Episode 25: Physiatry in Pelvic Health with Dr. Allyson Shrikhande, MD

In this episode, we discuss pelvic health from the lens of physiatry with Dr. Allyson Shrikhande, MD. She is the medical director and founder of Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine (PMR), offering true multidisciplinary care for people with pelvic floor dysfunction. Allyson shares what a pelvic health physiatrist does, saying “we're trained really to look at the interplay between the organ systems with each other, as well as the organ systems with the fascia, the muscles, and the nervous system.” Physiatrists can serve as the quarterback for people with pelvic floor dysfunction, referring them to the various specialties. She also shares how all of us pelvic providers can work together and how the mind-body connection affects pelvic pain. -- Dr. Allyson Shrikhande, MD, a board-certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialist, is the Chief Medical Officer of Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine. She is also the Chair of the Medical Education Committee for the International Pelvic Pain Society. She is working with other experts in the field of chronic pelvic pain to develop training modules for residents and physicians interested in learning about the diagnosis, treatment, and management of chronic pelvic pain. A leading expert on pelvic health and a respected researcher, author, and lecturer, Dr. Shrikhande is a recognized authority on male and female pelvic pain diagnosis and treatment.   Highlights from our conversation in Episode 25 (0:34) Allyson’s introduction & journey into pelvic health  (7:02) Facilitating a collaborative approach for pelvic pain (11:59) Tips for communicating with physiatrists (14:39) Addressing psychological concerns in pelvic health (19:03) Allyson’s experience in building rapport with patients   (20:17) Patient case example (23:10) The common culprit behind “non-responsive” patients   (25:02) When and how to refer to physiatrists (27:13) Allyson’s lightning round Thank you for listening to The Conscious Clinician. If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and write a review for the podcast so we can reach more people! Resources from Episode 25 (13:49) Working with Physiatry for Pelvic Pain (Herman & Wallace Course) (26:36) Finding a PM&R doc  Pelvic Rehabilitation Medicine Locations International Pelvic Pain Society Find a Provider Let’s Connect! Find Dr. Allyson Shrikhande, MD on:https://www.pelvicrehabilitation.com/ Instagram Facebook Twitter  Find The Conscious Clinician on Facebook Connect over Instagram @TheConsciousClinician Connect professionally over LinkedIn with Sammy & Monika