Just Because It’s Common Doesn’t Mean It’s Normal

Just because it’s common doesn’t mean it’s normal

Urinary leakage. Pelvic pressure. Pain with intercourse. Chronic back pain. A feeling that your body doesn’t quite feel right anymore.

These are symptoms many people are told to expect after pregnancy, with aging, with activity, with stress, or just with life.

Over time, that messaging teaches people to tolerate discomfort instead of question it.

Common does not mean normal. And it 1000% does not mean it’s untreatable.

Why symptoms get normalized

Pelvic floor symptoms are easy to dismiss because they’re common, often invisible, and a bit taboo. They don’t always stop you from functioning, but man oh man do they change how you move, exercise, sit, travel, or relate to your body.

Many people assume pelvic physical therapy is only for postpartum women, or only relevant if things are “really bad.” That belief alone keeps a lot of people from seeking care earlier.

In reality, pelvic PT treats a wide range of concerns across all stages of life.

What pelvic floor health actually means

Your pelvic floor is part of a larger system. It works with your breath, core, hips, and nervous system to support movement, continence, posture, and overall comfort in your body.

When something in that system isn’t working well, symptoms show up. This is just your body’s way of adapting the best way it can, but that doesn’t mean you’re broken or beyond repair.

Pelvic physical therapy looks at the whole picture. We care about the whole body and how it’s working, or not working, as a system. Not just the symptom, but the why behind it.

Why past care may not have worked

A lot of people who come into Fortis have tried physical therapy before. Sometimes more than once. They’re hesitant to spend money and invest time and energy on another failed attempt at managing their symptom.

More often than not, what was missing wasn’t effort or motivation. It was clarity, individualized progression, and care that accounted for how their body actually lives day to day.

Progress sticks when the plan makes sense, the body feels safe enough to adapt, and capacity is built intentionally over time.

You don’t have to build your life around symptoms

Pelvic floor health is not about fixing a broken body. It’s about understanding how your body functions and giving it the support it needs.

No two people move through the world the same way. That’s why no two pelvic floors present the same way either. And that’s exactly why this conversation deserves more nuance than it usually gets.

If you’ve been managing symptoms quietly, or telling yourself they’re just something you have to live with, it may be time to ask a different question.

What to do next

If this resonates, support is available close to home in Greenville, SC. If you’re elsewhere in South Carolina, telehealth is also an option.

👉 Book a consultation to talk through your symptoms and see if pelvic physical therapy is a good fit for you.