Dr. Matthew Lindemann

ABOUT ME

I went into medicine to be a primary-care doctor. But in medical school, my first clinical rotation was in surgery, and I was struck by the realization, “I have to do this.”

During my residency, I discovered how safe and effective minimally invasive laparoscopy surgery is, particularly in treating women’s chronic pelvic pain. As I began practicing medicine, more and more patients recommended me to family and friends experiencing pelvic pain. So, endometriosis and chronic pain naturally became the focus of my practice from women recommending me to other women.

After twenty years, I’ve developed a reputation in our community for successfully treating pelvic pain to the point where I very likely perform more laparoscopies than anyone in the state. In fact, I am qualified by a national designation of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology as an expert in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery.

I have a special interest in women with chronic pelvic pain because it is an underserved and underappreciated problem. Endometriosis is a painful and potentially dangerous condition of the uterus that affects as many as 10% of American women. Yet, it often takes four to seven years to be diagnosed when they start having problems. Having a period is a physiological process; it’s normal for a woman to have a period. Yet, some have periods that are more complicated than others. Still, they have no way of knowing what is normal except by asking their mother. Yet, many older women answer, “Well, I had heavy, painful periods, too.” Even if they talk to their doctor about it, many primary care physicians don’t know much about it.

So, it’s very frustrating for them, and they can even become despondent to the point where their period starts to take over their life. During that week, they don’t feel like doing anything. They just want to lie in bed with a heating pad. They don’t feel like going to work, so their career suffers, or they don’t feel like going to school, so their education suffers. It can cause painful intercourse, so it impacts romantic relationships.

I found that most patients are desperate to tell their stories by the time they get to me. A patient will guide you to the problem – you just have to listen.

I focus on what my patient tells me and use that to develop a holistic treatment because pelvic pain is often a multi-factor issue. Lots of things can contribute to it. For example, pain can affect a woman’s psychology; her pain influences her mental health and vice versa. These things are linked. So, I use a comprehensive, coordinated approach that combines a multi-disciplinary team and may include counseling, a gastrointestinal doctor, a pain doctor, a nutritionist, and even yoga.

Many women are desperate for someone to believe them after they’ve suffered pelvic pain and painful periods all these years and tried to get help many times. When they come to me, because I have treated endometriosis and chronic pain in many women for more than 20 years, I can say, “Look, I believe you. Let’s do something about it.”

A woman should be able to live without worrying about how debilitating her period will be. A period should not be a focus of your life that you and your entire family must work around.  No doctor can promise they’ll fix every condition in every patient every time. But I can guarantee I care about you and will listen to you. And I guarantee I will use all my knowledge, training, and years of experience to help you.