We know your pain, you are not alone, and there is hope. Don’t believe us? Check out these Sarton Physical Therapy testimonies.
Discover how people with conditions like yours found relief.
You would have been a tremendous detective! Glad you’re not! Without you and all you have done I would have never come this far!
She is a brilliant and compassionate woman – the best!
One in Ten women suffer from endometriosis. In honor of those women, & their loved ones who support them, I share this post. A couple weeks ago, Julie Carter Sarton invited me to do something I have never done…> to share my story with a group of people whom I have never met.> I shared almost the whole story with a surprising amount of struggle with the vulnerability I felt leading up to it! That I am only now posting on the last day of March, Endometriosis Month, may hint at how private I really am, even though I like to think of myself as being very open. Many women like me would rather no one know about the true level of suffering and instead, just plan every detail around it. It took about 17 years for me to find the excellent care I needed. There is so much hope and really great expertise sometimes hidden away. If you or someone you know is dealing with endometriosis, feel free to message me. The good Lord doesn’t waste anything–perhaps my experiences can help.
What a wonderful spirit, and her expertise is amazing!
(Had the urge to go every 20 minutes). That led to groin and pelvic pains, and a general ill feeling. I made it home to my family doctor, who checked for a urinary infection. Although that test was negative, he prescribed an antibiotic saying it was likely prostatitis. After a couple of weeks, the symptoms subsided. Over the next year, I had a couple more attacks. Each met with the same negative urinary infection test, prostate examines and antibiotic prescription. My family doctor finally sent me to a urologist, who also said I had prostatitis and likewise prescribed antibiotics. Another two years passed by and my urinary urge and pelvic pains got worse. My urologist put me on long term antibiotics. By then I had gone through five different antibiotics and a run of no less than nine straight months on antibiotics. After my own research I was concluding that I had a pelvic muscle problem – which in turn led to the pains and urinary urgency. I went to another urologist for a second opinion and he told me to immediately stop the antibiotics. He said my conclusion was right, but had no recommendation for treatment other than anti-inflammatory drugs like Motrin and possibly finding a pelvic pain therapist – but he cautioned that most in this area only treat women. After continued problems and searching, I finally found Dr. Julie Sarton. After my first meeting with Julie, I was hopeful as she seemed to understand what I have been through and the cause of my problems. Julie’s first treatment showed me my pelvic muscles were a real mess – very tense and tender. I was amazed at how treating the pelvic muscles would replicate the urinary urge and pains. After a few treatments I observed clear improvement. Now I am nearing two years later and I have been very successful in that I have been able to control and nearly eliminate my symptoms. Moreover, I have been antibiotic free since starting my treatments with Julie. It took me a long time to find Julie but I am thankful I did. She has saved me from a very frustrating condition. Better living through chemistry is not the solution to this very common problem for men. I want to help other men learn that there is a better solution than antibiotics and their root cause is something much different than the common diagnosis of a prostate problem. For me, my pelvic pain is caused by too much time on the freeway coupled with days full of siting in meetings and too much stress. The physical therapy treatment and advise that Julie provides is the answer for me – and it is the answer for many men suffering from this condition. I have learned to appreciate the complexity of the pelvic muscle structure. I am living much better than I had been and I hope the family physician and urologist community learn to understand the real causes for many of these cases.
My problems started in the third trimester of my pregnancy (October 2018). Everything started with vaginal burning which I thought was bacterial infection. Since it didn’t go away, I felt like something else was wrong. Vaginal burning shortly started spreading to other parts of my body – tailbone, inner thighs, rectum and finally, to my legs (wearing underwear felt uncomfortable). Even urination felt like burning. Towards the end of my pregnancy I wasn’t even able to sit or sleep which made me sad and depressed but everybody was convincing me that these horrible sensations will go away after giving birth. I googled my symptoms and read forums which helped me come to the conclusion that I could have vulvodynia or pudendal neuralgia – something I never heard about before but sounded horrible. The slightest hope I’ll get better disappeared after giving birth to my baby boy. In fact, it only got worse and I was severly depressed – luckily, my family helped me with my son while I was in so much pain and recovering from the c-section. Although my gynecologist recommended a doctor who prescribed medication (Cymbalta, 60mg) and I will always be grateful for that, I knew I had to find help because I didn’t want to be dependent on medications for the rest of my life. Finding Sarton Physical Therapy was a miracle and travelling to the other part of the world was hard but the right decision. I came from Croatia to California and spent 5 amazing weeks there. My therapy was very intensive and I had it 3-4 times a week in order to be able to start healing as soon as possible and return home to my son. I had physical therapy, massage, pilates and even tried guided imagery. Thanks to PT’s at Sarton, I enjoyed every day of my therapy and felt like I was at home.
