Experience with the Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol

[chrisphl]

Hi everyone,

I've been enjoying a flare for about the last month and have decided that I need to seriously investigate action - including going to see Dr. Wise.

Yesterday I gave him a call and we spoke for about 30 minutes. I must say that he is a very nice person to speak with and it was a great feeling to know that there is someone out there trying to help us.

For me to take the 6 days to head out to California is a big pill to swallow. I'm not as concerned about the money as I am about the time and how it could adversely affect my business that I run. Also, I have no idea what to tell people when they ask where I'm going.

With that all being said, I think I could use a little convincing.

Do any of you have feedback on your experience?

-Did it help?
-Have your symptoms cleared up or been reduced?
-What did you do everyday while you were there?
-Was it something you could have learned on your own?
-Are you still actively practising what you were taught?
-How quickly did you notice a change?
-What did you do about work?
-What did you tell people?

Any other feedback or stories would be awesome. I'm sure that this has been answered somewhere previously, but I'd like to engage in a dialog with someone who has been there.

Thanks,
Chris

[ramana]

-Did it help?
Not really. See below
-Have your symptoms cleared up or been reduced?
Intensified
-What did you do everyday while you were there?
Did paradoxical relaxation sessions and PT (half an hour)
-Was it something you could have learned on your own?
No way. Especially the PT. Maybe relaxation because after 6 months I have forgotten what he meant to 'feel the tension' etc. I sort of get it at times but then probably need a refresher course. Sometimes I wonder why don't people ever discuss paradoxical relaxation. It is not that easy and maybe every one cannot respond to paradoxical relaxation
-Are you still actively practising what you were taught?
Trying to. Relaxation definitely. Self PT flared and probably caused a lot of damage. Now doing professional PT.
-How quickly did you notice a change?
No change
-What did you do about work?
Took off - what else
-What did you tell people?
Good thing to try. Expensive for $3000 though. If you have access to professional PT - try that first (at $150 an hour - it is 20 PT sessions and that should resolve / reduce some symptoms) and try any form of relaxation that suits you.(neurobiofeedback / mind machines /simple meditation/ vacation). Probably get someone along to do trigger point therapy on you. If symptoms are mild(ie. you get annoyed by it but are not bed ridden or disabled as I am) this should help a lot.

My problem is probably unique as despite all efforts (Tim said I am good at PT) - I could not reach any trigger points. I also went to Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol right in the beginning of the symptoms and it seems that regardless of any treatment - this issue has a life cycle of its own. Also I was going through major personal problem that begin a 10 days before the clinic.

So in a nutshell, most people should benefit. If there is access to professional PT - try that and relaxation first before going for Stanford.
Dr Wise is an excellent person anyway.

[chrisphl]

Ramana,

I'm very sorry to hear that your symptoms are so rough. I wish you the best of luck and hope that things improve for you. My problems are far less severe. I have pain on a scale of anywhere from 2-6 out of 10. In the beginning the symptoms were much worse, but I think I've been able to make some improvements.

Can you tell me a little bit more about "feeling the tension"? I read the whole HITP and couldn't seem to understand the section on paradoxical relaxation or moment to moment relaxation. Any thoughts or pointers? I know you said you forgot some of it, but I'd love to hear about what has worked.

Thanks,
Chris

p.s. - good luck! I'm sure with time things will improve for you.

[graeme]

Can you tell me a little bit more about "feeling the tension"? I read the whole HITP and couldn't seem to understand the section on paradoxical relaxation or moment to moment relaxation. Any thoughts or pointers? I know you said you forgot some of it, but I'd love to hear about what has worked.

if you stop and relax your bladder to the point of just before pee can you feel your pelvic floor and Stomach kind of drop of a bit like clenching your butt than releasing it . Well at the point of the drop I guess this is where we supposed to be at all times

[ramana]

What worked with paradoxical relaxation: Well for me if the pain is less and I lie down and do RSA breathing and listen to the tapes (for me some are better than others), it reduces / eliminates the pain. It probably makes one less prone to react to stressful situations but the process is subtle.

As for 'feeling the tension' - Dr Wise gave a full lecture on it several times. Best to ask recent participants who have benefited e.g. 'sunny' for example.

For me there were good benefits in the beginning but now they are less. It should have been the reverse though.

Graeme what you described is moment - moment relaxation.

[scoobysnacks]

sorry, moving quickly today, swamped at work.

But, it helped me a ton. I am still working on it, but I get better month by month, its just slow. But, I am back to weight training and doing things I like with less pain and irritation. Drink coffee daily, tons of tea, can drink with no problem.

Just have to stick with it. I've been doing this thing religiously now for over a year, hard to believe. I do relaxation every night for about 30 mins, its helpful, for me resets the pelvis and tells me how to keep doing moment to moment relaxation. I've found this is useless if you dont know what the normal pelvic release for urination feels like, took a long time to relearn.

Someone once said, fixing your pelvic pain is like unlearning to ride a bike, something that once you can do it you can always do it, but you need to stop.

If you know your symptoms are muscular it will help IMHO. Also therapy with Tim was great. Hit my points very quickly and taught me how to do it at home. If I go to the gym and things get tight, I just do the internal work, symptoms die down.

If you have a specific question of me, let me know or PM.

Take care,

Ss