Driving in my car over long distances or even being a passenger seems to flare me up in the abdomen.
Does anyone know of anything to make a car seat more comfortable?
Thanks...
driving
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lookouth
- Veteran
- Posts: 151
- Joined: Mon Dec 29, 2003 8:03 am
- Location: CT, south east
you may want to consider how when driving, an maybe even while being a passenger, you unconciously are tensing your pelvic floor and that is leading to your discomfort- I know in both situations I tense mine.
Age:22 | Onset Age:16.5 | Symptoms: Pain with extended sitting, Pain shortly folllowing urination, mostly above pubic bone, Pain after defecation mostly around external sphincter, Pain after ejaculation mostly in Urethra | Helped By: Progressive and Moment to Moment Relaxation, Stretching, Bed Rest (laying down and relaxing muscles), Hot Baths, Hot Showers, | Worsened By: Alcohol (variably), Ejaculation, Urination, Defecation, Stress, Extended Sitting, Sleeping in the wrong position, tensing my muscles while writing or doing anything else stressful/intense, Progress: 65%, basically only dealing with post-ejaculatory pain, onset after about an hour, peaks for 3-6 hours and then remains sore for a day.
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scotsman
- Retired Mod
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- Joined: Mon Aug 18, 2003 4:26 pm
- Location: Scotland, UK
Driving is a real issue for me as well - though I've not found a solution yet.
Best suggestion is to get a car with armchair like seats - like a volvo. My pelvis hurts more with my daily commute in my subaru (sports bucket seats) than a 10 hour drive down south in my wifes Megane.
I really should change cars for a big comfy automatic barge.
Richard.
Best suggestion is to get a car with armchair like seats - like a volvo. My pelvis hurts more with my daily commute in my subaru (sports bucket seats) than a 10 hour drive down south in my wifes Megane.
I really should change cars for a big comfy automatic barge.
Richard.
Not medical advice: Read my progress to date : Read about my W-A clinic visit
Age: 54 CPPS: 20 Yrs Recovery Status: 95% Symptoms: Pain around perineum Makes Worse: Tension, sitting Makes Better: Stretching, triggerpoint therapy, relaxation
Age: 54 CPPS: 20 Yrs Recovery Status: 95% Symptoms: Pain around perineum Makes Worse: Tension, sitting Makes Better: Stretching, triggerpoint therapy, relaxation
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Clay
- Veteran
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- Joined: Mon Sep 25, 2006 3:46 am
- Location: Redmond WA, USA
My Suburu Forester is murder. My Honda Accord is much easier on me. I've had the same thoughts about getting some giant soft car. Someone save me from that fate. 
I use a couple of gardener's kneeling pads, one under each upper thigh with a couple inches in between. It seems to help a little.
I use a couple of gardener's kneeling pads, one under each upper thigh with a couple inches in between. It seems to help a little.
I am not a doctor too!
Age 64, sudden onset 5/06 during bout of flu, colitis, lung and liver problems. Pain in penis, then moved to rectum. No urinary symptoms. Use Lyrica, Elavil, paxil, Xanax, morphine, vicodin, relaxation, pads for sitting, 100+ PT sessions. Sensitive to gluten, milk protein, soy. I have CFS, anxiety, GERD, Barrett's, colitis, kidney stones, one of which referred pain to penis.
Age 64, sudden onset 5/06 during bout of flu, colitis, lung and liver problems. Pain in penis, then moved to rectum. No urinary symptoms. Use Lyrica, Elavil, paxil, Xanax, morphine, vicodin, relaxation, pads for sitting, 100+ PT sessions. Sensitive to gluten, milk protein, soy. I have CFS, anxiety, GERD, Barrett's, colitis, kidney stones, one of which referred pain to penis.
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carld
- Retired Mod
- Posts: 1554
- Joined: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:49 pm
- Location: Newbury Park
I use the thera seat on both my cars. It's about 85.00$ or so but worth it because you can take it with you. I just used it on a flight to Vegas, only 1 hr from LA. so I was not sitting for very long. It frees up the perineum so it helps me. 
I am not a medical doctor. Please fill out your signature (click here) ☼ ☼ My Starter List for new members
I encourage anxiety prone UCPPS people to consider L-Theanine
Age, 44 onset age 37 Feb 2006 Freq. need to urinate. Sensation of having to urinate soon after going. Perineum discomfort/burning/tightness, pubic area discomfort @ times,poor urine stream, post urine dripping/spray. All symptoms have improved with my protocol. At the worst I give it a 1 to 2 on irritation and discomfort and frequency. Helps: Elavil 5mg for anxiety and mast cell protection, (will only take it as needed) self internal PT as needed, stretching, walking, stairmaster cardio workout and light weights, reducing stress, moment to moment relaxation, deep breathing relaxation and using a Theracane. Makes worse: sitting for long periods, stress, over focusing on it. Currently 95%-98% recovered. Stay positive, relaxed and control your anxiety.