Today, while I am writing this post, it has already been 5 weeks since I have returned back to Croatia. I am so happy to say that I’m almost 80% pain free and my healing journey continues. I’m having both pain free days and days which are not so good but I always try to stay positive. I am much more relaxed, enjoy every single day spent with my son, family and friends and laugh a lot. Nothing of this would be possible without the support of my husband, mom and my dad who accompanied me to California. I also have to thank dr. Allea Francis for changing my life and giving me hope that I will get better from the moment we had our first video session and to dr. Julie Sarton who is so passionate about helping people and who was like my second mom.
To all of you that are in pain or suffer in silence, please know you’re not alone. It can and will stop but you need to find help (if you can’t do it in your country, try to find it elsewhere like I did). Always trust your instinct even if others tell you it’s all in your head. Pain is real but don’t let it define you and take over your life. Don’t ever turn back to your family because they are here to support you unconditionally. That’s why it is important to celebrate every single day and the miracle of life which was given to you.
You honestly changed my hip-life. So many little things I have not done or adjusted to for so long that I didn’t realize how much it was impacting me! You are a wizard.
I highly recommend Sarton physio for anyone struggling with pelvic pain. I found Sarton physio through online patient forums where many other patients recommended them (because my local PTs were not able to help me). Five years ago I had a rare bladder infection that left me with tissue damage, inflammation, tightness, and scarring in my pelvis resulting in Pudendal Nerve (PN) pain and sitting problems. This has caused ongoing pain and limited my ability to work and function at times. I saw numerous pelvic PTs as recommended by my doctors in Vancouver Canada, but none were particularly knowledgeable or comfortable with PN PT. I had asked for internal and external work as outlined in the “headache in the pelvis” protocol, but was told I did not have trigger points and they were not trained in this area. Finally I decided to work only with experts in PN because it is so rare and I want to reduce pain and get back to working, and I traveled to California to work intensively for 10 days with the Sarton team. The experience was amazing and SO HELPFUL. First of all, the team immediately and easily identified all my internal trigger points.
After a full assessment they adjusted my therapy plan to focus on these, and the director, Julie Sarton, adjusted her busy schedule to accommodate seeing me regularly. At times I had two physios working with me simultaneously to corroborate their assessment. Because of their tremendous experience and knowledge with manual therapy, they could identify the source of the pain, and when things were too much or too little pressure to relieve pain. They combined internal work with external myofascial release, cupping, heat, and body rolling which provided me with many hours of complete pain relief. They added in adjunct therapies such as mindfulness and pain psychoeducation ( Book: why pelvic pain hurts) and helped me to clearly identify ongoing tissue pain, versus referred pain. They also helped me to communicate with PTs in my local area to properly explain what I needed on my return home.
