Botox for Pelvic Pain

In this episode of Fit as a Fiddle, we sit down with Charlotte Mueller, a nurse practitioner at the Centers for Vulvovaginal Disorders in New York City, to unpack what pelvic pain really is and why it is so often misunderstood. Charlotte shares her journey from oncology nursing to vulvo-vaginal pain specialty care, along with her own lived experience as a patient navigating dismissal, misinformation, and the long road to feeling better in her body.Together, we explore the importance of patient-centered care, validation, and a team-based approach between medical providers and pelvic floor physical therapists. Charlotte explains how Botox can be used as a therapeutic tool for hypertonic pelvic floor muscles, how it works, and which patients may benefit most. She also breaks down why it is not a stand-alone fix, but rather a way to create space for pelvic floor PT, breathwork, awareness, and behavior change.We also discuss an exciting new randomized clinical trial at the Centers for Vulvovaginal Disorders using botulinum toxin injections for people with confirmed hypertonic pelvic floor muscles and posterior vestibule pain. Charlotte shares what participants can expect, along with practical strategies patients can start using right away, from noticing clenching patterns to understanding the jaw-pelvis connection.If you are a patient, provider, or simply curious about evidence-based options for pelvic pain, this episode offers a hopeful look at how science, empathy, and multidisciplinary care can help people get out of pain and back into their lives.To check if you are eligible to get free botox through the research study, email [email protected] with Charlotte: vulvodynia.comClick here and use your exclusive 20% listener discount (Code: Fit20) to enroll in Master Your Pelvic Floor, our signature self-paced course that will change the way you understand and care for your body.