Exercise

[Sherradin]

I decided I was doing so well I would up the aerobic exercise I am doing. As I am now eating more normally and am back at work where I sit all day the yoga is great for my pelvis but I am gonna put weight on my butt if I don't watch out. So I tried walking. Did a fast walk twice for about an hour. If I ever wanted proof about the muscular side of this I am now having the familiar burn and urgency. I went and saw my trigger point masseuse who worked on my adductors, psoas and glutes. NO pain the rest of the day.

Is there a trick to getting back into the more active exercises say by pacing it up or should I ease off again for the time being???

[webslave]

My own experience is to go very slowly, ramping up over months, and never to a high intensity.

[Sherradin]

Yes that what all the pain clinics say and it makes sense. But you know how it is you feel good and you want to go crazy feel like you've got out of jail. You are nearly recovered aren't you? How long did it take you once you Knew you were on the right course to get to where you are now?

[webslave]

I had a CFS component that complicated things. To this day, if I go at life hammer and tongs, especially if I exert myself physically all day, by evening I am stumbling around like a drunk, barely coherent, and I often take a few days to feel energized again. I don't get pelvic symptoms anymore, but the CFS thing is still lurking in the background. If I poke it with a stick, it wakes up.

[jm8911]

My PT has suggested that maybe my extensive use of the elliptical machine (helps my back) has created a repetitive injury in my pelvic muscles similar to plantar fasciitis . I have been seeing a pelvic floor therapist for about a month now and am starting to really feel better. I have cut out using the elliptical for the last three weeks at her suggestion so I am still unsure if it is the therapy or lack of using elliptical. We will continue as is until I am much better and then try to reintroduce the elliptical to see if that really is it.

[jm8911]

Not sure why Wise-Anderson Protocol was inserted in the last message. I meant to put SP in parens.

[jm8911]

I give up :)

[Sherradin]

Thats interesting Webslave. How long did it take you to resolve the pelvic symptoms once you started using the correct approach of lengthening contracted muscles and was diet a trigger for you?

jm8911have you tried swimming instead that was so good for my back? Its starting to get cold here in Sydney now for winter so I may have to get back in the chlorine which I hate.

[we.the.hulk]

Sherradin, when I saw Tim a couple weeks ago he told me to get out and start running again. Which I had been a little bit. I've cranked it up a notch since, but not 100 miles a week or anything. Those days are long gone. So far so good. But just getting outside and exercising is so good for the head. I just make sure to stretch well after. I'm sure my running (especially all the mountain running I've done) played a part in my CPPS. I just can't give it up.
I know what you mean about the "got out of jail" feeling! :)

[Sherradin]

Thats great w.t.h. The endorphins are so great for you they lower the pain alone. I used to do mile but I did it with a pack on my back and was stupid buggered my back. But I got such a high afterwards.

I must admit I haven't been as diligent with my stretching because I have been feeling so much better. I am enjoying living again being able to eat normally and work (lots of sitting) and so probably have dropped the ball a bit.

Today at home on a Sunday cooked big fandamley meal lots of people felt great but by the end had the burn after I went to the loo. So knicked off for 1/2 hour had a bath and did my stretches..all better. Had been going to take 1/4 endone..so its maintaining the stretches even if they get repetitive. Keeping at it. The power is in being able to DO something tangible about it.

Did you have a great week at the course was it well worth it? Did you do any travelling when you where there? I got about and saw the country side in a rental car on my donut pillow and had a great week. They are great people. Dr Wise is one of those Good men. As that book Fire V Fire says if you surround yourself with them..people who are looking out for you..things can only go happen.

[we.the.hulk]

Wow. Sherradin. You sound really great. Amazing! It appears you are mostly pain free with the exception of a minor flare here and there. Is that the case?

The clinic starts next week. I flew up to Los Gatos and had a session with Tim a couple weeks ago. Just to see what he thought. I'm hopeful that the clinic will give me the tools to control this.

I can currently get through most days pain free until the afternoon, when it seems like my pelvic floor gets "tired" and my bladder gets trembly (if that's a word) and everything seems sore.

Your story definitely gives me hope. Keep telling it!

[Sherradin]

No I sound more like you and I am still on medication. The pain clinic and pelvic pain specialist feel that this is a nerve problem that I have to manage with medication like a diabetic or epileptic with Lyrica.

I have some mornings when I am just sensitive then after a day of sitting with work it tightens up and the urgency and burn starts in the afternoon. But two years ago I was on the floor crying wanting to die with constant burning and peeing all the time. I couldn't manage the pain and there was nothing I could eat without my bladder reacting. Now my bladder is much more settled and I still have the pelvic musculature pain that became dysfunctional due to all the pain in my bladder. I have been diagnosed with IC, painful bladder and pudendal nerve neuralgia and I think vulvodynia as I get thrush a lot. Now I can take probiotics I am hoping to change that.

But I am back at work, eating normally (no alcohol or spices, tea or coffee -why push it?). But I still have along way to go. I am hoping only another year if I stick at it. But I guess you shouldn't put time frames on this.

You are doing the right thing getting it early and understanding it. This has taken me 5 years its been an awful journey for me and my family. They can't believe where I am now though I am not sure what people thought of me flying to the states for an answer as we have good care here.

[we.the.hulk]

Funny. I went for a walk this a.m with a good friend and his wife. Turns out his wife has had this same thing for three years...and kept it to herself for 2 of those years. Dr. "diagnosed" her with IC. Needless to say we had much to talk about.
She told me she has done the rescue instillation (dmso + lidocaine) 7 times and those took away all of her pain for a month at a time. Just throwing that out there for you sherradin. I'm sure you've researched it. It definitely made me think about it though. But I don't think my bladder is the issue.
Cheers.

[Sherradin]

I think it is all so common. Go to yoga classes an note the guys that go to the bathroom half way through sometimes..or the gym my mother has an instructor who goes every 20 mins.

Poor woman I know where she is that is just bandaiding it filling it with antiseptic..I did that. It proved I had pain in my bladder but not why. Then you are told you have a neurological problem that can't be fixed. Give her headache in the pelvis to read..sometimes you get it thrown back at you but I wish someone had given it to me earlier on.My first symptoms 5 years ago was a burning urethra they called it 'urethral syndrome' over time it went to my bladder they called it IC. Now my bladder is fine although a bit dicky from all its been through..what I am left with it seems is pelvic muscle dysfunction.

I think once you rule out infection this is the only sensible thing to try and try seriously. I wonder how many women with IC really have contracted pelvic muscles..even if it is only some of the pain its worth doing the protocol.

I just emailed Tim to see if I can ease of on anything as I still do as much as I can but maybe I can ease back a bit now...see what he thinks.

Get as many questions sorted as you can in the week. Write them down as you think of them to ask.

[we.the.hulk]

thank you! good advice...as always.