PN issues are rare and this was the first time I was able to feel secure and safe that my provider had more knowledge than me; they were able to educate me on pain and on the pathways of my particular pain so that I felt more empowered, validated, and in control. Leaving Sarton I felt renewed hope, I felt supported and empowered, and more knowledgeable about a treatment plan that will help to reduce my pain over time. They provided me with a full assessment to take back to my PT in Canada as well as a daily self-care protocol to follow to reduce pain. They also continue to follow up with me. In my case, the etiology is muscoloskeletal and it will take ongoing self-care and PT to fully peel away those layers of tightness, but I see regular and increasing positive results that are lasting and hope inspiring. In fact I sat for five hours with no pain after leaving Sarton—I just have to be mindful to not push my limits and to keep up with the protocol to build sustainability in my sitting time. I was truly blown away by the care and expertise of this team. I believe they are the best in North America working on this issue. If you need local or out of town support then I highly recommend the Sarton team. Because PN issues are rare and because there are multiple paths (etiologies) that can lead to the same symptoms, it is important to have a proper physio assessment as part of your care approach. The team at Sarton can tell you if your symptoms will benefit from soft tissue therapies or not, and when you may need to look at other PN approaches. They knowledge of PN extends beyond PT so that they can help identify which path to healing may be most helpful to you. My primary PT at Sarton, also answered all of my psychosocial questions and gave me some input on ways to communicate better with my support network around PN pain. This physio work is very sensitive as well, and I highly commend the team for making me feel safe and comfortable and almost like family during my stay.
…but how does one thank a clinic and therapists that literally saved your life? On April 24, 2012, my husband and I walked in to Sarton Physical Therapy broken. I was broken physically, but my pelvic floor dysfunction had broken our spirit. I had gone a year untreated and misdiagnosed by doctors, chiropractors, and therapists. I distinctly remember walking in to the clinic, standing during the consultation and pacing the room as we discussed what I was going through. It was the first time I was really heard, felt understood, and diagnosed.
After a thorough investigation, my PT confirmed what I feared the most. I likely had Pudendal Neuralgia. I couldn’t sit without pain, any physical activity spasmed my pelvic floor, and I had nervy sensations all throughout my female parts. I felt like I was sitting on a golf ball almost all of the time. The sensations started the moment I opened my eyes and remained until the moment I went to bed. It not only was uncomfortable, it messed with me emotionally. I can remember asking her, “Can I get better?”. She answered, “Yes”. And although I didn’t really believe her at the time, we sprung into action.
Sarton PT navigated my entire healing journey. They got me to the correct Pain Management Doctor (Dr. Frank King), who prescribed medications to calm the nervous system and muscle relaxers for the pelvic floor. They advised me to see Dr. Michael Hibner in Arizona, at that time mostly just to set my heart at ease that we were on the right track. Lastly, we began extensive pelvic floor physical therapy. I drove to Tustin, one hour away from my home, three times a week at its peak for therapy. I didn’t miss an appointment and I followed their advice to a t. It was a full time job. Each time I went, I felt a tiny bit better. I did not see dramatic changes for a long time. In fact, the recovery has been more like a roller coaster. Ups and downs for which I have learned to weather with ease rather than ramp up my emotions and nervous system which likely would cause more pain.
One might ask, “How did this happen?”. At this point, it’s all conjecture. I am a 34 year old female, former triathlete, competitive swimmer, mother of two, and teacher. We believe that my body was probably brewing this perfect storm for some time. I had history of Iliotibial Band problems from running, sacroiliac joint dysfunction likely inherited from my mother, and a long labor with my large headed son. Bam. There you have it.
The good news, though, two years later after countless hours of physical therapy, hours in the gym retraining my core muscles and ridding my body of compensatory measures, and at home treatments, I am 90% recovered. If you go online, read about Pudendal Neuralgia, no one gets better. The doctors at Sarton PT instructed me to get off the forums, blogs, and facebook pages. They were not helping in any way, in fact they would breed anxiety and fear. But, I am living breathing proof that you can recover from Pudendal Neuralgia.
I am still under their care and will continue until I am 100%. Now, I know that I will get there. Without Sarton Physical Theapy, their always calming reassurance and expert manual therapy techniques, I would not be the woman that I am today. Today, I went to the gym, cared for my children, took care of my home, and lived a normal life. I am happy, joyful, and very thankful for her healing hands and the work that Sarton Physical Therapy does.
