Menopause

Menopause

The menopause is defined as 12 months since your last period. However, the physical changes and symptoms that you may experience can start a few years before this time. This is known as the perimenopause. Symptoms can also last for a while after the menopause, post-menopausal symptoms. For most women the menopause occurs in their 40s or 50s.

Symptoms of the menopause can be:

Hot flushes
Mood swings
Brain fog
Memory difficulties
Bladder and/ or bowel incontinence
Pelvic organ prolapse
Vaginal dryness
Feeling bloated/ digestive issues
Joint pains

Low mood
Anxiety
Fatigue
Loss of libido
Weight gain
Heavy periods
Heart palpitations
Skin issues
Allergies

There are many symptoms, some of which may not be related to the menopause. It is a good idea to see your doctor for an assessment to ensure that symptoms are managed in the right way. Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapy can help with a number of these symptoms; incontinence, prolapse, vaginal dryness, digestive issues and problems with sexual intercourse.

It is also a good idea to start preparing for the menopause by thinking about the health of your pelvic floor, bones (osteoporosis happens for 33% of menopausal women) and heart before you start your menopause.

For an assessment, support and treatment, book an appointment with our Specialist Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, Gemma Barnes BSc MSc MACPOG.

How can physiotherapy help?

Physiotherapy treatments include: pelvic floor muscle exercises, advice for bladder and bowel health, advice and help with vaginal dryness and problems with sexual intercourse, education on the use of vaginal dilators or pelvic floor wands (if indicated). Gemma can also signpost you to other healthcare professionals and resources for advice on HRT, nutrition and cognitive behavioural therapy.

Resources:

https://www.wellbeingofwomen.org.uk/what-we-do/health-information/

https://www.womens-health-concern.org/

https://www.well-well-well.co.uk/about

www.positivepause.co.uk

Nicola Vineyard qualified at Pinderfields College, Wakefield, West Yorkshire in 1985. After working in Mundesley Rehabilitation Hospital in Norfolk for a time, she moved back to her home in Essex.
She then started work in the East London area working for the NHS at Newham General Hospital and Barking Hospital. Here she gained a sound knowledge of all aspects of physiotherapy both inpatient and outpatients She also worked in the London Chest Hospital for a short period of time being involved with all respiratory treatments including post cardio- thoracic surgery rehab.

Nicola realised quite quickly in her career that she had a love of outpatient treatments as this enabled her to work closely with patients providing effective treatments and rehabilitation programmes. Due to her love of sports injuries she became involved with the Metropolitan Police sports Club in Essex treating the rugby and football teams. For several years she was involved with the London Youth Games, treating injuries sustained in the varied sports by the young athletes.

After working in a private hospital in London for several years she opened up her own practice in Essex in 1991 specialising in musculo-skeletal Physiotherapy and Acupuncture. The workload was varied; from sports injuries, biomechanical, muscle, joint, ligament and tendon problems to post-surgical orthopaedic treatments, treating both young and old.

She built up a close relationship with London Consultants in all orthopaedic specialisations sitting in on their clinics and attending surgery to observe operations at first hand. This enabled her to have a clearer understanding of the patients’ needs and therefore providing a more efficient and effective treatment programme.

Nicola feels a physiotherapist is like a detective. The body is wonderful, complicated and finely tuned. A physiotherapist must take a holistic approach to each individual. They must question and examine the patient thoroughly and then having all the clues in place come to a conclusion resulting in the best possible plan of treatment.
Nicola enjoys all aspect of physiotherapy but has a keen interest in acute sports injuries especially foot and knee injuries. She encourages her patients to use video imagery in clinic to help them understand good and bad postural habits and to have a record and clearer understanding of the exercises taught. She also uses taping techniques to offload injured areas as well using it to help reinforce correct postural positioning of the body both during activity or at rest.

Nicola moved to Norfolk and joined the Park Physiotherapy team in September 2016. As a member of Physio First, Nicola achieved Quality Assured Practitioner status in 2018 and continues to maintain this.