In this blog, Naturopath Danni Bichler shares how she worked through her vulvodynia to emerge the other side pain-free.

Looking back, it’s hard to believe how much pain I used to live with. When I developed vulvodynia at 19, I was going through a stressful time that included a traumatic event. I found the word vulvodynia on Google before I even had a diagnosis. I felt helpless and angry, like my body had turned against me.

As a naturopath, I was convinced there had to be a fix. If I could just find the right test, the right diet, the right supplement, the right pelvic floor exercises, or the right practitioner, then I’d be healed. I tried everything, from conventional medicine to alternative therapies. Sometimes I’d get short-term relief, but the pain always came back. Each time it did, it felt like starting over. It was lonely, frustrating and incredibly expensive.

I did open up to people in my life to try and get support, but it often felt too shameful to talk about. Unless someone had been through vulvodynia themselves, it was hard for them to understand.

In the background of all this, I spent hours digging through research online. Eventually, I came across the concept of neuroplastic pain. This wasn’t a fringe idea. It was backed by modern pain science. Neuroplastic pain happens when the brain begins to misinterpret safe, normal signals as dangerous. It’s not imagined pain, but it is learned. The brain becomes hyper-alert and can trigger pain even when there’s no tissue damage.

That explanation changed everything for me. It finally made sense. With patience and persistence, I started to experience relief - not just from the pain, but from the fear and anxiety around it. Over time, the symptoms disappeared completely.

I wouldn’t be who I am today without that experience. That’s why I do what I do now. I work with people navigating vulvodynia and chronic pelvic pain because I’ve been there. I know how confusing and isolating it can be. And I also know what’s possible when you have the right support.

Everyone’s journey is different, but Pain Reprocessing Therapy is now a key part of how I work because I’ve seen its power firsthand.

So if you’re in it right now, I hope you feel even the slightest bit more hopeful. You’re not broken. You’re not alone. And healing is possible.

Danni Bichler (she/her) is a clinical Naturopath and Nutritionist specialising in vaginal health, urinary health and chronic pelvic pain, and creating a supportive, shame-free space while blending traditional practices with modern, evidence-based treatments.