Hi all, I hope you are all standing strong in your battles against this.
There seems to be plenty of advice on the net about Kegel or Reverse Kegel exercises being a way to combat CPPS. Up to a few months ago I did these relentlessly thinking that they would be a great non-drug answer. However these exercises are directed at post-natal women to re-strengthen the pelvic muscles. In typicall chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome patients, if I'm not mistaking, the muscles of the pelvic floor are 'hypertoned' and attempting to relax them would most likely be a better approach. I didn't see kegels mentioned even once in AHIP. My uro said 'they are good', that's all, after I mentioned them to him. I beg to differ. I found that because I felt that these could help me I did them all the time and it left me nearly in a state of continuous tension. However they did seem to help months back at the start to combat the desire to urinate all the time (perhaps a placebo effect).
Does anyone out there do them and find that they are beneficial at all?
Or has anyone reverted to doing them after a bout of continuous improvement?
Thanks.
Kegel Exercises?
Kegel Exercises?
Age: 25 Onset: 23. | Symptoms: Burning in urethra, urinary frequency/urgency, 'golf ball' in butt syndrome, muscle tension form pelvis to calves, constipation, IBS, testicular pain/inflam, bladder pain when nearly full, difficulty relaxing muscles (coccygeal, levator ani etc.), pain and muscles tension in anus/perineum. Helped by: quercetin, relaxation, baths, heat packs applied to perineum. Worsened by: Stress, driving, sitting, jogging, caffeine etc.
Re: Kegel Exercises?
If you have chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome resulting from pelvic floor dysfunction, Kegel exercises are generally a very bad idea. In fact, I tell people to stay away from physical therapists who suggest those.
You're correct in thinking that people with our type of condition generally do have hypertonic, shortened pelvic floor muscles. Therefore, the goal is to stretch and relax them, rather than to strengthen them. Kegels are better for people who have weak pelvic floors, as this leads to issues such as incontinence.
You're correct in thinking that people with our type of condition generally do have hypertonic, shortened pelvic floor muscles. Therefore, the goal is to stretch and relax them, rather than to strengthen them. Kegels are better for people who have weak pelvic floors, as this leads to issues such as incontinence.
I am not a physician. This is not medical advice. Consult your doctor!
Age: 26 Onset Age: 17 Symptoms: Shooting, nerve-like pains throughout the penis, which abruptly hit and leave. Testicular pain, perineum pain, burning/irritative urination, extended pain after ejaculation. Occasionally, some allodynia or ache in the coccyx/sacrum/thigh/buttocks/legs. Diagnosis: Pelvic floor dysfunction, degenerated lumbar disk, and mildly herniated lumbar disk. Helped By: Physical therapy, pain management doctor, hot baths, therapy pool, stretching regimen, breathing exercises, relaxation, distraction. Worsened By: Arousal/ejaculation (worst), constipation, panicking/obsessing, other triggers depend upon current symptoms. Tests/Prior Treatments: Too many antibiotics to count, multiple urine tests (all normal), testicular ultrasound (normal), bladder and renal ultrasound (normal), lumbar and pelvic MRI with and w/o contrast (revealed disk problems), Elavil 25mg (caused retention), Flomax 0.4mg.
Age: 26 Onset Age: 17 Symptoms: Shooting, nerve-like pains throughout the penis, which abruptly hit and leave. Testicular pain, perineum pain, burning/irritative urination, extended pain after ejaculation. Occasionally, some allodynia or ache in the coccyx/sacrum/thigh/buttocks/legs. Diagnosis: Pelvic floor dysfunction, degenerated lumbar disk, and mildly herniated lumbar disk. Helped By: Physical therapy, pain management doctor, hot baths, therapy pool, stretching regimen, breathing exercises, relaxation, distraction. Worsened By: Arousal/ejaculation (worst), constipation, panicking/obsessing, other triggers depend upon current symptoms. Tests/Prior Treatments: Too many antibiotics to count, multiple urine tests (all normal), testicular ultrasound (normal), bladder and renal ultrasound (normal), lumbar and pelvic MRI with and w/o contrast (revealed disk problems), Elavil 25mg (caused retention), Flomax 0.4mg.
Re: Kegel Exercises?
I can't do any ab workouts or I flare! Just let it relax, I know it sounds like kegels would help but my all muscles tied in and they pull on bladder. Everyone different though. .
Age 32, onset 32 Onset Aug 07- frequency was main problem in the beginning-really bad. Now 1 to 2x per night when frequency flairs up. Sore and tight lower abdominal muscles. Occasional burning after bowel movement and full feeling. What helps: Healthy diet(this is huge for me) Started drinking super greens supplament and almost going totally vegetarian to get body more alkaline, starting Prosta-Q, quercetin/zinc tablet in morning helped frequency problem I believe. Massaging abs and doing stretches helps calm down frequency when it is acting up. Wine or vodka after long day. Flexeral and melatonin at night. Swimming and light weights. .5 of Elavil every other day helps with frequency and healing process. Trying to stay positive and not stressing over this!
-
aeocaravaggio
- Beginner
- Posts: 32
- Joined: Mon Jun 01, 2009 12:19 am
Re: Kegel Exercises?
Kegel exercises for me make things much worse
Age: 25 | Onset Age: 19 | Symptoms: cloudy white urine (most frequently in the colder months of the year), pain in testicles (very infrequent and mild nowdays, used to be 24/7 and bad for like at least 1 1/2 years), pain in lower back (now virtually nonexistant, used to be 24/7), muscle spasm in perineum area (during sexual activity, extreme stress/injury, sneezing, and when changing position when lying down), dribbling after urination, weak urine stream, a feeling of not emptying completely after urination, sometimes hesitancy starting, golfball feeling in rectum at times (usually relieved/lessened by defecation), premature ejaculation, little pleasure when ejaculating too quickly from masturbating, weak erections most of the time (and even if they have some strength sometimes, usually it goes limp after a few minutes), white particulate matter in semen most of time, | Helped By: Relaxation | Worsened By: ejaculation, or any kind of sexual activity, especially prolonged arousal without touching my genitals, spicy foods, hard excercises, prolonged sitting