I encourage anxiety prone UCPPS people to consider L-Theanine
Age, 44 onset age 37 Feb 2006 Freq. need to urinate. Sensation of having to urinate soon after going. Perineum discomfort/burning/tightness, pubic area discomfort @ times,poor urine stream, post urine dripping/spray. All symptoms have improved with my protocol. At the worst I give it a 1 to 2 on irritation and discomfort and frequency. Helps: Elavil 5mg for anxiety and mast cell protection, (will only take it as needed) self internal PT as needed, stretching, walking, stairmaster cardio workout and light weights, reducing stress, moment to moment relaxation, deep breathing relaxation and using a Theracane. Makes worse: sitting for long periods, stress, over focusing on it. Currently 95%-98% recovered. Stay positive, relaxed and control your anxiety.
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Howden
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 90
- Joined: Thu Jan 12, 2006 2:17 pm
- Location: Toronto
I used an inflatable therapeutic ring for years when I was driving. It was embarrasing at first, so I covered it with a small blanket. I also had to make three quick transatlantic flights several years ago (7 or 8 hours each way) and took it with me (wrapped in the blanket). Using the ring was the only way I could have done it. I had been driving Saabs for years, but looking for seat comfort I finally traded for one of the big floating barges you're talking about. Of course, I'm a lot older than most people on this site, but I'm not using the ring anymore. By the way, I have a friend who has another kind of problem and she found someone in the yellow pages to customize her car seat. That might be another option.
Age: 71; age at onset: 65; symptoms: initially rectal spasms; currently anal pain, pereneal pain, buttock pain; all pain on the right side; early diagnosis: chronic non bacterial prostatitis; treatments 4 long courses of antibiotics, accupuncture, naturopathy; current treatments: gabapentin, terasozin, Celeza, PT.
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LightningTree
- Sage
- Posts: 623
- Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 6:50 pm
- Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
I have a hard plastic toilet seat in a pillow case that I keep in the trunk of my car in case I have perineum pain.
Bucket seats are definitely worse for me than the nice comfortable bench seats. These days I am ok with either, but for a long time, I looked at drivers old bench-seat cars with envy.
My mother used to get terrible stomach pain after driving. We used to have to pull over. Eventually she realized that she was clenching her stomach as we drove. (This was 20 years ago.)
For me, I like to do a stretching routine before I get in the car. My abdomen is usually cooperative, however, so I Don't know what stretch to do.
Is it on one particular side or the other?
Is it an inch diagonally down from the belly button?
Are you a tall person hunching forward in a small car? Just asking :)
Bucket seats are definitely worse for me than the nice comfortable bench seats. These days I am ok with either, but for a long time, I looked at drivers old bench-seat cars with envy.
My mother used to get terrible stomach pain after driving. We used to have to pull over. Eventually she realized that she was clenching her stomach as we drove. (This was 20 years ago.)
For me, I like to do a stretching routine before I get in the car. My abdomen is usually cooperative, however, so I Don't know what stretch to do.
Is it on one particular side or the other?
Is it an inch diagonally down from the belly button?
Are you a tall person hunching forward in a small car? Just asking :)
This is not medical advice, and I am NOT a doctor of medicine or a related field.
* Age:33 Onset: February 2004.
* 99.9% IMPROVEMENT in 2.5 Years with the first year being the really hard part
* Current Symptoms: Mild irritation of perineal muscles on occasion. Relieved for days at a time by a specific stretch (see below).
* Initial Symptoms: Terrible penile, urethral, rectal, and perineal burning/aching with addition afferent sensations.
* Current Treatments: Deep stretching of the legs and pelvis. Most effective: Deep psoas and levitar ani stretch using the first phase of the "pigeon pose" from Yoga. When a deep pulling is felt in the middle of the pelvis next to the upper rectum, symptoms are completely alleviated for several days.
* Past Treatments Hyperprotection of the perineum for 1.7 years, Walking, Rectal biofeedback, Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol, Conditioned deep relaxation practice, Men's Multi-Vitamin and an Extra B-complex pill, all seemed to help.
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kenn101
- Intermediate Member
- Posts: 88
- Joined: Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:31 pm
- Location: Canada
I use a wedge cushion similar to the one that carld uses , I find it helps a lot if the road is smooth. I can handle a little rougher road if recline this could be because I am 6'2" and weigh 250 pounds and most cars do not fit me well, we do not have the means to own a car that fit someone my size.
