Luca's Story*
Step 1
Luca discovered what mattered
Luca (he/him) is a 19-year-old university student who was referred by a pain specialist with 2 years of scrotal and coccyx pain. What started as discomfort after falling off his bike had evolved into constant pain affecting every aspect of his life. Sitting through lectures was torture, he'd stopped playing basketball with his mates, wasn’t having sex and he felt too embarrassed to tell anyone what he was going through. He'd convinced himself he was "broken" and worried this pain would define the rest of his life. Working together, we discovered that while the fall had initially caused the pain, Luca's pelvic floor muscles had become chronically tense, his nervous system had become sensitised, and he'd developed significant anxiety around sitting and exercise – all protective responses. Stress from university exams and poor sleep were amplifying his symptoms.
Luca's Pelvic Health Goals:
- Understand what's actually wrong with me - I need to know this isn't permanent.
- To sit comfortably through my uni lectures without having to stand up every 10 minutes - it's so embarrassing.
- Get back to playing basketball - I miss my team and feeling fit.
- Be able to go out with friends normally - sit in a restaurant and go to the movies.
- Stop being terrified of sitting and stop worrying about my pain 24/7.
- Feel confident enough to even think about dating - right now I can't imagine being intimate with anyone.
Step 2
Luca restored what mattered
Understanding that his pain was treatable and not permanent was transformative for Luca. Education about pain science helped him understand that tension in his pelvic floor muscles - not structural damage - were the major contributor. Using biofeedback, Luca learned how to connect with this pelvic floor and reduce tension, practicing this every day. Breathing exercises became his go-to tool for calming his nervous system and reducing pain with sitting. We incorporated stress management, mindfulness, and sleep optimisation. Movement practices gradually rebuilt confidence in his body and we were able to add cardio-vascular and weight training. As his sitting tolerance improved, we used a variety of strategies to progressively increase sitting time.
Step 3
Luca enjoyed what mattered
After 7 months, Luca was sitting through full days of lectures comfortably, back on the basketball court, and going out with friends without fear. He started dating and felt confident in his body again. After his first overnight hiking trip with friends, he sent us a photo of him sitting on a rock at the summit with the caption: "Never taking this for granted!" Luca transformed from an isolated, anxious young man who felt broken to a confident university student fully engaged in his life.