Resources
Doctor/Healthcare Provider Referrals
We have had a lot of requests for good healthcare providers throughout the country. We are providing this listing as a service, but please read our disclaimer before using any providers listed. Please note that providers are listed at the discretion of Secret Suffering.
- Visit The Pelvic Pain organization’s “Find a Provider” page. You will have a number of search options, including zip code and state.
- The National Vulvodynia Association provides its physician list if you join their organization.
- The Interstitial Cystitis Association will email you a list if you request it from this page.
- Contact P.U.R.E. H.O.P.E. — Pelvic & Urological Resources and Education (281-500-4656) for their list of doctors.
- Section on Women’s Health – Find a Women’s Health Physical Therapist for pelvic pain: http://www.womenshealthapta.org/plp/index.cfm
Specific Providers & Healing Professionals
Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy
Georgia
Dr. Sarah E. Bolden, MPT
Women First Rehabilitation
Dr. Sara Bolden is a licensed physical therapist and board certified women’s health specialist specializing in pelvic pain, urogynecologic disorders and pelvic floor dysfunction. She is the first and, currently, only women’s health certified specialist in Atlanta and metro-Atlanta region. She has now incorporated the dry needling technique into her practice with great success.
New Mexico
Lauren Rose, MPT
Contact information
Lauren Rose has been doing manual work for over 22 years. She has been certified in neuromuscular therapy since 1991, Egoscue postural analysis, Kinesio taping, dry needle therapy (acupuncture needles are used to treat trigger points). Currently certifying in Visceral Manipulation. Lauren has been treating pelvic floor disorder for seven years. Among her fields of study are pudendal nerve entrapment, treatment for incontinence, prolapse and of course pain. She has treated all manner of chronic pain for decades.
New York
Amy Stein, MPT
Beyond Basics Physical Therapy — Phone (212) 354-2622
Amy is a member of the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) Women’s Health Section, New York Physical Therapy Association (NYPTA), Interstitial Cystitis Association, Endometriosis Association, National Vulvodynia Association, The Women’s Sexual Health Foundation, and the International Pelvic Pain Society. She is also the author of the book, Heal Pelvic Pain: The Proven Stretching, Strengthening, and Nutrition Program for Relieving Pain, Incontinence,& I.B.S, and Other Symptoms Without Surgery.
Isa Herrera, MSPT,CSCS
Renew Physical Therapy — Phone (877) 736-3978
Isa Herrera owns and operates Renew Physical Therapy, a leading healing center in New York City. She has dedicated her career to helping women find relief from conditions such as dyspareunia, incontinence, pelvic pain, prolapse and pre and post-natal complications. Ms Herrera’s approach to healing is holistic, utilizing techniques that tie together mindful-painful body components. She believes that everyone holds the key to their pain relief, all they need is to be shown the way. Her goal is to always empower her patients with the tools they need to succeed on their own.
In addition, Isa’s new book, “Ending Female Pain,” is an exceptional resource to help you help yourself. If you don’t have a pelvic floor physical therapist near you, you can still find relief using the simple, yet in-depth, program outlined in her book.
Other
Alicia Tompkins — Empowerment Coach using Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT)
Move Through It — Phone 561-504-5826 (does phone consultations as well as in-person)
Alicia Tompkins is an Empowerment Coach from Boca Raton, Florida who uses a life-changing technique called EFT to assist her clients in freeing themselves from issues of discomfort. As a social worker, she found traditional counseling to be ineffective. Today using this advanced technique Alicia quickly and painlessly moves her clients through emotional trauma, addiction, pain and mental anguish into Clarity, Focus and Self Love.
Alicia is committed to using her intuitive healing talents to assist her clients with self discovery and personal development.
Abigail Steidley — The Healthy Life Coach
Abigail has expertise in working with women on the phone and in person who suffer from pelvic pain. You can read her blog on her recovery from vulvodynia and interstitial cystitis at The Vagina Dialogues.
Books for Patients
Below is a list of books that we encourage you to read:
Secret Suffering: How Women’s Sexual and Pelvic Pain Affects Their Relationships by Susan Bilheimer and Dr. Robert J. Echenberg
Ending Female Pain: A Woman’s Manual – The Ultimate Self-Help Guide for Women Suffering from Chronic Pelvic and Sexual Pain by Isa Herrera, MSPT, CSCS
Heal Pelvic Pain: The Proven Stretching, Strengthening, and Nutrition Program for Relieving Pain, Incontinence,& I.B.S, and Other Symptoms Without Surgery by Amy Stein, MPT
Medical Tips From the Inside: Things You Need to Know by Patricia Raya and Corine A. Mogenis
Finding a Joyful Life in the Heart of Pain by Darlene Cohen
Pain Free for Women – The Revolutionary Program for Ending Chronic Pain by Pete Egoscue with Roger Gittines
The Trigger Point Therapy Workbook – Your Self-Treatment Guide for Pain Relief by Clair Davies, NCTMB and Amber Davies, NCTMB
The Camera My Mother Gave Me by Susanna Kaysen
Fitness for the Pelvic Floor by Beate Carriere, P.T.