I HAVE NO MEDICAL TRAINING JUST CPPS
Age:48 | Onset Age: 39 | Symptoms:mod to extreme Pain in testicle (both), right epididymis, lower back lower right and centre abdomen. Urination frequency and urgence, decreased or no urine stream, ED, night time incontinence after riding in a vehicles or too much movement. | Helped By: eating ice frequency by Elavil, urine stream by Hytrin or Flomax. Pain control Methadone and Hydromorphone but more so by Triamcinolone epidurals. | Worsened By: Too much movement, SSRI's, Hot baths or showers. eating warm or too much food,DMSO treatments. Frequency by caffeine, stress or SSRI's.
Age:48 | Onset Age: 39 | Symptoms:mod to extreme Pain in testicle (both), right epididymis, lower back lower right and centre abdomen. Urination frequency and urgence, decreased or no urine stream, ED, night time incontinence after riding in a vehicles or too much movement. | Helped By: eating ice frequency by Elavil, urine stream by Hytrin or Flomax. Pain control Methadone and Hydromorphone but more so by Triamcinolone epidurals. | Worsened By: Too much movement, SSRI's, Hot baths or showers. eating warm or too much food,DMSO treatments. Frequency by caffeine, stress or SSRI's.
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So. Cal. Accountant
- Beginner
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:11 pm
- Location: Southern California
Constant Need to Urinate Sensation / Penis Pain When Driving
My constant sensation of a need to urinate / penis pain always seems to intensify when I am driving. As such, I cannot drive medium or long distances at this time. Does anybody else have similar symptoms? If so, what should one do to help with that situation? Please advise.
Age: 36 | Onset Age: 36 | Symptoms: Tightness and Pain in the Lower Back (almost all of the time) / Pain in the inner and outer thighs / Pain in the Rear End / Sciatica / Occasional Pain in Other Areas of the Pelvis (Penis, Testicles, Abdomen, etc.) / Nocturia / Insomnia / Depression | Helped By: Elavil, Sitz Baths, Stretching, Acupuncture and Acupressure, Sleep, and a Theraseat | Worsened By: Pressure on the Prostate Due to Driving / Sitting or Any Other Reason / Poor Sleep at Night
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LightningTree
- Sage
- Posts: 623
- Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 6:50 pm
- Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Have you made sure that your abdomen is relaxed when you are driving? Do you find yourself clenching anything? What happens if you shift positions, for example, sit on one hip and then relax?
This is not medical advice, and I am NOT a doctor of medicine or a related field.
* Age:33 Onset: February 2004.
* 99.9% IMPROVEMENT in 2.5 Years with the first year being the really hard part
* Current Symptoms: Mild irritation of perineal muscles on occasion. Relieved for days at a time by a specific stretch (see below).
* Initial Symptoms: Terrible penile, urethral, rectal, and perineal burning/aching with addition afferent sensations.
* Current Treatments: Deep stretching of the legs and pelvis. Most effective: Deep psoas and levitar ani stretch using the first phase of the "pigeon pose" from Yoga. When a deep pulling is felt in the middle of the pelvis next to the upper rectum, symptoms are completely alleviated for several days.
* Past Treatments Hyperprotection of the perineum for 1.7 years, Walking, Rectal biofeedback, Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol, Conditioned deep relaxation practice, Men's Multi-Vitamin and an Extra B-complex pill, all seemed to help.
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So. Cal. Accountant
- Beginner
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:11 pm
- Location: Southern California
Help for My Condition While Driving
For the last couple of days I have put a blanket underneath my bottom. That has helped slightly with the pain in the penis that I usually feel when I am driving.
Age: 36 | Onset Age: 36 | Symptoms: Tightness and Pain in the Lower Back (almost all of the time) / Pain in the inner and outer thighs / Pain in the Rear End / Sciatica / Occasional Pain in Other Areas of the Pelvis (Penis, Testicles, Abdomen, etc.) / Nocturia / Insomnia / Depression | Helped By: Elavil, Sitz Baths, Stretching, Acupuncture and Acupressure, Sleep, and a Theraseat | Worsened By: Pressure on the Prostate Due to Driving / Sitting or Any Other Reason / Poor Sleep at Night
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LightningTree
- Sage
- Posts: 623
- Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 6:50 pm
- Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
That's a good idea. Car bucket seat can be a problem because while they are designed to support the back, they tend to do this by placing pressure on buttox and perineum. I've found that padded bench seats, like you would find in an older car, are far more comfortable.
This is not medical advice, and I am NOT a doctor of medicine or a related field.
* Age:33 Onset: February 2004.
* 99.9% IMPROVEMENT in 2.5 Years with the first year being the really hard part
* Current Symptoms: Mild irritation of perineal muscles on occasion. Relieved for days at a time by a specific stretch (see below).
