How to Think About Pelvic Floor Pain and Pathology

[@anoshiakhawar9054]

Oh my God!! Ever single word you said, I had every single thing going on with me. My pelvic floor is unstable, when I walk I feel like my legs go in separate direction. I have sciatica now in my foot and leg for months now. I knew I had pelvic pain before of all that which just escalated with anxiety, stress, fight and flight mode. And every single thing in body backfired 4 months ago with me being bedridden and doctor not finding the exact reason. I used to grind my teeth, had breathing issues to the point I felt dizzy. I had the tough life in terms of health, getting body pains without any reason and being paralyzed with pain. I had plantar fascitis on and off my whole life. It's so insane as every single thing you said about pelvic pain I had it. I lost control of my pelvic floor muscles months ago, two weeks back I realized that I have no hamstrings and core muscles after watching your videos. While I used to stand I used to breath from my neck without knowing. And two weeks back when I started breathing from my chest I realized I can't stand on my legs. For two days I couldn't walk as my pelvic floor felt like it's gonna fall on floor. It took me 10 days to stand on my legs without support for 10 minutes while breathing from my diaphragm. Before I couldn't walk, twist or turn. Now slowly step by step I am regaining a little control of my body. And I won't give up now as I know the cause of all my troubles I had my whole life. Thank you.

[@LoveSumsItUp]

Omg…I’ve been a crippled mess, haven’t found help anywhere but here.

[@PiyushBhatnagarFitness]

Another great video sir thank you... I recently figured out that I never used my diaphragm for breathing and I have had chronic back issues for 16 years and these days I walk 4-5 kms solely focusing on diaphragm breathing.

[@annabanana5203]

It all make sense now why I have unsymmetrical pelvic floor issues with neck tighness and unsymmetrical face. All because of my wrong stretches yoga and exercises for years.

[@Indigoblue2014]

Wow this video was an absolute revelation. Thank you so much for sharing your message.

[@cassieopia532]

I love your content. I’m a patho PEC and relate to everything you discussed. It’s not an easy journey.

[@NealHallinan]

It's not an easy journey at all.

[@JesterHead1651]

Your not alone..

[@aintlifegrand821]

It's really hard to convey this fuckery to friends and family on account of the invisible nature of the pain. I just start rambling off into a long, convaluted list of muscle groups and biomechanics and end with a grand "I'm not injured YET" which probably makes me sound full hypochondriac - _- Thank you so much for this video especially !

[@Hero_Of_Old]

I know the feeling!

[@uboobly]

Extremely well said. Lol. Livin' it totally now. Trying to get out of this prison.

[@craftyninjacat]

Yes! THIS!!

[@Eighteen19]

😆

[@fineartlifestyling]

The story of my life! Isn’t it funny until you experience it personally, most people just don’t have the room or space in their conscience to try and understand you or enough compassion to just empathize.

[@valo9678]

Such great work man really appreciate it.

[@ericafletcher5787]

Excellent explanation Neil. It is essential for pelvic floor treatment to first address the underlying total body dysfunction. However direct myofascial and soft tissue treatment of the pelvic floor can do wonders sub sequentially . I always wondered why high tone of the right iliococcygeus and left obturator internus was such a common pattern in my patients until I studies PRI .

[@NealHallinan]

Thank you Erica. I have no direct experience with myofascial/soft tissue treatment of the pelvic floor so couldn't really discuss it. I'd assume that some/many people may need it after the body becomes more stabilized, or maybe some will need it prior to allow re-stabilization to occur?

[@Hero_Of_Old]

Myofascial treatment does nothing trust me. You have to fix the pattern first

[@Greg-mv1pq]

@@NealHallinan :) I've just found your channel and I'm really interested in PRI right now. I'm suffering from kinda pain you describe for over 2 years. It started from left piriformis but I didn't think it can be so complex... Then I had extraction of two teeth. And then right suboccipital and midback pain started. I've been to manual therapist, PT and nothing... I'm also a student of PT and active sportsman so it's really annoying to have this pain all the time and can't get rid of it with techniques I know... I've started doing 90/90 and breathing exercises this week. There's my question - can pain get worse after exercises? And is it possible to workout and do those exercises at the same time? Can all my problems result from extraction of teeth? And what if I cannot feel my left ribcage during all 4 breathing? Thank you so much for everything you are doing here! Greetings ✌

[@user3657]

@@Hero_Of_Old yep. I got my obturator released (externally) thinking it was an adhesion (it kinda started out of no where), only to come back in less then 24hrs. At least for me it's a direct connection to my pattern/tension. It releases when I have the right "pressure", or even just foam rolling my right abs it takes the tension right off it. It's crazy how you can store so much tension....

