals.

The Wurn Technique is a hands-on physical therapy designed specifically to treat adhesions. The therapy feels much like a deep massage as highly skilled therapists use their hands to discover and treat areas that are restricted by adhesions.

Educate and Empower Yourself, Learn More About Adhesions…

New Clear Passage Clinic in Virginia

July 29, 2011 alishiac No comments

Relief for chronic pain and natural treatment for infertility will soon be available in Northern Virginia, just south of Washington D.C. Clear Passage Physical Therapy welcomes physical therapist, Kathy Hess, to their newest clinic, opening on August 1, 2011.

With over 1,000 babies born to women diagnosed infertile, and research published in major medical journals, Clear Passage Physical Therapy is expanding its pioneering hands-on treatment for infertility and pain to Northern Virginia. Opening August 1, 2011 south of Washington, D.C., the new clinic will provide a natural alternative to surgery for complex conditions including infertility, chronic pain, adhesions, endometriosis, and small bowel obstruction.

“Due to its central East Coast location, this clinic will allow patients from Boston to Savannah the option to travel to the clinic by car, train, or by air to the three nearby airports,” said Belinda Wurn, PT, and National Director for the group.

Clinic Director Kathy Hess, PT, has over 20 years of hands-on therapy skills. While her experience spans many areas of rehabilitation, Kathy has a strong focus on treating chronic pain and dysfunction over the last two decades. Her expanded role with Clear Passage now includes treatment of female infertility, post-surgical adhesion pain, and small bowel obstruction – a common life-threatening condition.



The therapy she will provide, the Wurn Technique®, has been featured in major medical journals for its ability to improve fertility, decrease pain and open blocked fallopian tubes. Her certification will allow the merger of her extensive experience with the pioneering work of the Wurns in their continuing efforts to research uncharted areas of non-surgical therapy. Recent clinical data shows the therapy’s success in clearing small bowel obstruction, a condition previously treatable only by surgery.

About Clear Passage Physical Therapy

Clear Passage Physical Therapy is a network of high quality physical therapy clinics specializing in hands-on treatment of women’s health conditions, adhesions, and chronic pain. Clear Passage treats patients from all over the world. “About 20 percent of our patients are healthcare professionals,” Wurn said.

Clear Passage was co-founded by therapists Larry and Belinda Wurn, a husband and wife team. It was born from Belinda’s own personal experiences and quest for relief from debilitating adhesion pain after surgery to remove cancer.

About the Wurn Technique

The Wurn Technique is a hands-on soft tissue manual therapy developed to treat adhesions, female infertility, pain, endometriosis, and small bowel obstruction. This therapy is practiced exclusively at Clear Passage Physical Therapy clinics.

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When Intimacy Hurts

June 8, 2011 alishiac One comment

You are not alone

You Are Not Alone
It is estimated that up to half of US women experience pain with intercourse (dyspareunia), according to published studies.

This staggering statistic reveals a condition that often goes unspoken, untreated, and unresolved. For many women, this topic is neglected in their conversations with their physicians, gynecologists, and friends. But why? If this condition affects so many, why aren’t people talking about it?

Stuck in Silence
Women should be empowered over their sexual health, not stuck in silence. It is through empowerment and education that women can find answers to their pain and discomfort and begin on a path to health and healing.

What’s the Cause?
Painful intercourse, or dyspareunia, is often caused by adhesions. Adhesions are internal scars that form after a trauma, surgery, infection or inflammation. Perhaps you fell on your tailbone as a teenager, or perhaps you’ve had bladder infections, or a prior pelvic surgery. All of these can be implications of adhesion formation.

Tiny adhesions form on the vaginal wall and can bind pain-sensitive tissues, causing pain.

Tiny adhesions form on the vaginal wall and can bind pain-sensitive tissues, causing pain.

As adhesions form, they can cover and bind the nearby tissues and organs causing restriction and often pain. When these adhesions form inside the delicate vaginal wall, they can cause intense pain during intercourse. The pain has often been described as though the woman’s partner is hitting something at the entrance or with deep penetration. Some women experience other symptoms including anorgasmia (the inability to have an orgasm or reach a full orgasm) and decreased desire (libido). These side effects of adhesions can severely limit a woman’s ability to have a pleasurable and healthy sex life.

How To Treat Dyspareunia
So how can you treat this condition without causing additional trauma and adhesion formation? A hands-on physical therapy, called the Wurn Technique, has shown excellent results in decreasing pain with intercourse and increasing sexual function without the need for drugs or surgery. A study published in the peer-reviewed journal Medscape General Medicine (2004) showed that 78% of women had increased desire (libido), 74% increased arousal, 70% increased lubrication, and 56% had increased orgasms after receiving this treatment.1

Endometriosis and Dyspareunia
Women who suffer from endometriosis often encounter painful intercourse as well. A study published in Fertility and Sterility showed a 93% decrease in pain with intercourse after receiving therapy.