With the greatest of gratitude,
Today, two days after I returned from US, I am sure I will come out of it. If not 100%, definitely to the level that I won’t suffer any more and could enjoy my life fully. It is a matter of time and my patience only. Already in US, even after the first session with you all, I felt like my symptoms improved significantly. Two days before leaving US, I was “Leaving Las Vegas,” after spending more than 10 hours driving with no pain symptoms at all. Sitting in the airplane on my way back home for another 13 hours didn’t cause any remarkable pain either. Today I feel fantastic. Full of hope, able to sit as long as I need (if I feel a bit worse, I know what to do to stop it), sleeping at night (even having some sweating, but not driving me to stress much). Even sensation improved by 30% (!). But what is most important, every single stretch, self-treatment and exercise lead to remarkable improvements. Even though initially for a short time, it’s repeatable and cumulative and works immediately. Summarizing, you fixed me (!)…… brought me to the level that my organism can take a lead and start healing itself.
THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! I achieved what I expected.
When I first came to them I was in pain 24/7 with Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. After many treatments the pain is almost gone. They have given me many tools to treat myself at home. They have helped me get off of all medications. All of the physical therapist are so knowledgeable to help get me out of pain. If you are suffering from PFD, IC, pain with intercourse, incontinence, or any bladder issue go to Sarton you won’t regret it.
My muscles were so tight and contracted. After seeing Joanne (JoJo) I can now pee on my own without any pain and I feel as if my bladder has been empty. Also, I no longer have pain during sex. My muscles are pretty much healed and back to normal. Joanne has been such an amazing therapist. I couldn’t ask for anything better :) I feel like I am starting to get my life back together after 2 years of pain and constantly feeling uncomfortable. The staff here is wonderful! The ladies at the front desk know me by name as soon as I walk in. They always have a huge smile on their face and make me feel welcomed. I would also recommend Becky as well. Both Joanne and Becky have helped me while I have been apart of Sarton.
I can’t say enough about Dr. Sarton and her wonderful staff. I have a very popular California HMO and was first referred to physical therapy by a Urologist who (after 6 months of going round and round with multiple doctors at said HMO) finally diagnosed me with pelvic floor dysfunction. I was finally happy that they figured out what was going on with me but I could not get my first PT appointment for 9 weeks! This is when I went outside my HMO and found Sarton Physical Therapy. I finally did try my HMO PT and then couldn’t get my second appointment for another three weeks! Not only that, I was just disappointed with the whole treatment. I think she did an actual 15 minutes of actual physical therapy so I went right back to Sarton. This is what they specialize in and after just 4 sessions, I feel 90% better. I will not even try to go back to my HMO.
The treatments and exercises prescribed to me have helped me greatly with my incontinence issues. The therapists were very kind and really put me at ease and made me feel comfortable with the process. I learned so much about my body and what can be done to relieve my problems. I have finished my sessions, but I know if I continue with the advice and exercises that she gave me, I will continue to do well. Thank you Sarton PT!
The Lord has blessed you with hands of healing. Thank you for helping get my Interstitial Cystitis under control.
I came here after the birth of my second child because I was experiencing constant back and pelvic pain. It was affecting my mood and my ability to care for my kids. Julie Sarton is great at diagnosing your condition and is just a wealth of knowledge. Every time I meet her, I feel like I am getting a crash course on human anatomy and body mechanics. I hope she writes a book one day.
I have seen almost all the therapists at Sarton, and I can honestly say that each one is fantastic. They have worked on my weak core, my tight pelvis, and have given me tools and exercises to “be my own therapist”. Lisa, the pilates instructor, really knows her stuff and I look forward to seeing her. She is kind and doesn’t judge my wobbly body, and makes each workout interesting.
I always feel like I’m walking a little taller & straighter after seeing Bobby, the massage therapist. Lynn and Angelica, the staff at the front desk, are so patient in scheduling appointments. I feel very lucky to live in OC and have access to Sarton. Being pain-free is such a blessing.