* Initial Symptoms: Terrible penile, urethral, rectal, and perineal burning/aching with addition afferent sensations.
* Current Treatments: Deep stretching of the legs and pelvis. Most effective: Deep psoas and levitar ani stretch using the first phase of the "pigeon pose" from Yoga. When a deep pulling is felt in the middle of the pelvis next to the upper rectum, symptoms are completely alleviated for several days.
* Past Treatments Hyperprotection of the perineum for 1.7 years, Walking, Rectal biofeedback, Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol, Conditioned deep relaxation practice, Men's Multi-Vitamin and an Extra B-complex pill, all seemed to help.
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carld
- Retired Mod
- Posts: 1554
- Joined: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:49 pm
- Location: Newbury Park
so cal, look into the thera seat, I can't say enough about how much it has helped. It is expensive, but to me it was worth it.
I am not a medical doctor. Please fill out your signature (click here) ☼ ☼ My Starter List for new members
I encourage anxiety prone UCPPS people to consider L-Theanine
Age, 44 onset age 37 Feb 2006 Freq. need to urinate. Sensation of having to urinate soon after going. Perineum discomfort/burning/tightness, pubic area discomfort @ times,poor urine stream, post urine dripping/spray. All symptoms have improved with my protocol. At the worst I give it a 1 to 2 on irritation and discomfort and frequency. Helps: Elavil 5mg for anxiety and mast cell protection, (will only take it as needed) self internal PT as needed, stretching, walking, stairmaster cardio workout and light weights, reducing stress, moment to moment relaxation, deep breathing relaxation and using a Theracane. Makes worse: sitting for long periods, stress, over focusing on it. Currently 95%-98% recovered. Stay positive, relaxed and control your anxiety.
I encourage anxiety prone UCPPS people to consider L-Theanine
Age, 44 onset age 37 Feb 2006 Freq. need to urinate. Sensation of having to urinate soon after going. Perineum discomfort/burning/tightness, pubic area discomfort @ times,poor urine stream, post urine dripping/spray. All symptoms have improved with my protocol. At the worst I give it a 1 to 2 on irritation and discomfort and frequency. Helps: Elavil 5mg for anxiety and mast cell protection, (will only take it as needed) self internal PT as needed, stretching, walking, stairmaster cardio workout and light weights, reducing stress, moment to moment relaxation, deep breathing relaxation and using a Theracane. Makes worse: sitting for long periods, stress, over focusing on it. Currently 95%-98% recovered. Stay positive, relaxed and control your anxiety.
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LightningTree
- Sage
- Posts: 623
- Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 6:50 pm
- Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
That's a cool product, or should I say 'hot'? :)
Just make sure that on long trips you pull over and stretch once in a while. I realize that in an LA commute that might not be feasible.
Just make sure that on long trips you pull over and stretch once in a while. I realize that in an LA commute that might not be feasible.
This is not medical advice, and I am NOT a doctor of medicine or a related field.
* Age:33 Onset: February 2004.
* 99.9% IMPROVEMENT in 2.5 Years with the first year being the really hard part
* Current Symptoms: Mild irritation of perineal muscles on occasion. Relieved for days at a time by a specific stretch (see below).
* Initial Symptoms: Terrible penile, urethral, rectal, and perineal burning/aching with addition afferent sensations.
* Current Treatments: Deep stretching of the legs and pelvis. Most effective: Deep psoas and levitar ani stretch using the first phase of the "pigeon pose" from Yoga. When a deep pulling is felt in the middle of the pelvis next to the upper rectum, symptoms are completely alleviated for several days.
* Past Treatments Hyperprotection of the perineum for 1.7 years, Walking, Rectal biofeedback, Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol, Conditioned deep relaxation practice, Men's Multi-Vitamin and an Extra B-complex pill, all seemed to help.
-
So. Cal. Accountant
- Beginner
- Posts: 20
- Joined: Mon Oct 23, 2006 10:11 pm
- Location: Southern California
Thera Seat
I did buy a Thera Seat and I sit on it at work. It does seem to help somewhat.
Age: 36 | Onset Age: 36 | Symptoms: Tightness and Pain in the Lower Back (almost all of the time) / Pain in the inner and outer thighs / Pain in the Rear End / Sciatica / Occasional Pain in Other Areas of the Pelvis (Penis, Testicles, Abdomen, etc.) / Nocturia / Insomnia / Depression | Helped By: Elavil, Sitz Baths, Stretching, Acupuncture and Acupressure, Sleep, and a Theraseat | Worsened By: Pressure on the Prostate Due to Driving / Sitting or Any Other Reason / Poor Sleep at Night