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.
First, you validated that there was something going on in the muscles and tissue that was causing sex to be painful–i.e. it was not “all in my head.” You gave me exercises and tools with which I could treat myself. You treated me manually and released so much of the tightness. You also confirmed what I had suggested to my doctor: that I had indeed experienced atrophy and you referred me to an expert to treat this. I can’t tell you enough how much your abundant dedication, kindness and skill have helped me. You knew what I needed and you made sure I got 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.
Sarton Physical Therapy is a fantastic facility for anyone suffering from pelvic floor problems. The pelvic floor therapists are highly educated, experienced, skilled and very patient and understanding. Julie Sarton is responsible for a large deal of research on pelvic floor problems and continues to teach the medical community. I am so grateful for Julie bridging the gap between patients in pain and doctors who are under-educated in the area of pelvic floor dysfunction. Sarton Physical Therapy treats the WHOLE person for pelvic floor dysfunction. Among the modalities: pelvic floor therapy, laser therapy, Pilates, massage therapy. I have received educational tools: stretching instructions, book suggestions and connection with a therapist to help “unpack the mind”. This is a great place to heal!
I attended the out of Town Program for chronic pelvic pain. I have 5 children and could barely participate in their lives due to pain. I had tried so many treatments including other physical therapists. Sarton Physical Therapy was truly a lifesaver for me! They gave me hope when I felt entirely alone and thought I would live a life of profound and debilitating pain and agony.
While this sounds ‘dramatic’, each day was stretching out longer than the prior one. In particular Allea, Julie, and Zeena were there for me to help me on my journey to health. They were highly professional, very knowledgeable and educated me on my home program. They had positive attitudes as well and it was infectious! The entire staff changed my life and I am so grateful! I cannot endorse them enough!
I had difficulty doing simple things such as getting up out of a chair, being able to vacuum and do other household chores, being able to bend over to tie my own shoes, being able to travel; or sit greater than 30 minutes. With Julie’s help and PT, I have been able to overcome 90% of my problems and pain. I am very grateful for Julie’s support, treatment and teaching that has resulted in my regaining of my life. I even have gained enough stability and strength to resume my passion, gardening. I am able to travel now and the most rewarding, I am able to once again share pain-free intercourse with my husband of 39 years.
These ladies worked at both Hoag hospital and UCI and have vast knowledge and resources. They are able to refer you to the best doctors to work in conjunction with your issues. I truly believe that these ladies know more about pelvic pain than any doctor I have seen, and I have seen many, that usually give up on me. These ladies are constantly going to the latest conferences to craft their skills. They also have an on-site masseuse and a couple of pilates instructors that can work in conjunction to help you with your pelvic floor problems. Also, they are extremely sweet, hard-working, and funny, so you get two types of therapy in one session – one that works physically on your pelvic floor problem and the other mentally to cheer you up after being treated!
When I first discovered them I was suffering from Pudendal Neuralgia and had been to many doctors. Julie helped diagnose me which was so important. After seeing her for a period my pain went away compltely, something I had not thought possible. I was also, with her help, able to have children, which doctors had said was not possible. I was fine all thru the pregnancies, as well as after I recovered so well I was able to play Volleyball again and resume work full time, with kids. When my L4 disk went out recently (12 years later) I went to Sarton PT again and am currently well again, after just 5 months this time. Julie has become an expert in the field of pelvic floor rehabilitation and has an amazing positive and proven track record with many patients. She has organized an incredibly skilled team and is versed in all the areas necessary to heal. Muscle Skeleton, nutrition, PT, rubs, massage, Guided Imagrey, they have it all under one roof… and all of it plays a crucial role in healing. She has figured out and cured many very difficult injuries… including mine.
They strive to treat pelvic pain from a holistic, patient-centered standpoint and are dedicated to incorporating any and all evidence-based practices into their treatments for the wellness of their patients! As a current healthcare professional and future nurse, I can appreciate the compassionate and positive atmosphere that is Sarton PT and know I will always be in good hands when I walk through their doors.