I finally feel like there is some hope for my core strength (or lack thereof after having my babies Jan ’14 & Sept ’15). She’s super knowledgeable and really understands all the changes that take place during and after pregnancy and labor. I only wish I had found her sooner to start the rehab process of my super stretched abdominal muscles, and that I had known to see her during pregnancy to strengthen but also learn to relax my pelvic floor during labor. Anything that could have helped me have an easier shorter less traumatic labor would have been worth its weight in gold. I recommend any mamas to be or recovering mamas to see her right away , I’m sure there’s some aspect she can help every woman with. Looking forward to regaining some strength and to my next appointment.
I had the pleasure of working with Lisa, who is the Pilates instructor at Sarton. As I was 23 weeks pregnant at that time, I needed help in strengthening my core to prepare for baby’s growth (and increased back pain as a result!) as well as help with better blood flow to minimize swelling. Lisa really took the time to understand my unique needs and situation, and created a customized program for me. I have worked with personal trainers before that I felt were merely trying to kill time during our sessions. Lisa, on the other hand, provided me with as much information as possible during our time together, so I never felt like my money and time were wasted.
Unfortunately, I only got to work with Lisa three times as I was temporarily visiting California from out of state. (My sister, who is a Sarton patient, recommended working with Lisa during my visit). But I felt I had enough information and hands on exercise tips to continue working out on my own throughout my pregnancy.
Thank you, Lisa, for your caring and beneficial sessions!
I went to see Julie, who was immensely helpful in teaching me the correct ways to recover. She taught me strengthening exercises, about the importance of balancing both sides of the body, and was a wealth of information on how the body works. She always said she would teach me “to be your own therapist” and I think I’m doing better at managing my much improved symptoms on my own. My visits with her were a ray of light in what was a dark time of recovery for me. She told me I would continue to get better, and I have been when before I didn’t understand what was going on with my body. If you’ve visited physical therapists who don’t seem effective in addressing your postpartum issues then you should really do yourself a favor and visit this clinic. I have absolutely no regrets about the time and money that I have invested here.
With 3rd degree tearing, scar tissue, pelvic pain and some prolapse after baby, Sarton brought me back to life. I have been going here for 6 months seeing Becky Paulson and Julie Sarton. Their passion and knowledge of the pelvic floor is unmatched in a boutique spa like experience. During the hour long sessions they provided me with relief, healing, hope and encouragement. They will even work with your OB to make sure you are receiving the best treatment possible to reach your physical/emotional goals during recovery. I am forever grateful to Sarton and would highly recommend coming to them either postpartum or during pregnancy.
A few months after a major surgery 5 years ago, I began to have pelvic pain symptoms that felt like a bladder infection with no infection present. After a series of humiliating tests and misdiagnoses, I was finally referred to pelvic floor physical therapy. I was scared, in lots of pain and had no idea what to expect. Not only did Julie’s team ease me into the process at a pace that was comfortable for me, but I saw real results and significant decrease in my pain within the first few visits. I started with weekly appointments for the first few months, then was able to decrease the number to bi-weekly, then monthly as the time between my appointments and the return of the pelvic pain increased. After a few years of therapy once a month, incorporating stretching, foam rolling and exercises I could do at home, I got to the point where the pain no longer returned. I am forever grateful to Julie and the whole Sarton Physical Therapy team!
The clinic has a very inviting atmosphere that provides a sense of comfort from the moment you enter. Although known for expertise in pelvic floor dysfunction, I believe Sarton PT excels in any condition or injury requiring PT rehabilitation. Following surgical repair of a torn meniscus and torn MCL, I was sent to another clinic where I was aggressively rehabbing. Unfortunately, treatment was too aggressive and I struggled with constant inflammation and the formation of calcium deposits. Upon meeting with my surgeon, we discussed possible surgical intervention as I continued to fall behind in rehab goals and struggle with ADL’s and quality of life. I visited Sarton PT and was paired with Brooke. Through weekly visits, use of their Rapid Release Technology and a unique program designed for me to follow between visits, we had a break through. I am now 6 months post-op and have progressed ahead of the rehabilitation curve according to my Orthopedic Surgeon while we are no longer discussing surgical intervention. My ADL’s and quality of life have drastically improved. I owe this to Sarton PT, Julie Sarton and her team of amazing Physical Therapists.
