what's the origin?

[bti20]

Surely the pain of chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome has a definable BEGINNING somewhere - its not just a wierd, diffuse pelvic pain just for the hell of it. I can FEEL this 'starting point' every morning that I wake up: a little pinching sensation somewhere round my urethra/foreskin - perhaps deeper in the groin, its hard to tell. I'm convinced that if that pinching wasn't there in the mornings, there'd be no more CPPS. Could that pinching sensation possibly have come from a urethral swab that went wrong? I got my chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome about 24 hours after this very painful procedure. Ever since the procedure (and I'm talking immediately afterwards) I have had a feeling of 'helplessness' in my groin muscles every time I try to urinate - its not that the strength of the stream is particularly affected, its just that the muscles seem to be 'complaining' deep in my groin as I try to urinate. Whenever I see a urologist they say that there is no stricture there since there is no burning or interruption during urination. But could there be something else in there that is causing the feeling of helplessness in the muscles? Could that something be the pinching sensation that I feel every morning and that ALWAYS proceeds to the full-blown penis, testicular, perineum pain and general feeling of congestion that characterises CPPS? I can't believe that all this pain is because I'm 'tense' down there. Either damaged nerves or damaged tubes are responsible for the pinching I get in the morinings. Opinions on this would be very much appreciated, because I need ammunition for my next visit to the uro. Does anybody else know what I'm going on about when I say 'pinching'?

[webslave]

What treatments have your uro and general doctor given you so far? Your age, location (city), other medical conditions ...?

[bti20]

my age is 23, location is Cambridge, England where I am a PhD student in the process of chucking in four years of work because of the pain. I have no other medical conditions. I got CP 24 hours after two urethral swabs that made my pelvic muscles feel funny when I urinated, and 10 hours after I stupidly hacked at some little warts on the underside of my foreskin (on the advice of the terrible GUM clinician who performed the swabs the day before). During the ensuing year of pelvic pain (penis/perineum/testicles/sitting) - which started off absolutely diabolical then plateaued to a mostly bad level - I have had the following tests and treatments:

stami test - negative
prostatic ultrasound - no enlargement/cysts
general neurological examination - fine

That is about it even though I have seen lots of practitioners. I swap between thinking that I damaged a nerve in my foreskin, or that I have some sort of urethral damage. Maybe both. The end of my penis is extremely tender; round the urethral opening and on the foreskin (but I can't be sure if the pain is right on the spot where I hacked at that wart). I cannot retract my foreskin without a lot of discomfort, although sex and masturbation are pleasureable. Typically I get a pain spreading and 'clogging' into my groin after I probe too much around the end of my penis, and to a lesser extent, my scrotum. Its so frustrating with this condition. I can give private names to all my varying pains and wierd symptoms but to the doctors its all just one complaint: my groin hurts because of hypersensitivity (with psychological undertones). I could go on all day, as we all could I'm sure, but I won't! Thanks for the reply.

[bti20]

I forgot to metion:

Cipro 2 months: ineffective
doxycycline 2 months: ineffective
amytriptiline 3 months: ineffective
neurontin 4 x 300mg daily: not bad
tramadol: pretty good

thanks.

[webslave]

It sounds like it may be a sort of regional sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) or complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). Since you are in the UK, look at this site

[bti20]

Yes that is what I fear, really. My one doubt is: could the trauma to the foreskin have been a red herring, while a stricture or something in the urethra is the real cause. However, I am not completely convinced about that. My next move is a visit to an RSD specialist (already booked) and possible nerve blocks. I will let the group know.

[webslave]

Good luck! Prof Berger has just got $1 million to research Botox nerve blocks for CPPS, so you're an interesting case.

[bti20]

Who is Professor Berger? Where does he practice? Is a Botox injection different to a streroid or anaesthetic injection? Thanks

[webslave]

Who is Professor Berger? Where does he practice? Is a Botox injection different to a streroid or anaesthetic injection? Thanks

Your questions are answered here

[bti20]

Thanks. I very much appreciate your reliability and helpfulness.

[aspirin2004]

Sometimes I am really amazed as I read the histories of the people here (this is one of those threads). I am brand new to all of this and only been in pain for a few months when finally I went in and the doctor gave me Cipro. I am a little into my 3rd week now on Cipro and can finally masterbate again without a lot of pain.

I really feel for how much pain this condition we generically call Prostatitis causes us. Some of you are "friggin soldiers" for attempting to deal with your illness so well. My hat's off to you.

It's also shown me that this condition is not a "one-time problem." It is something men need to try and prevent if possible and deal with if not. Some of the prostate vitamin formulas out there with Saw look good, along with diminished alcohol drinking, exercise, water, etc.. can make a difference I think.

Best wishes to all of you this Christmas. Peace.

[J Dimitrakov]

Sometimes I am really amazed as I read the histories of the people here (this is one of those threads). I am brand new to all of this and only been in pain for a few months when finally I went in and the doctor gave me Cipro. I am a little into my 3rd week now on Cipro and can finally masterbate again without a lot of pain

Good for you!

I really feel for how much pain this condition we generically call Prostatitis causes us. Some of you are "friggin soldiers" for attempting to deal with your illness so well. My hat's off to you.

It's also shown me that this condition is not a "one-time problem." It is something men need to try and prevent if possible and deal with if not.

Interesting concept! At this time, I guess prevention is limited to avoiding triggers.

Some of the prostate vitamin formulas out there with Saw look good, along with diminished alcohol drinking, exercise, water, etc.. can make a difference I think.

Sure, although I think general recommendations are worthless. Some people BENEFIT from alcohol drinking (in moderate quantities) whereas in others alcohol causes flares. Few people benefit from from Cipro and curiously I know of three cases by now where symptoms appeared FOLLOWING a prescription of Cipro for an upper respiratory tract infection. Saw palmetto, similarly, can lower testosterone and cause some erection problems.