[@tommylandrix6070]

yes! It is my left obturator internus that is so tight on me and causes issues. I am looking to just get it injected with botox to relax it.

[@reneekreml5864]

This was excellent Neal! Very much enjoyed. Always concise.

[@ambarchatterjee9426]

Excellent

[@user-tp1zb9hi6x]

OMG! I am a pelvic floor physical therapist and SO MANY lightbulbs are going off! Yes, Yes, Yes, I see this pattern in the pelvic floor regularly. I started treating the pelvic girdle joints first and this has greatly reduced the direct pelvic floor treatment. This pattern is present for other pelvic floor symptoms not just pain. This past year, I have started looking down at the foot and up at the neck, for the driver of symptoms to more fully treat my clients. Thank for your wonderful explanations!

[@NealHallinan]

Thanks for the comment. I'd highly recommend Postural Restoration Institute's "Pelvis Restoration" course.

[@ginoasci]

very interesting video. whole body stiffness snd misalignment makes a lot of sense.

[@tommylandrix6070]

The obturator internus is super notable, as it's the only pelvic floor muscles that is ALSO a hip stabilizer. This muscle on me has caused me chronic issues and it very stubborn to turn off and also diagnose since only a small portion of it can be palpated. I am looking to get it injected with botox to relax it, as that seems to have worked very well for others.

[@davidheer1471]

I highly recommend you do not do anything invasive that will permanently change the anatomy of the pelvic floor. Ive read anecdotes that people generally come out worse. The pelvic floor is supposed to move when you breath and its already not doing that, paralyzing it will further exasporate the problem. The overactive OI muscle is due to overall pelvic/hip instability and perhaps more specifically to limited hip IR. Do a left sidelying position with right foot on wall, turn pelvis to left, right arm reach and breath. Hip IR should show some improvement

[@tommylandrix6070]

@@davidheer1471 Ooh thank you for the message! Botox only lasts a few months however. I get it in my left jaw muscle and it is a life saver. Can you share with me any of the anecdotes you're talking about? I have not heard of anyone having serious issues due to pelvic floor injections. I will try what you suggested!

[@djstevesire]

@@tommylandrix6070bro Botox isn’t helping you … this pri stuff will!

[@helyrambelo795]

So helpful!🙏🔥

[@pixievincent2478]

I would not be surprised if a left AIC pattern leads to c-sections due to the baby not having room to descend efficiently enough to open the cervix. That would explain so much.

[@owowowowowow5376]

If my rib cage is arched and extended in both sides would that mean I’m a patho PEC ?

[@bennymac6618]

This also makes on the verge of jumping through a window, it’s demoralizing to feel this stuff happen, everything just feels like it falls

[@sweetvictory3100]

How can i talk to you? Unfortunately you aren't close to me

[@lindabrownlmp7262]

It you strengthen the weak adductor, will this help the pelvic floor work to obtain the needed pressure?

[@superfast3444]

I have SI joint dysfunction, pelvic floor dysfunction and herniated discs in my lower lumbar and a few more through out the rest of my spine, my pelvis is very unstable but I have extremely poor range of motion through out my body, can’t do straight leg raises or squat down, can’t bend forward with out supporting myself, I’m a mess and so far no has been able to help me in the over a decade of trying. So I will try your profession but I’m not expecting much

[@yourcoachbladimirsantos5136]

Great explanation 👏. Every video of u related with me but I saw a PRC n he tall me I've Posterior exterior chain (PEC) and a Bilateral Brachial Chain muscle imbalance. Can u talk about it?

[@ianbarker60]

@Neil Hallinan what do you when you feel your pallet being pulled on ihalation and exhalation. Is this indicative of pelvic floor issue or a blockage in the area?