There was only the constant aching belief that life would always be this way. For eighteen months, my life was filled with despair, with pain, and with tears. Each day crawled by and deepened the black hole that consumed my thoughts, my nighttime dreams and any shred of hope that my life would return to anything even close to what it was before. As I look back now on those dark days and nights, I can still feel the depth of despair, and say with certainty that despair is no longer part of my world. During that time, I could not see even a pinprick of light at the end of the tunnel. There was only blackness surrounding me in every action and every thought.
Let me tell you how I came to be in that darkness and what it was that dispelled it. A surgery to repair abdominal tissues and insert a bladder sling brought low-level pelvic muscle dysfunction to a critically high level. This caused my entire body to respond by tightening up. The symptoms included a bloated and tender torso, tissues everywhere in my body to expand with fluid, a complete shut down of the elimination system that required daily use of enemas, and daily tears for the things I lost – my health, my body, and my life as I knew it.
For eighteen months, I did not know about pelvic floor dysfunction and neither did the parade of sixteen medical specialties that I saw one-by-one. As the eighteen-month mark approached, another problem surfaced. The bladder sling moved and could now be felt upon vaginal internal exam. My gyn referred me to a surgeon to discuss removal surgery. During the first vaginal exam, after the surgeon felt the sling, she touched the deep internal pelvic floor muscles and sent me through the roof with completely unexpected and intense pain. She was as shocked as I was. Before I left that appointment, I had the name and number of Julie Sarton, Pelvic Health Physical Therapy Specialist, and a directive to see Julie at least three times before the surgery scheduled five weeks later to remove the sling.
I met with Julie and during the initial evaluation, she heard me and understood all my symptoms and knew the reason for my pain and knew how to fix it! At the end of that time with Julie, a light appeared at the end of the tunnel! That very first pelvic floor physical therapy appointment made a huge difference in how I felt! The pain was reduced and hope was restored! I saw Julie three times before the surgery and several times after. Julie gave me exercises to do at home and taught me to recognize tight muscles in a part of my body in which I previously had no awareness. My torso is no longer bloated and tender. The tissues that were filled with fluid all over my body are slowly returning to normal. Enemas are no longer necessary. My body now functions normally in that way.
This short summation of the hellacious eighteen months can hardly capture the depth of despair I felt every day, every hour, and the new feeling of joy for knowing I have my body and my life back! Julie’s knowledge, expertise and sweet caring attitude has transformed my life in a way I never expected and could not believe possible.
Pelvic floor dysfunction is real. It presents a wide range of very painful and very distressing symptoms. With your cooperation and willing involvement, Julie can give you your health and your health body back just like she gave me mine! I call Julie my angel!
The therapists at Sarton Physical therapy are truly some of the most amazing, caring & dedicated women I’ve ever met. They have helped me with everything from pelvic pain, lack of mobility, incontinence, constipation & sexual disfunction. They have coordinated my treatment plan and are more than determined to help me improve every week. I can honestly say I would never have been able to make the progress I’ve made without them. The work they do is often quite intimate, but they make you feel so comfortable as if it’s no big deal. I am more than determined to get back to where I was before the surgery. With the help of these therapists I know I will get there. I’m eternally grateful for the expertise & dedication.
Additionally, the ladies at the desk Debbie & Lynn are so helpful with appointments. Often times I’m looking for a cancellation & they always manage to get me in.
This was a whole new world to me, I had never even heard of pelvic floor therapy prior to my surgery. SARTON PT has been a blessing! I would be happy to speak to anyone about my experience.
There are defining moments in our lives that permanently change us, and this desmoid tumor diagnosis was definitely one of mine. Things were now different, and you cannot go back to the way they were before. I realized that in order to be happy, I would have to let go of the picture I had in my mind of the way that it was “supposed” to be and accept what was happening and where I am right now, in this moment. To move forward in life, sometimes we have to let go…read Laura’s full story—including a rare sarcoma, an abdominal wall desmoid tumor, the size of a softball, that was surgically removed and replaced with synthetic mesh—> here> .
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