Show Notes
Many people living with chronic pelvic pain hold onto the hope that if they just wait long enough, their pain will eventually just go away. You rest. You avoid certain activities. You give it time. But months pass. Sometimes years. And the pain is still there. In this episode, Rachel explains why time alone doesn’t heal chronic pelvic pain, and what actually creates healing. If you've been stuck in the frustrating cycle of waiting and hoping things will improve on their own, this conversation will help you understand what’s really happening in your body and why a different approach is needed. Chronic pain isn’t simply a matter of tissues needing more time to recover. When chronic pelvic pain persists beyond normal healing timelines, it often means the nervous system has learned a protective pattern that continues to generate symptoms even when the body itself is safe. True healing happens when the nervous system begins to receive new signals of safety. In this episode, Rachel breaks down the three key areas where safety must be rebuilt in order to retrain the nervous system and move out of chronic pelvic pain. If you’ve been waiting for time to heal you, this episode will help you understand why that hasn’t worked and what can. And most importantly, it will remind you that healing is still possible.
In This Episode Why it’s completely normal to believe that time will heal chronic pelvic pain The difference between acute injury pain and chronic pain Why persistent symptoms often mean the nervous system has learned a protective pattern How waiting, resting, and avoiding can unintentionally reinforce pain pathways The three types of safety your nervous system needs in order to heal Why healing chronic pelvic pain requires active nervous system retraining, not just time
Mentioned in This Episode Listen to the Understanding Pain Series (Episodes 2–6) for a deeper explanation of pain science and neuroplastic symptoms.
Ready to Go Deeper? If you’re ready to stop waiting for your pain to go away and start actively retraining your nervous system, Rachel invites you to join her coaching program: Beyond Chronic Pelvic Pain This 4-month coaching container helps you: Understand what’s actually driving your symptoms Retrain your nervous system out of chronic pain Build safety in your body, yourself, and your life Return to living a full and empowered life while you heal The program includes a structured curriculum plus weekly live coaching calls with Rachel for guidance and support as you apply this work to your own body and life. You can learn more here.
Connect with Rachel Follow me on Instagram: @thepelvicpaincoach Get Your Free Pain Flare Plan (download): https://thepelvicpaincoach/painflareplan
Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
More from Heal Your Chronic Pelvic Pain
What can you do when a pain flare is loud, uncomfortable, and not something you can make stop in the moment? A building fire alarm kept going off for two weeks, sometimes during coaching calls and sometimes in the middle of the night. The experience reminded me of what it was like to live with chronic pelvic pain: knowing what was happening didn’t make the sensations disappear, and I couldn’t always change the situation right away. In this episode, I share how I supported myself through those moments, from putting in earbuds so I could keep coaching to noticing the comfort of my bed while I waited for the alarm to turn off. We talk about acknowledging discomfort without pretending it isn’t there, choosing what might support you, and considering whether you want to take a values-aligned action or rest. There’s no right or wrong choice. For me, showing up for the things I cared about, even when my symptoms were intense, supported my sense of agency. Your choice may look different. The invitation is to ask what you need and how you want to spend the time while you wait for the flare to pass. In this episode: Why knowing a symptom is a false alarm doesn’t always make the discomfort go away
If you've ever frozen on the exam table, or spent the drive home replaying everything you wish you'd said, this episode is for you. For so many of us with chronic pelvic pain, gynecologist visits are part of the recovery journey. And they can be really hard, both physically and emotionally. Many providers aren't trained in trauma-informed care or familiar with conditions like vaginismus and vulvodynia, which means it often falls on us to speak up for what we need. In this episode, I'm sharing the things I didn't know I could ask for when I was healing, so you can walk into your next appointment feeling more prepared and a little more in control. In this episode: Why telling your provider about pain with penetration out loud matters (even if it's already on your intake form)
When I was living with chronic pelvic pain, I believed that if I had symptoms, I was suffering. It felt impossible to enjoy my life or loosen my urgency to heal while pain was still there. Because I felt like I was always suffering.
Do you have to quit your job, leave your relationship, move, or completely restructure your life in order to heal?
Even though no one can do the healing work for you, that doesn’t mean you have to do it alone.