Long Term Disability Claims and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD)

What is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction? 

The pelvic floor is something we don’t think about when it works, but when a PFD condition begins, it is hard to think about anything else. The pelvic floor includes the ligaments and muscles in the pelvic region that work together to hold up organs located in the pelvis, including the bladder, rectum and uterus or prostate. These are the muscles that control bowel movements, urination and sexual activity.

Losing control of pelvic floor muscles leads to pelvic pain, urinary incontinence and frequent urination, loss of control of bowel movements, constipation and sexual function. While the severity of symptoms varies, the impact on day to day life is always severe.

The symptoms of PFD are often accompanied by emotional distress and social isolation. It’s embarrassing to not have control over one’s bodily functions in addition to suffering severe pain. Wearing an adult diaper might work for an hour or so, but the person with PFD isn’t able to work, engage in their regular activities or go out in public.

Weak muscles may allow pelvic organs to sag (prolapse), while tight muscles may prevent complete bladder or bowel emptying. This dysfunction interferes with core stability, posture, and muscle coordination, impairing mobility, balance, and daily tasks like lifting, walking, or exercising. In severe cases, it can lead to chronic pelvic pain, emotional distress, and significant quality of life reductions.

How is Pelvic Floor Dysfunction Diagnosed?

A focused history and digital examination are key components in diagnosing PFD. The diagnosis can be confirmed by anorectal manometry with balloon expulsion and, in some cases, traditional proctography or dynamic magnetic resonance imaging defecography to visualize pathologic pelvic floor motion, sphincter anatomy and greater detail of surrounding structures.

Experts don’t know the exact cause of pelvic floor dysfunction, but a few known factors may play a role. These include:

• Traumatic injuries to the pelvic area (like a car accident or a fall from a high place).
• Overusing pelvic muscles (straining to go).
• Prior pelvic surgery (like a hysterectomy or prostatectomy).
• Pregnancy and childbirth (especially difficult deliveries).
• Aging (muscles naturally weaken somewhat over time).
• Stress and anxiety.
• Connective tissue disorders.

What Conditions Can Be Mistaken For Pelvic Floor Dysfunction?

Pelvic floor dysfunction can exist alongside (and be mistaken for) many other conditions, including:

• Interstitial cystitis: This condition causes pain in the pelvis or bladder. The pain can lead to loss of muscle relaxation in your pelvic floor muscles. Having one of these conditions increases the risk of having the other.
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS): IBS is a group of symptoms that affect the digestive tract. While researchers haven’t identified a link between IBS and pelvic floor dysfunction, they share certain symptoms. These symptoms include constipation and trouble emptying bowels completely.
• Pelvic organ prolapse (POP): POP occurs when the muscles holding the pelvic organs (uterus, bladder and rectum) in place loosen and become too stretched out. In severe cases, the weaker muscles can cause certain organs to move outside of the body.
• Prostatitis: Pelvic floor dysfunction symptoms closely resemble prostatitis. This is an infection or inflammation of the prostate. Prostatitis can have many causes, including bacteria, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or trauma to the nervous system.
• Constipation: Constipation can mimic pelvic floor dysfunction or vice versa. Constipation and straining can also lead to pelvic floor dysfunction.
• Anorectal conditions: Conditions that affect the anus and rectum, like fissures or fistulas, can share features of pelvic floor dysfunction.

Healthcare providers can treat pelvic floor dysfunction without surgery. Treatments include:

• Pelvic floor physical therapy:
• Biofeedback:
• Medications:
• Relaxation techniques:
• Trigger point injections

PFD prevents many people from holding a full time job, meeting employer expectations for consistent attendance and engaging in sustained projects. Performing time-sensitive or deadline driven assignments is impossible when pelvic pain and incontinence are present.

Living with chronic pain leads to substantial impairment in cognitive and emotional functioning, especially critical in knowledge work or team-based environments. Understanding and remembering detailed instructions and following multi-step procedures or job protocols or interpreting technical information or compliance standards is just not possible.

PFD makes sitting or standing for any length of time impossible. Sitting at a workstation to work on a computer is an exercise in pain. Travelling to and from an office or facility is also not possible.

The combination of physical, cognitive, and emotional impairments, even with ongoing treatment, makes working in a consistent and reliable basis impossible.

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF Pelvic Floor Disorder

• Brain fog/difficulty thinking
• Difficulty concentrating
• Inattentiveness
• Executive dysfunction
• Impaired psychomotor speed
• Impaired reaction time
• Impaired cognitive flexibility
• Impaired short/long term memory:
• Reduced ability to attend tasks
• Memory lapses
• Tiredness/fatigue, insomnia
• Deconditioning and weakness

If your claim has been denied, or if you need help protecting your claim at any stage of the process, call Newfield Law Group to speak with Jason Newfield. There may be strict deadlines to your claim, so don’t delay.

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