Surgery is a step forward—But it’s not the end of the journey
For many people with endometriosis, surgery—whether diagnostic laparoscopy or excision—is a significant milestone. It can offer clarity, relief, and hope after years of pain and uncertainty. But surgery is also a beginning—the start of a new chapter in healing, one that includes physical recovery, tissue repair, and often, a deeper reconnection with your body.
If you’ve had surgery for endometriosis, you may be wondering what you can do to support your recovery beyond rest and medication. This is where pelvic floor physiotherapy comes in: as a gentle, informed, and body-centered approach to help you heal well and rebuild confidence in your pelvic function.
What happens in the body after Endometriosis surgery?
Surgical treatment for endometriosis typically involves laparoscopic removal or ablation of endometrial lesions. While this can relieve many of the primary symptoms, it also introduces new physical challenges:
- Scar tissue and adhesions may form as the body heals from incisions or excision sites
- Muscle guarding and tension patterns—built up over years of pain—don’t simply disappear after surgery
- Bowel or bladder function may be affected by pelvic inflammation or surgical manipulation
- Nerve sensitivity in the pelvic region can remain heightened for weeks or months
- Post-surgical posture or movement changes can contribute to pelvic discomfort
Your body may no longer be experiencing active disease—but it still needs support in adapting, recovering, and learning to move freely again.
How Pelvic Floor Physiotherapy supports post-surgical recovery
Pelvic floor physiotherapy at Acumamas offers individualized, trauma-informed care for people recovering from endometriosis surgery. We don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach—because every body, every birth, and every surgery is different.
Here’s how pelvic physio can support your healing:
1. Scar Tissue Mobilization
After surgery, the body forms scar tissue to protect and close incisions. But when scars become overly rigid or adhesive, they can restrict mobility and contribute to pain. A pelvic floor physiotherapist can use gentle hands-on techniques to:
- Improve the flexibility and glide of scar tissue
- Reduce pulling or tightness across the lower abdomen or pelvis
- Restore normal movement between pelvic organs and muscles
This is especially helpful for people who feel “stuck” or tight months after surgery, or who experience new discomfort in their abdomen, hip, or lower back.
2. Releasing Chronic Muscle Tension
Endometriosis is often associated with chronic muscle guarding—especially in the levator ani, obturator internus, and hip rotators. These muscles may remain tight long after excision due to habitual tension and a learned protective response.
Physiotherapy can help:
- Identify overactive muscles in the pelvic floor or hips
- Gently release trigger points internally or externally
- Teach the nervous system to relax and rebuild a sense of safety in movement and touch
This can be especially beneficial if sex, tampon use, or bowel movements are still painful after surgery.
3. Improving Pelvic Organ Mobility
After years of inflammation or scarring, the uterus, bladder, or bowel may become less mobile, leading to bloating, pressure, or urgency. Pelvic physio can help mobilize these organs through visceral techniques, improving:
- Bowel regularity
- Bladder control
- Comfort in sitting, squatting, or bending
These small shifts can make a big difference in daily comfort and function.
4. Supporting Core and Pelvic Stability
If your core feels weak, unsteady, or disconnected after surgery, you’re not alone. Surgery, pain, and guarding can all reduce your ability to recruit deep core muscles like the transversus abdominis and pelvic floor in coordinated ways.
Your physiotherapist may guide you through:
- Breath-based core activation
- Postural retraining
- Gentle re-integration of movement patterns for walking, lifting, or yoga
These exercises focus not on building strength alone, but on rebuilding confidence in movement.
When should you start Pelvic Floor Therapy after surgery?
Everyone heals at a different pace. Many clients begin pelvic physiotherapy 6 to 8 weeks after surgery, once incisions have healed and their surgeon has given clearance. But starting later is okay too—there’s no expiration date on healing.
If you’re still experiencing:
- Pain with sex or penetration
- Discomfort around scars
- Pelvic pressure or tightness
- Painful bowel movements
- Hip or low back discomfort
…months or even years after surgery, pelvic physiotherapy can still help. Recovery is not linear, and support is always valid—whether you’re fresh out of surgery or years into your healing.
What to expect at Acumamas
At your first session, you’ll be invited to share your surgical history, pain patterns, and current symptoms. You’ll receive education about how your pelvic floor and scar tissue are functioning, and we’ll collaborate on a care plan that feels right for you.
Some clients benefit from just a few sessions. Others find ongoing value in regular check-ins as they reintegrate into movement, intimacy, or physical activity. There is no pressure—only support.
Everything we do is consent-based and at your pace. Internal work is only done if and when you feel ready.
Your recovery is worth tending to
You’ve already done something courageous by having surgery for endometriosis. Now, you deserve care that helps you heal—not just physically, but emotionally and energetically.
Pelvic floor physiotherapy doesn’t just treat symptoms. It helps you reconnect with a part of your body that may have felt like a battleground for years. And it offers the chance to feel strong, soft, and safe in your pelvis again.
Ready to take the Next Step?
If you’re recovering from endometriosis surgery and want support with pain, tension, or mobility, we’re here to help.