[@NealHallinan]

You're referring to the roof of your mouth?

[@ianbarker60]

@@NealHallinan Yes I am referring to the roof of the mouth. And its mainly on the left side not the right side.

[@NealHallinan]

@@ianbarker60 it’s not necessarily an indication of a pelvic floor issue. I don’t know what it could be without assessing you.

[@ianbarker60]

@@NealHallinan no worries Neil but thanks for inquiring. I'll state concerning the feeling of the ribcage breifly, that it feels like the curve in the lower back where the lower ribcage slots-in feels distorted and isn't curving around fully. Theres definitely a blockage in that area but only on the left, right feels fine. Although the inability to compress the left pelvic floor area does cause me to put extra unnecessary force into and onto the right area, for whatever reason, and results in a pain that you get when you've pulled a muscle because you weren't warmed up sufficiently.

[@theperfectprogression2294]

It’s very hard for me to put straighten either of my legs all the way from a laying position.

[@TheAbergel]

Are breathing exercises good for this? Which breathing exercises would you recommend?

[@reyki3576]

Try to learn how to breath though you re diagrahm, is a muscle Just for that, do a 360 breathing on you diagrahm you can do a correcy breathing and do a exhale 360 to so you can 100% do a correch breathing in you whole body.

[@josephshumake5989]

Does anyone watching this have any information on bladder neck hyperplasia and it's relationship to the anatomy and the kinds of neuormuscular patterning discussed in this video. I am sitting with a diagnosis whose prognosis is not great and would like to correct this issue without using medications or surgery. My sense is that If I am able to heal the patterns that have the autonomic muscular tissue in a contracted pattern(the bladder neck hyperplasia) that I might be able to relax and let this patterning go? Any info would be much appreciated.

[@jackbarrable3409]

Any update

[@Hero_Of_Old]

Neil would you know why my right ribcage sticks out more? I've had pelvic floor pain/dysfunction for 5 years. Its ruined my life. Pain in my right side jaw, head, neck, abs and foot. My jaw/neck/head are playing a part in it

[@NealHallinan]

My right ribcage is also more prominent. Perhaps you have some sort of jaw position issue that interferes with proper neck movement (which it will) and prevents you from "grounding" completely on your left side. I can't know that for sure, though.

[@Hero_Of_Old]

@@NealHallinan Thanks, I believe there is something wrong with my jaw. It clicks loudly on the right everytime I open my mouth, I only sense my right molars too

[@LoveSumsItUp]

Can you address coxidenia?

[@milersgunner2612]

Hey Neal! I have a quick question. When you say the pelvic floor is compromised so you can longer pressurize it, what exactly do you mean by “compromised”?

[@milersgunner2612]

Would love an answer to this my man. I’m still curious.

[@wayneeligur7586]

wayne eligur @Neal Hallinan the practitioners are 200 plus miles north of me in tucson. they don't know what to do. tucson has a lot of low quqlity alt. medical. any ideas,,neal, i lived in summit n.j 1963-64 from n.y.c. originally.

[@Greg-mv1pq]

Hello @Neal Hallinan ! I've just found your channel and I'm really interested in PRI right now. I'm suffering from kinda pain you describe for over 2 years. It started from left piriformis but I didn't think it can be so complex... Then I had extraction of two teeth. And then right suboccipital and midback pain started. I've been to manual therapist, PT and nothing... I'm also a student of PT and active sportsman so it's really annoying to have this pain all the time and can't get rid of it with techniques I know... I've started doing 90/90 and breathing exercises this week. There's my question - can pain get worse after exercises? And is it possible to workout and do those exercises at the same time? Can all my problems result from extraction of teeth? And what if I cannot feel my left ribcage during all 4 breathing? Thank you so much for everything you are doing here! Greetings ✌

[@blink99v]

I asked about this in prior videos cool ty ty. What about dysfunction vs pain, will be watching the video shortly. Say constipation and bowel movement issues. Certain muscles aren't firing correctly and others I believe are over worked and take over due to poor life patterns etc...

