Exercise breaks my flares

[jd]

Anyone else feel better during exercise?

I have been exercising(doing stair machine, lifting weights) a few times a week now for the past 7 weeks, and I can say with confidence that it has helped my IC/CPPS(particularly when I am in a flare), and definitely improved my overall well being.

I can be in some sort of flare(increased frequency/urgency, no pain) when I go to the gym, and within 10 minutes of doing the stair machine it almost always abates, I have never even worried about the frequency or having to go to the bathroom when I am there. I basically feel great the entire time I am working out, especially now that I am in shape again after a year of getting very out of shape due to self imposed IC/CPPS misery/lethargy. I think it is very important to break out of that self perpetuating rut of negativity.

Working out is especially nice because my pelvic muscles feel very loose and relaxed along with the rest of my body...plus looking at all the hot women working out is even more incentive to be there, as opposed to home wallowing in self pity and getting more out of shape.

Anyhow, if my pelvic muscles were tensed when I was working out, I would be able to notice them being that way because the rest of my body is not.

I always follow exercise with a 20 minute meditation/relaxation session after I get home, and I have had NO problems with the exercise increasing my conditions since I have been doing it.

So I think its very important to exercise when you have this, esp. since it much of the root could be in chronic muscle tension. Definitely ease into it slowly and don't try to do too much too soon though.

Also I have been going to PT sessions twice a week for the past 4 weeks and that seems to be starting to help as well.

Unlike last summer, I am definitely not in any sort of misery, I am a lot better and functioning in life, I no longer have the pain aspect, but just need to resolve the frequency aspect which takes longer.

[Paso]

Jd,

I really get a boost from reading your positive notes. I too have less problems when excersising. I play Golf. I can go 18 holes without peeing, thats 4.5 hours. I play almost every day now in the summer and have no probs from it. Just positive things. As a sidenote I think that one of the reasons my Golf is much better now is cause of the relaxation. Gets me more focused. Shot an 82 yesterday

Take care

/Paso

[tractor316]

Yes once I found this web site and got back on positive thinking I too am back at my work outs and running and enjoying life . I found doing skilled relaxation after working out really helps . Good post . I hope we here from more positive peolpe . This CP can be controlled enough to enjoy life once more .

[jd]

I think if we change/modify the aspects of our lifestyles that led to us developing a chronic condition, over time they can be reversed.

Since most chronic conditions take a long time to develop, it can also take years to reduce them. For example, Dr. Stoll mentions at least a year or two on his Web site, and A Headache in the Pelvis mentions the same thing.....obviously this varies from person to person.

But thats why I think it's important to have a very positive attitude and live one day at a time, yet not lose track of the big picture.(recovery)

Also, I have been reading a lot about diet lately, and I think this is an *EXTREMELY* important and overlooked aspect of our lives and condition. If you start studying this, you will come to understand that food is exponentially more powerful and beneficial for us than any medicines we can take. Food controls so many functions in the body, and is the most beneficial medicine we can take.

There are plenty of good books out now on various dietary strategies, but I suggest purchasing the Omega RX zone

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... I'm/cp58-20

for the information it has on Pharmaceutical Grade fish oil, which should be taken in addition to improving our diets. You can get this book on paperback now.

Pharmaceutical Grade fish oil is much more powerful/pure than any fish oil you can purchase in a health food store, and it regulates Eicosanoids, hormones that are located in every single cell in the human body.

Hormones, like food, are much more powerful than any medicine we can take, but these Eicosanoids are basically 'superhormones' because they control they actions of other hormones, plus an imbalance of them has a role in inflammation of the body. The book has chapters devoted to all of this.....the good thing about it all, is the fish oil and resulting hormonal regulation is all natural. You're not putting anything unnatural into your body.

Definitely check it out, the author is a MD who has studied this for years, and for any doubters, the last 80 pages of the book are page after page of scientific references. So it's not like he's making claims without any scientific justification.

But the cover of the book has this quote: "High-dose pharmaceutical-grade fish oil is as close to a medical miracle as we will see in the 21st century."

