Dear Pelvic Pain, Why Can't We Just Get Along and Sit Together??

If you are suffering from pelvic pain due to Interstitial Cystitis, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction, Vulvodynia, Pudendal Neuralgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome or any other chronic condition you probably now find difficulty in doing some simple tasks that most people take for granted.  One of those things is sitting.  Yes, sitting.  Sitting and pelvic pain are not friends.  If you are stricken by this issue, here are some suggestions for making sitting a little more comfortable.

Cushions

There are many seat cushions available.  A typical donut usually is designed for someone with back problems and is not often too helpful for women with pelvic pain.  You need a more specialized cushion.  I recommend the one sold at the ICN Shop online. This cushion is designed differently from the donut leaving a gap where the perineum (that pesky spot between the vaginal region and anal region) can rest comfortably.   I personally own two, one for my car ( I NEVER drive with out it) and one which I have for chairs.

 The Total Pillow

The Total Pillow recently advertised on infomercials is awesome.   While I love the ICN cushion for working and driving, I often found it difficult to bring to restaurants.  The main difficulty is because you can really only carry it like a regular pillow or put it in a bag.  Since the Total Pillow has a hole in the middle, you can easily put your arm through it to carry it.  What makes it different than the donut, is that the Total Pillow is mold-able and you can position it to your own comfort.  I recommend buying the blue jumbo Total Pillow rather than the original brown one from the initial infomercial simply for the fact that it is more attractive to bring out in public.  Now don't get me wrong, no matter what kind of pillow or cushion you use, you will usually have SOMEONE asking why you are sitting on it.  Luckily, most of my good friends already know why and I have gotten to a point where I am happy to explain my condition to others (It takes a long road to get here, totally not an overnight thing).  I know it can be scary at first to bring a cushion out in public, but if you have been home bound due to your pain, it is well worth it to give it a try. 

Say Good-Bye to Jeans

If you have pelvic pain, jeans are the devil.  That hard crease in the middle and your girl zone will not be friends and the jean will make sitting even more uncomfortable.  But never fear, there are tons of ways to still look cute without relying on jeans. Leggings, gucho pants, yoga pants and sweat pants are all essential parts of a pelvic pain patient's wardrobe.  Leggings can be dressed up or down making them very versatile.  If you need pants for a business or formal situation, you would be surprised how well black yoga pants can pass for dress pants when put with heels, a nice top, a blazer and jewelery. Get creative, pelvic pain does not have to be a pajama bound sentence.  Not that there is anything wrong with pajamas, we all love pajamas, but sometimes we want and need to get dressed up.

Since no two pelvic pain patients are alike it may take some trial and error to figure out what works for you.  For some people there is a solution where they can sit in zero pain.  For others, it may only reduce their pain level from an eight to a four.  But we all know that when flaring, even a pain reduction is a blessing.  Hope these tips help.  Happy Sitting!