[@Kyuubixcel]

As someone that is slowly coming to resolution with this now, breathing and squatting was of major importance for bowel movement functions. As time passed I actually noticed by bending my back backwards it could actually move my stool if it was stuck and if regular peristalsis wasn't being signaled. It required my neck and shoulders to also be locked back as well. If you do not have conscious activation of the multifidus muscle (which holds up 2/3 of your spine) you will find difficulty in doing the bend.

[@blink99v]

@@Kyuubixcel what you can look into doing is "hip hinge" that is the mechanical pattern we are trying to master I think..

[@blink99v]

@@Kyuubixcel vagal tone is largely responsible for activation of the MMC ( can research this i.e peristalsis) fasting I can't stress this one enough, lastly salt, if you do not have enough salt it can lead to constipation as your body slows the process to ensure enough salt is reabsorbed .. I know a lot lol..

[@Kyuubixcel]

@@blink99v The hip hinge i definitely got down already, and its directly tied to our breathing and neck position (if you pull your neck back, your hips will also go back). If you can do a full diaphragm inhale (and hold) and relax your body to allow spontaneous movement without controlling it you'll find the body will lock that in place. I also find that if you can hold the diaphragm breath in while holding the hips back (tailbone lifts), the shoulders back and the neck back you're very likely to have a bowel movement or will at least feel it if there's something there.

[@chantalbrown642]

What happens with pregnant women in this pattern and their pelvic floor?

[@aintlifegrand821]

I want to know as well!

[@user3657]

Neal, is a compressed ribcage related to a person's tone or is it just muscular related? I still don't have any clue how to hold my ribs down. I've released tons of tension and I am at the stage where I know my rib cage is compressed, however i have no control over my abs to hold down my ribs to expand them...

[@jB-cw9gs]

This is probably the same reason why guitar players have back shoulder neck and hip issues. Asking with the compressed ribs. Also soldiers from ruck marching.

[@NealHallinan]

Yes, Musicians are often very strongly patterned because of how they use their torso and right arm. My interview with the professional violin musician is about that issue.

[@michaelrex9462]

I finally received michigan splint and my problems with erectile dysfunction(probably from pelvic floor muscles) have vanished after few days.

[@JohnnyBrownWM]

Hello. I am from Belarus (sorry for my english). 1 year ago i had lumbar pain, and i found a man, who studied PRI, and did all the exersises (they are the same on your website). After only couple days my pain vanished, but my left scapular starts to feel pain and exersises did not help. Also my left collarbone and shouder higher then right. And i try to down it. The question is: is it possible that situation is opposite? (i mean may be my left colarbone in not higher but rigth is lower? How to find it out?) Thanks a lot for your work!

[@alaarumh3740]

If we are patho what should we do?

[@NealHallinan]

You'll need to get help from a PRI professional if you want to approach things from a PRI perspective.

[@alaarumh3740]

@@NealHallinan thanks . You mentioned adductor and hamstrings and abs we should activate them and strength them with pri exercises

[@NealHallinan]

@@alaarumh3740 yes. That is how I would start someone who is a Patho PEC, in the 90-90 or All Fours positions. Both are on my website.

[@alaarumh3740]

@@NealHallinan thanks for this video you explained our case more than doctors we suffer please please if you can talk more about our case we will be grateful you are very smart person thanks you made my day

[@lipycardoso581]

I had this problem and it caused my hernia.

[@bambimartinez31]

What if my left neck is tight?

[@Christian.jsf1]

👍🙏

[@sergesolkatt]

❤️

[@sagarmanshani6381]

I’m a patho pec and I can feel every bone moving up and down. My life is a mess, and I should end it now. It’s high time. But I guess I’m not gonna do that. I don’t know what I’m gonna do with my future.

[@JimmyVu415]

90-90 is your friend my friend

[@asymmetricbeing]

Go and see a PRI practitioner (or at least see one online). I did, and it saved my life. Everything is so easy now, I just call PRI the ultimate cheat code.

[@user3657]

Have you visited Neal's website? Start with the all 4 exercise....

[@JesterHead1651]

@@asymmetricbeing Did you have PFD?

[@asymmetricbeing]

@@JesterHead1651 No, I didn't. I got my plate of shit after braces. It killed my ability to breathe, move and use my voice. My social, emotional, and expressional life became poor and near-empty. After I was treated with PRI I can love and be loved again. I say, go for it!