Stephanie Prendergast of San Francisco

[tymad]

I have just returned from San Francisco where I visited Stephanie Prendergast of Pelvic Pain Rehab. The therapists are amazing and have dedicated their practice to this condition. They truly understand the anatomy of the pelvic floor and all the muscles which make it up. I spent a week of 2 hours per day of treatment which has really helped. The most important part is that they are compassionate and provide the patient with a true understanding of what is going on which helps with the mental part of the condition. Stephanie sits on various boards and is a real advocate for this condition. I highly recommend them.

[Jay]

I'd like to chime in on this. I'll first say that I have not been a patient of Stephanie Prendergast. However, I emailed her a number of questions about physical therapy for CPPS, and she was very detailed and prompt in her replies. I appreciated that she was willing to give me some guidance and reassurance, even though she knew there was no chance of getting business out of me due to the distance between us.

[webslave]

Note also
viewtopic.php?f=45&t=5412
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5568

[popburner]

I would like to third this :) - Stephanie and Liz are VERY knowledgeable (this is all they do) and are ACTIVISTS as well. They single-handedly got Oprah's producers to look at PT as a viable treatment option for vulvodynia after she tried to tape a show not addressing the possibility of pelvic floor dysfunction. They are hard working, and VERY committed to their patients.

[webslave]

My personal experience of Prendergast and Weiss was not good, but that had nothing to do with medical treatment. However, after the way they treated me over a business issue, I would be wary of seeing them. YMMV.

[neis]

An old boss said to me at a young age, if you can't dazzle 'em with brilliance, baffle 'em with bulls**t. I don't know which is the case with these two. I remember feeling "why did I ask that question" with Stephanie, with most answers being highly technical with terminology only those trained would know, which I took more as a *look how smart I am* answer, than a helpful one. They charge outrageous fees, and I've spoken to other PT's who concur, even though they've been at it a lot shorter period than the others I saw. As I said before, they located zero trigger points with me, but assured me if I kept at it for a year things would improve. Yea, they go around to seminars and symposiums forcefully espousing their view, but in reality have no better track record than any others treating chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome with PT alone, and know no more than any of us as to the true cause(s). They're a one size fits all, and damn good at selling it. To those on the board who see them, are you better? I've emailed a few here who say , well maybe some reduction in pain from their PT, but a long way from pain free. Time alone resolves some of the pain in most patients, without PT. If you're in the Bay Area, see Tim Sawyer first. His expertise with men with chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome is unmatched. This is my first hand experience.