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/ ... I'm/cp58-20

[MastCells]

Anyone else feel better during exercise?

I have been exercising (doing stair machine, lifting weights) a few times a week now for the past 7 weeks, and I can say with confidence that it has helped my IC/CPPS (particularly when I am in a flare), and definitely improved my overall well being.

I've had the same experience. Moderate exercise really helps me. Lying around the house wallowing in self-pity just worsens my symptoms.

Working out is especially nice because my pelvic muscles feel very loose and relaxed along with the rest of my body...plus looking at all the hot women working out is even more incentive to be there

I can relate to that!

[akia]

My case of CP started shortly after I started exercising and getting back in shape after years off. I don't think it had anything to do with starting it beyond coincidence. However I do realize that my exercise routine has helped boost my self image, self confidence and zest for life. These things have played a significant role in overcoming my condition. I still have my good days and my bad. I'll settle for life with more good than bad.

I do however try to avoid over exerting myself where I may forcefully tense my pelvic muscles. I'll build and grow slowly and avoid problems if I can.

JD I'm gald to hear that you are doing well. I agree that your positive posts are a welcome and valued part of this board.

[latte]

Hey Paso, when I got this chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome my handicap was a 10. I always got tensed on the course and made mistakes. I couldn't play for about a year because of the pelvic pain but have started again about six months ago. Now I play better than ever and am down to a 7 index. Relaxation really helps the chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome and my golf game. Funny about that.

[Paso]

Latte,

Thats soo cool. You are really good at Golf. Do you play often?

/Paso

[latte]

Paso, not as much as I would like since I have to work 5 days a week but I play on weekends, try to play once a week.

[Paso]

Ahh, I live in Sweden so I have 5 weeks off in the summer. I have 3 weeks more of vacation. I play every day during my vacation. Had a lousy round today though. Shot a 94

Latte, do you excersise apart from Golf? Do you walk when playing or do you go by Golfcar?

Take care

Paso

[latte]

Paso, I am in my 50s so I ride in the cart now. Most courses here use carts because some of the holes and quite far apart. I go to the gym and walk on the treadmill and walk the neighborhood with my wife but I am not an exercise junky by any means. When I was young I was a four year letterman in college in tennis and volleyball. Interestingly, my buddies all get together on Super Bowl Sunday and play football. Now that we are in our 50s our sons say we look like we play in slow motion. We just don't want to get hurt.
I guess in Sweden in the summer you can play all day and nite just about. 82 is a pretty good score, way to go!

[SickofCP]

I used to golf once a week and would usually shoot in the mid-90's. Last summer I only golfed twice. This summer I went out once and expected to play terribly, since I had barely golfed in 2 years. I hadn't even practiced at the driving range. I shot an 87!

For me I think it's just an appreciation for the nice things in life. I used my time out to forget about my problems and just enjoy the nice weather and the course. As a result I was not concerned about how well I would play.

So maybe CP is good for your golf game? We should give our advice to Tiger Woods! I think he'll pass.

[Carlton Higgins]

I've had great success with exercise. Intrestingly enough, when I first started with heavy exercise, my CP actually got a little worse in terms of pelvic discomfort, but this quickly subsided. Now I exercise 6 times a week, every morning before 8am. I do up to 300 sit ups a day, run 2-3 miles, and lift weights. I also spend time in the hot tub and swim.

I think diet is also very important. I blame caffeine for a lot of my problems when I first developed CP. I haven't had any in almost a year. I also quit drinking alcohol for 4 months and then gradually introduced it back in, making sure I didn't get a flare up. I've been symptom-free for close to 8 months now.

Some dietary modifications I made:
1. No caffiene
2. No red meat
3. No soda pop (even decaf)
4. Virtually no fruit juice except for an occassional cranberry juice.
5. No chocolate

I find that spicy food does not cause a problem. I also find that wine doesn't give me problems either, although beer increases frequency. I try to stick with organic food and sometimes take Algonot Plus and Quercetin.