What Physicians Say About the Wurn Technique


“The Wurn Technique® is remarkable; it is the only therapy shown to improve all phases of female sexual function, including arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction. Amazingly, it does this without the side effects and multiple risks of surgery or drugs.”

Dr. John D. Perry, Psychologist
Author of “The G Spot”

“Their studies show improvement in desire, arousal/lubrication, orgasm/satisfaction and pain. I know of no other single therapy reported to increase all areas of sexual function. I am truly excited to learn about the Wurn Technique®”

Dr. Scott Miles, Gynecologist, Medical Director
Miles Ahead Health and Wellness, Indianapolis, IN

1. Wurn LJ, Wurn BF, King CR, Roscow AS, Scharf ES, Shuster JJ. Increasing Orgasm and Decreasing Dyspareunia by a Manual Physical Therapy Technique. Med Gen Med 2004 Dec 14; 6(4): 47. PMID 15775874
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Community (the concept, not the show on NBC)

March 30, 2011 alishiac No comments

Webster defines “community” as this…

: a unified body of individuals

: a group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society

: a body of persons of common and especially professional interests scattered through a larger society

Webster, however, could not define what I have experienced first hand this month regarding true community.

On March 1st, I launched an endometriosis awareness effort called ‘Put an End to Endo‘. I’m not sure what I expected. My intentions were to provide awareness and education to the family and friends of those who suffer from endometriosis. While this was achieved, an unexpected side effect occurred – community. Women of all ages, from all walks of life, of all shapes, colors, and sizes came together in support of their thread of commonality: Pain, Suffering, and Strength. It was these similarities that allowed them to connect, to care, and to comfort.

As the mediator of all things social media, I had the pleasure to follow these connections made as well as make some of my own. The compassion shown over this month in this small endometriosis microcosm has been inspiring to say the least. There is such beauty in these women’s strength, such growth through their suffering.

So to all those who suffer in silence, you are not alone. To those who have questions, we can help you find the answers . And to those who feel you have no voice, we’re listening.

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‘Put an End to Endo’ during Endometriosis Awareness Month

February 28, 2011 alishiac No comments

Clear Passage Physical Therapy highlights March as Endometriosis Awareness Month with a compelling incentive to help ‘Put an End to Endo’.

Clear Passage will giveaway over $7,000 worth in prizes this month to focus on the devastating effects of endometriosis. These prizes will include donations to endometriosis support groups selected by the top two winners of the ‘Put an End to Endo’ Giveaway. The grand prize winner will also receive a free 20 hour program of hands-on physical therapy, known as the Wurn Technique®, to treat endometriosis pain and/or infertility.

Previous Clear Passage patient, Jasmine exclaimed, “My primary goal for therapy at Clear Passage was to become pregnant and one week after treatment, I was! I was also blessed to no longer experience abdominal pain.”

The contest aims to increase awareness virally throughClear Passage’s Facebook page. Women with endometriosis can submit a photo to the company’s Facebook Page. They will gather votes and raise awareness by receiving “likes” from their family and friends. The three contestants with the most “likes” by midnight, March 31st will receive prizes, to be announced on the site the following week.

Many women with endometriosis feel alone in their struggle. Building a dedicated support system of loved ones to share in the struggle can make a world of difference for those who suffer from the pain or infertility of the condition.

Over 176 million women suffer from endometriosis globally. Many experience a loss of vitality as they live in a constant state of pain or fatigue. In addition to causing pain and energy loss, endometriosis has been cited as major cause of female infertility. Women diagnosed with endometriosis often find themselves unable to work for days at a time, and unable to make a social schedule or plan a vacation with their partner, due to fear that debilitating pain will strike and abort their plans.

Clear Passage Research Director, Larry Wurn says, “Scientists are making inroads into non-surgical, drug-free methods to treat endometriosis. We are honored to be able to help these women by providing both physical therapy and research.”

Treatment for endometriosis pain often consists of medication or a surgical procedure to remove the endometrial tissue throughout the pelvis. Unfortunately, some studies have shown that the condition can return at surgical sites, sometimes worse than before surgery. The Wurn Technique®, a physical therapy treatment provided at Clear Passage clinics, provides women with a safe and natural treatment for pain and infertility.

“Prior to treatment at Clear Passage, I suffered from frequent endometriosis pain. Clear Passage gave me my life back!” said previous patient Madison.

Clear Passage Physical Therapy is dedicated to educating and empowering their patients and offering natural relief for the millions of women who suffer from endometriosis. With the support of Facebook and the endometriosis community, they will do their part to ‘Put an End to Endo.’

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