I am so happy to have found Sarton PT and specifically, Dr. Allea Francis because she has helped me completely turn my life around since I started working with her last January. I went from being unable to tie my shoes without horrible pelvic/SI joint/back pain (at age 27 mind you) to being able to juggle working 12-hour hospital shifts and going to nursing school full time in less than a year! If that’s not a success story, I don’t know what is, but I do know that Sarton PT helped me get there.
In short, if you are ready to start your pelvic floor healing journey, there is no better place to start than Sarton PT! I cannot praise or thank them and Dr. Allea Francis enough for giving me my life back!
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.
At that point, the pain had begun to affect every aspect of my daily living and I could no longer be the athlete I had always trained to be. I went from being a woman who weight lifted, mountain biked, played rugby and practiced Muay Thai at a high-performance level to a woman who was unable to tie her own shoes due to immense pain. I saw several doctors and received dozens of injections (epidurals, facet blocks, hip blocks, SI joint blocks, PRP, prolotherapy) to absolutely no avail. It wasn’t until one doctor said, “maybe you have pelvic pain, and in that case, I can’t help you” that my true journey to pelvic floor wellness and pain management began. I began to do extensive research to find the best pelvic floor physical therapy clinics in southern California and was extraordinarily lucky to find Sarton Physical Therapy just a stone’s throw away! Dr. Allea Francis (or Allea, as I call her), has been my physical therapist since my first day when I came in with no expectations after so many years of pain and feeling betrayed by my own body. After the very first session of receiving holistic patient education and top quality pelvic floor PT, my mind and body began to change for the better. My life has only been on the upswing since then, and every week (now every other week because I’m doing so well) that I go in, I feel stronger, more flexible and simply put, more able to live the life I was meant to live. The timing of finding Sarton PT could not have come at a better time in my life, as I had just been accepted into my top choice of accelerated graduate nursing programs and I was terrified that I would be unable to keep up with the rigor and physical demands of the program. Thanks to Allea, and by extension, Sarton PT, I have excelled both academically and physically because pelvic pain DOES NOT RULE MY LIFE ANYMORE!
Could she help me with my recent bout of bowel incontinence; exercise/diet induced? YES. She taught me Kegels correctly, was gentle and compassionate. She also was knowledgeable about nutrition and how my diet influenced my issue. Thank you Sarton Physical Therapy for taking care of me and giving me hope! Sherine said: “It’s a muscle, work it like I said and you will be better!” Yay!
Joanne at Sarton Physical Therapy has changed my life. I was hesitant to make an appointment at first but I am so happy I did! Although I had a strong core from years of pilates, I had a weak pelvic floor which lead to stress incontinence and mad dashes to the bathroom. I just thought this was normal as one got older. I was surprised to learn, IT’S NOT!
Through education, muscle awareness and practice I am a different person-a better person.
Joanne is patient, knowledgeable, compassionate and understanding. She explains everything completely and thoroughly. I appreciate her matter of fact demeanor and her sense of humor which makes a potentially awkward situation completely normal. She truly cares about me and wants me to improve. I am so thrilled that I met her.
I am not exaggerating when I say that pelvic floor physical therapy at Sarton Physical Therapy with Joanne is LIFE CHANGING!
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.
I came to Sarton Physical Therapy for urinary urgency and hip pain. The care was extraordinary by Dr. Allea Francis which was exceptional and beyond measure. After an evaluation and two visits, my hip pain and urgency was completely gone!!! I’ve realized with Dr. Allea how important pelvic health and how the pelvic floor affects everything. Anyone who suffers from these ailments, should seek out treatment at Sarton PT. Dr. Allea is an amazing woman!
…of the tremendous transformation I’ve just encountered through the efforts of Sarton PT. I have gone form 6 bathroom calls a day, with all the attendant toilet paper, wipes and diaper (fecal incontinence) to only 2 ( with a tremendous cost savings in paper products) in a period of only 4 weeks and 4 treatments.
For any physician who works in this area, the strengthening of the pelvic floor muscles is the answer for a normal life. I strongly recommend your services below to all my doctors and their colleagues.
