Unlock Your Body

In this episode of Unlock Your Body, Dr. Emma Codman is joined by Dr. Tayyaba Ahmed, a board-certified physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist who focuses on pelvic pain, chronic pain, sexual wellness, and menopause.  They talk about what a thorough pelvic pain workup looks like, from a full history and hypermobility screening to an internal exam and the specific MRI protocols that can catch things a standard scan might miss. Dr. Ahmed explains how SI joint instability, and mast cell issues can feed into a tight pelvic floor, and why treating the pelvic floor alone sometimes isn't enough. The conversation also touches on vaginismus vs. dyspareunia, and how dilators, pelvic PT, trigger point injections, Botox, and sex therapy can work together. Why "vulvodynia" describes pain rather than explains it, and how hormones, nerves, muscles, and skin conditions can all play a role. Pudendal neuralgia, nerve blocks, and compounded nerve creams. Arousal vs. libido vs. climax, plus treatment options like testosterone, Addyi, and clitoral creams. Genitourinary syndrome of menopause (GSM) and why Dr. Ahmed starts vaginal estrogen in her patients over 40. Managing endometriosis before and after surgery, including pelvic floor Botox and fertility planning. How the jaw and pelvic floor are connected and her best tip for finding a pelvic pain specialist outside New York. If you've felt dismissed or stuck in your pelvic health journey, this conversation is full of options worth bringing to your next appointment. Find Dr. Ahmed on Instagram at @drtayahmed. This episode is for educational purposes and isn't a substitute for individualized medical advice.

In this episode, endometriosis excision surgeon Dr. Chu joins Dr. Emma Codman to explain what endometriosis really is and why it's a whole-body inflammatory condition. She also explains why it so often goes undiagnosed for years. They talk about the symptoms to watch for, why early stage disease can be missed on ultrasound and MRI, and how treatment usually progresses from lifestyle changes and pain management to hormones and surgery. Dr. Chu also shares when to consider surgery, what to ask your surgeon about their technique, and why pelvic floor physical therapy still matters after excision. You'll also hear practical tips for getting ahead of pain flares and preparing for appointments. 

Getting a chronic illness diagnosis often comes after years of appointments, unanswered questions and being told it's all in your head. This isn't ok and should not be ignored. You deserve real mental health support. This week Dr. Emma Codman sits down with Kelsey Bates, a therapist with a master's in rehabilitation counseling and clinical mental health counseling who also lives with endometriosis. Kelsey shares how her team treats chronic illness as an ongoing medical trauma, and why she thinks pain reprocessing therapy on its own can leave endo and EDS patients feeling like they failed. They also talk through radical acceptance and what it actually means, how to prepare mentally for excision surgery, and why post-surgery depression is common and worth planning for. In this episode we discuss practical calming techniques to decrease stress, the limits of pain reprocessing therapy for conditions like endo and EDS, radical acceptance versus "just push through it," and much more. Find Kelsey and her team at womenscbt.com and on Instagram at @womenscbt. If you're in crisis or having thoughts of self-harm, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This episode is for educational purposes and isn't a substitute for individual medical or mental health care.

Getting a diagnosis for pelvic pain can take far longer than it should, and the road after diagnosis is rarely as simple as "have surgery and move on." If you've ever been told your pain was "dramatic" or "normal," you're not alone, and there is more support out there than many people realize. In this episode, Dr. Emma Codman interviews endometriosis-patient and advocate Zoe Armstrong, who spent 18 years getting answers. We cover what a long diagnostic delay can look like, what to expect from a first pelvic floor physical therapy visit, and what endometriosis recovery actually looks like. We also discuss scar tissue recovery, what pelvic floor physical therapy can do before and after excision surgery, conditions that complicate healing, at-home tools like silicone cupping and castor oil packs, and simple ways to advocate for yourself, whether in a doctor's office or in your everyday life.

Period pain is common, but severe pain that disrupts your day, keeps you home from work or school or requires you to plan your life around your cycle deserves attention. In this episode, Dr. Emma Codman, a pelvic floor physical therapist based in NYC, talks about painful periods, what can contribute to menstrual cramps and pelvic pain and how to think about the difference between common discomfort and symptoms that may require further evaluation. We also discuss the role of the pelvic floor, how muscle tension and pain can reinforce each other, treatment options that may help, and when it makes sense to talk with a gynecologist or pelvic floor physical therapist.  

Anxiety, stress, and physical pain are more connected than many people realize. If you've ever been told your symptoms are "all in your head," the truth is that your nervous system plays a real role in how your body feels pain and tension. In this episode, we talk with NYC based psychiatric physician assistant Victoria Starner (PA-C, CAQ-Psy) of Curated Mental Health. We cover how a nervous system stuck in fight or flight can affect your body, what to expect at a first psychiatry visit, and why starting medication doesn't have to be scary or permanent. We also discuss sexual side effects from medication, mental health medication during pregnancy, early signs of postpartum depression, PMDD and symptom tracking, and how to find a mental health provider who's the right fit.

A lot of pregnancy advice focuses on the baby, but what can you do to prepare your own body for birth and recovery? In this episode, Dr. Emma Codman, a pelvic floor physical therapist based in NYC, discusses pelvic health during pregnancy, with a particular focus on the final weeks before delivery. We cover changes to the pelvic floor, common pregnancy symptoms, movement and exercise, preparing for labor, perineal massage, pushing positions, and what pelvic floor physical therapy can offer before birth. We also talk about what symptoms shouldn't simply be dismissed as normal and how preparing before delivery may make postpartum recovery easier.  

How often should you have a bowel movement? Is straining normal? And what does your pelvic floor have to do with constipation? In this episode, Dr. Emma Codman, a pelvic floor physical therapist based in NYC, talks about the basics of bowel health, including constipation, stool consistency, straining, hemorrhoids, anal fissures, fiber, hydration and bathroom habits. We also explore how the pelvic floor helps coordinate bowel movements, what happens when those muscles aren't working together properly, and how pelvic floor physical therapy can help with certain bowel symptoms.  

Severe period pain is often normalized, but when does it become a sign that something more is going on? In this episode, Dr. Emma Codman, a pelvic floor physical therapist based in NYC, breaks down endometriosis, including common symptoms, why diagnosis can take so long, and how the condition can affect pelvic health, intimacy, bowel and bladder function, and everyday life. We also discuss where pelvic floor physical therapy can fit into endometriosis care, how muscle tension and chronic pain can interact and why treatment often involves more than simply addressing the endometriosis itself.

Tailbone pain can make sitting, exercising, driving and even going to the bathroom uncomfortable. The tough part is that the source of the problem isn't always obvious. In this episode, we talk with NYC based pelvic floor physical therapist Dr. Georgina Genovese (PT, DPT, PRPC) who specializes in tailbone and coccyx pain. We cover why tailbone pain happens, how the pelvic floor can be involved, what an evaluation may look like, and the different ways physical therapy can help. We also discuss common causes of coccyx pain, including falls, childbirth, prolonged sitting, muscle tension, and movement dysfunction, along with signs that it may be time to seek help.