Diagnostic consultation: listening, asking, examining
Chronic pelvic pain is different for everyone. If you choose us, you will receive a questionnaire from us. You fill it out at home and return it to us. Have you already seen a doctor or practitioner? We ask that you request a copy of your records and send it to us.
We will review your completed questionnaire and your medical records before your appointment. If our conclusion is that you have not come to the right place, we will refer you. If we expect to be able to help you, we will first have an intake interview. Based on your medical file and your completed questionnaire we will discuss your complaints. This can be done by phone, through an online consultation or at our clinic. We also talk to you about your home situation, your work or hobbies. We may also ask about your childhood: perhaps you also had problems with urination or bowel movements at that time? Was there a stressful situation? If, after the intake, it appears that you can be better served elsewhere, we will refer you on, with the summary of the interview.
In many cases, this is followed by a physical examination at our clinic. When you are with us, we take the time with two specialized practitioners to further assess your symptoms with you. Here, a comprehensive physical examination determines whether, for example, your muscles, joints or nerves are causing problems. If it is necessary and you agree, we can still contact your doctor.
Ultrasound
During the examination, we often use ultrasound. You may be familiar with this from the pregnancy ultrasound. With this device, we can show you how your muscles work. You can then see the difference when your muscles are tensed and when they are relaxed. You can also see what happens to organs such as the bladder and rectum when muscles are tightened or relaxed. With ultrasound, we can look at the muscles in the pelvic floor, as well as the abdominal and back muscles, or the diaphragm.
MAPLe
We use an ultrasound and sometimes we use the MAPLe; this device goes one step further than the ultrasound. The MAPLe gives us more details. For example, whether muscles on the left and right are different, whether tension is present in the front or back, superficial or deep.
We can use the MAPLe in the physical examination. We also use the device in treatment; it can help return muscle function to normal. The device can also deliver small amounts of electricity in a very targeted way. This helps with pain relief or targeted muscle activation.
Good to know: a personal measuring part (probe) is required to use the MAPLe. This is used internally. This probe is available from us for 65.00 euros. The price of this is not yet included in the diagnostic consultation. If you already have a probe, please bring it with you for the examination. This can also be another probe.
The scientific rationale for the MAPLe can be found here.
Pelvic Pain clinic / F-Act specializing in chronic pelvic pain