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.
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 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.
As a new mom who just gave birth to her first baby and should be experiencing the happiest moments in her life, I was dealing with the most excruciating pain 24/7. I was depressed, sad and felt hopeless because I didn’t understand what was going on. All I kept asking myself every single day was: “Why me God?” I couldn’t eat, sleep, sit or take care of my newborn. This burning pain took over my life as well as my vagina, rectum, inner thighs, sacrum and legs. Luckily I came across Sarton Physical Therapy and met two amazing women: Dr. Allea Francis and Julie Carter Sarton.
They taught me to believe that healing is possible and to embrace my body no matter what because it will pay me back. Today, three months after returning back home from the States, I realized they were right. Although I’m still not completely pain free, I’m really close to achieving that goal and the most important thing—I have my life back again. I can sit, sleep, drive my car and enjoy the role of a mom, wife, daughter, granddaughter, niece, cousin, aunt, godmother, maid of honour and a friend. I’ve remembered how it feels to laugh again and I’ve learnt that health shouldn’t be taken for granted because when it comes to that, you are and should be the most important to yourself—and everything is about you. If you’ll ever have pelvic floor or similar issues, you need to know that you’re not alone and that help exists—it’s called Sarton and it’s always here for you.
I am so happy I finally saw a PFPT. 2 kids in less than 18 months did a lot on my body and while I don’t have many glaring symptoms it was good to go in and LEARN about my body and how to use it to the best of my ability as I recover. Karen was also the sweetest! Sherine was so helpful in getting me to understand and helped me visualize what i needed. It may sound odd, but I’m excited to go back!
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.
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!
Two and a half years ago I was diagnosed with Stage 3 Pelvic Floor Disorder (PFD) after a hysterectomy. I opted for the Trans Vaginal Mesh surgery with the understanding that I would be “fixed”. I was “fixed” for about three months and then my pelvic floor started to fall again. PFD doesn’t just impact ones ability to urinate, defecate, and have intercourse, but it’s extremely uncomfortable, and exhausting to have your organs laying on top of each other.
I found a new Urogynocologist thinking that I would just get another surgery and get “fixed” again. Most of my PFD symptoms had returned and I was in constant pain and discomfort, I had chronic UTI’s which caused me to start to become resistant to antibiotics. My new doctor said my repair was fine and I did not require another surgery, but I had a chronic condition I needed to learn to live with. I still had a weak pelvic floor and the surgery helped in that the organs were back inside my body, but my muscles were not strong enough to keep them in place throughout the day. She told me my pain was not from the mesh, but from muscle spasms as my pelvic floor struggled to support the mesh which was supporting my organs and I needed physical therapy for my pelvic floor. I had no idea what that entailed, to say I was skeptical is an understatement. However, at this point I had nothing too lose and figured I’d go one time, think it was a waste of time and quit, but at least I could report back to my doctor I tried it. I was desperate to find a solution to my pain and discomfort.
The staff at Sarton is stellar and they take great pride in what they do, but more importantly they believe in what they do. I was expecting the facility to be cold, uninviting and clinical like the many doctor offices I had been in over the last two years, but it was welcoming, comfortable and I kid you not, spa like. At Sarton they understand that by the time a patient sees them they have been to numerous doctors, feel hopeless and are desperate for help. Sarton understands the emotional toll pelvic pain has on their patients and family members. Not only are they extremely respectful due to the nature of the subject matter but they provide emotional support and more importantly they provide hope.
I have been going to a Sarton for over 6 months and I am now a believer. I have learned exercises to strengthen my pelvic floor and increase my endurance. I do my exercises every night as if practicing a religion. I physically feel better now than I have in the last two years. Am I “fixed”? No, I will never be fixed, but my quality of life is back, and I have no pain or muscle spasms. It’s been a long journey and I will have to do my pelvic floor exercises the rest of my life if I want to continue to have normal bladder, bowel and sexual function. I’m extremely grateful to everyone at Sarton for their support. Sarton doesn’t just treat the disorder, they treat the whole person.
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!
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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