Testimonials
Pelvic Pain
After experiencing symptoms for more than five years, I was diagnosed with vulvodynia about four months ago. Shortly after my diagnosis, I was referred to Caroline Allen for physiotherapy. I was a bit apprehensive the first time I arrived at her office. After years of painful and often humiliating pelvic exams, I wasn’t looking forward to my prescribed therapy sessions, which I knew would consist of pelvic muscle stretches of some kind, and, more concerning, would involve the use of electrodes. But I knew nothing could be as bad as the day to day pain I was experiencing.
Caroline immediately made me feel comfortable. She worked very hard to educate me about my condition and to explain every treatment. She is very professional but at the same time caring and considerate, and sensitive to the physical and emotional discomfort of her patients. The therapy began very gently, becoming more challenging later, but almost immediately I noticed small improvements. Now, four months later, I am almost symptom free. When I’ve had the occasional flare-up, thanks to Caroline I’ve known how to respond, and I feel much more in control of my condition. After five years, I’m finally happy and hopeful again.
L.G. – Ottawa
Pelvic Pain
I was a patient of yours last spring. I just wanted to let you know that I am five months pregnant. I also wanted to thank you for all your help, you made this opportunity possible for us. We can’t thank you enough. 
Name Withheld – Ottawa
Pelvic Pain
I have worked with Caroline Allen for about three months with amazing results. Caroline’s professionalism, expertise, and calm manner make her a pleasure to work with. When I first saw Caroline, intercourse was very painful (due to changes with menopause), as well as trauma from a car accident. I had the additional problem of frequent urination. I am thrilled to say that both problems are now resolved. I am so glad that my doctor referred me to Caroline, it has really made a difference to my life.
Name Withheld – Ottawa
Pelvic Pain
Thank you for changing my life.
You will remember that you treated me over the last six months for vulvodynia. Through your most professional and sensitive care, I learned to relax my muscles, get informed about pelvic pain and treatment and take control over my life.
Do you remember how I broke into tears upon my first consultation with you when I told you about the pain I had been experiencing for a harrowing nine months? Now, six months after having been under your care – diligently doing my homework I might add – I am a new woman, informed, confident, happy, fulfilled.
The pain is not only gone, it has given way to sexual fulfillment never experienced before.
There are no words to describe my gratitude for the excellent care I have received from you. Your patience, caring, respectful, professional help has been invaluable to me. I can’t thank you enough.
M.M. – Ottawa
Pelvic Pain
I had sex for the first time at age 21. Initially it was pain-free, however after several months I started experiencing terrible burning pain with intercourse. It was a sudden onset, with no clear contributing factors. It became worse and worse, until my boyfriend and I gave up trying. After that relationship ended, I repeatedly avoided becoming intimate with men, knowing I would be unable to have intercourse.
I started seeing Caroline in April 2005, after I was finally conclusively diagnosed with vestibulitis by a specialist in Ottawa. This was after 10 years of misdiagnoses – of being told by doctors to “just relax” or “have a glass of wine” before sex, of being told that it was all in my head.
I wanted to believe that Caroline could help me, but after 10 years and no change, I was skeptical. The treatment took patience and commitment, but after some time I started noticing changes. After about six months of treatment with Caroline, I met someone and was finally able to have enjoyable, pain-free sex again.
Caroline is professional, knowledgeable and such a calming presence. I am so incredibly grateful to have found her. This treatment has changed my life….I no longer feel like a broken-down car!!
Name Withheld – Ottawa
Pelvic Pain
During the birth of my first child, I experienced a third degree tear. At my six-week postpartum appointment, my family physician indicated that the area looked anatomically correct. I experienced quite a bit of pain with the pelvic exam, but my physician and I figured that was normal given that the area was still healing. I took the advice of my physician and waited a few months before attempting intercourse. Unfortunately, even after a few months, I was in much too much pain to even attempt more than touching. We attempted to have intercourse a couple more times in the next couple of months and we were again unsuccessful.
Eight months postpartum, I finally saw a gynaecologist. He was able to point to an area where there was some scar tissue and recommended that I use an anaesthetic cream on this area. I tried the cream, and voila, we were able to have intercourse, but the tear site and the general vulva area were still significantly sore, even with the cream. I went back to see the gynaecologist for a follow-up visit four months later and he recommended a higher dose of anaesthetic and physiotherapy. I tried the new cream and it relieved the pain even more, but it was considerably upsetting to think that I would have to use an anaesthetic to have intercourse.
At 15 months post-partum I saw Caroline for my initial visit. After the first visit, I immediately knew that she was going to help me fix my problem. Her positive attitude and confidence that I was going to get better was infectious and kept me motivated to do my stretching and relaxation exercises at home. After a few treatments, I confessed that I had experienced pain with intercourse before giving birth. The pre-pregnancy pain was only on initial penetration, but I remember having to concentrate on relaxing while having intercourse to prevent pain. This pain had begun as a sudden onset a few years before the birth of my daughter, after many years of pain-free enjoyable intercourse. I had seen two gynaecologists to try to resolve the pain without any success.
Well, after only two months of treatment with Caroline, I attempted intercourse with my husband and it was pain free! It took several more months of stretching, relaxation and tens treatments before the pain that was present prior to having a baby was no longer present, but I would consider that considerably short given that the pain was a long-standing issue.
Caroline’s help has been invaluable to me and I can’t begin to thank her enough.
L.L. – Ottawa
Pelvic Pain
Words cannot express how thankful I am that I met you, and how much you have helped me. You literally gave me my life back. Last year I thought that endometriosis had won and my life would always be filled with 24 hours of pain. You gave me back control of my muscles. Your encouragement and kindness meant everything to me, especially when I was having a bad week.
C.N. – Ottawa
Pelvic Pain – Male
Not a prostatis!
For the last 10 years, specialists could not figure out why I had difficulty voiding and why I had pain in my urethra. These specialists performed numerous tests and could not find out the problem. They would then immediately diagnose me with chronic prostatitis and give me antibiotics to take for months – even years (on and off). At the end, it got to the point were I was experiencing bladder leakage throughout the day – which became very uncomfortable and disrupted my daily life.
Until one day… when a young urologist decided to send me to see Caroline Allen. I was sceptical at first, but within a few weeks, I started seeing the benefits of the pelvic physiotherapy treatment. I have seen Caroline every two weeks for about four to six months, and now I only see her every three months, or as needed. The bladder leakage is gone and the pain is under control. I am now conscious of my weak spot and better manage my pelvic muscles. It has changed my life.
Thank you Caroline!
A.B. – Ottawa