Autogenic Training – A Mind-Body Approach to the Treatment of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Pain Syndrome by Micah R. Sadigh, Ph.D.
Suffering is Optional – Three Keys to Freedom and Joy by Cheri Huber and June Shiver
Pelvic Pain and Low Back Pain – A Handbook for Self Care and Treatment by Janet Hulme, M.A., P.T.
The Interstitial Cystitis Survival Guide by Robert M. Moldwin, M.D., FACS
Interstitial Cystitis and Pain – Taking Control – A Handbook for People with IC and Their Caregivers Published by the Interstitial Cystitis Association
The Balance Within – The Science Connecting Health and Emotions by Esther M. Sternberg, M.D.
Full Catastrophe Living – Using the Wisdom of Your Body and Mind to Face Stress, Pain, and Illness by Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D.
The Vulvodynia Survival Guide: How to Overcome Painful Vaginal Symptoms and Enjoy an Active Lifestyle by Howard I. Glazer, Ph.D. and Gae Rodke, M.D., FACOG
The Anatomy of Hope – How People Prevail in the Face of Illness by Jerome Groopman, MD
Women and Autoimmune Disease – The Mysterious Ways Your Body Betrays Itself by Robert G. Lahita, MD, PhD
Anti-Inflammatory foods for Health: Hundreds of Ways to Incorporate Omega-3 Rich Foods into Your Diet to Fight Arthritis, Cancer, Heart Disease, and More by Barbara Rowe, MPH, RD, LD, CNSD and Lisa Davis, PhD, PA-C, CNS, LDN
Recipes for IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) – Great-Tasting Recipes and Tips Customized for Your Symptoms by Ashley Koff, RD
Trigger Point Therapy for Myofascial Pain – The Practice of Informed Touch by Donna Finando, LAc, LMT and Steven Finando, PhD, Lac
Books for Healthcare Professionals
The following books are geared toward the medical professional for the treatment and understanding of chronic pelvic/sexual pain. These are the best of the key works that address the full spectrum of understanding and managing chronic pelvic/sexual pain.
Female Sexual Pain Disorders by Dr. Andrew Goldstein
The Pelvic Floor by Beate Carrière, P.T. and Cynthia Markel Feldt, P.T.
Pelvic Pain: Diagnosis and Management by Fred M. Howard, M.S., M.D. with C. Paul Perry, M.D., FACOG, James E. Carter, M.D., Ph.D., FACOG, Ahmed M. El-Minawi, M.D., M.S.C., Ph.D., Rong-Zeng Lie, M.D., MAMS, CMI
Chronic Pelvic Pain: An Integrated Approach by John F. Steege, M.D., Deborah A. Metzger, Ph.D., M.D., Barbara S. Levy, M.D.
Cognitive Therapy for Chronic Pain: A Step-by-Step Guide by Beverly E. Thorn
Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, December 2003, Volume 46, Number 4 by http://www.clinicalobgyn.com
Online Resources
Pelvic Pain
International Pelvic Pain Society: http://www.pelvicpain.org/
OBGYN.net’s Pelvic Pain page: http://www.obgyn.net/pelvic-pain/
P.U.R.E. H.O.P.E. — Pelvic & Urological Resources and Education: http://www.pure-hope.org/
Pain
American Pain Foundation: http://www.painfoundation.org/
American Pain Society: http://www.ampainsoc.org/
The Wasser Pain Management Centre at Mount Sinai Hospital (Toronto): http://www.mtsinai.on.ca/wasser/
Bladder
Interstitial Cystitis Network: http://www.ic-network.com/
Interstitial Cystitis Association: http://www.ichelp.org/
International Painful Bladder Association: http://www.painful-bladder.org/
Tali Krull is an IC activist and patient who has two pelvic and sexual pain support groups for both women and men:
Living with IC – Facebook support group
Living with IC – MySpace support group
Hysterectomy Support
Hyster Sisters: http://www.hystersisters.com
Women-to-woman hysterectomy support
Lower Bowel
Irritable Bowel Syndrome: http://www.aboutibs.org/
Sexual Health
The Woman’s Sexual Health Foundation: http://www.twshf.org/
The Sexual Health Network: http://www.sexualhealth.com/
Information on Female Sexual Dysfunction: http://www.fsdinfo.org/
AASECT – American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists: http://www.aasect.org/
National Institute of Health – National Library of Medicine: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/femalesexualdysfunction.html
Dr. Laura Berman – Expert resource for sex and intimacy at any age: http://www.drlauraberman.com/
Dr. Jennifer Berman – Vibrance network and questions about sexuality answered: http://www.bermansexualhealth.com/
Institute for Sexual Medicine – Boston University School of Medicine: www.bumc.bu.edu/sexualmedicine
Feminist.com: Health & Sexuality links
Vulvodynia
Vulvodynia.com – http://www.vulvodynia.com/
National Vulvodynia Association: http://www.nva.org/
National Women’s Health Resource Center: Vulvodynia article
Cure Together Open Source Health Resource: Vulvodynia membership page
Vulvar Pain
Our GYN – For women and their mates, helping each better comprehend gynecological issues: http://www.ourgyn.com/
Some glossary definitions provided with permission by the Merriam Webster Online Dictionary
