Results from relaxing the pelvic floor

[seawalker]

If someone's chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome is caused by chronically tensing the pelvic floor, then shouldn't one expect to see results simply from doing moment to moment relaxation without therapy? In A Headache in the Pelvis, they give the analogy of clenching a fist for a long period of time. Finally relaxing this fist isn't going to bring immediate relief, and the same goes for the pelvic floor. But, it would seem logical to me that one should start to see some degree of improvement after a few weeks of simply keeping the muscles relaxed even without therapy. Sure those muscles are still going to be shortened and need some lengthening, but I would still expect to see at least some kind of change just from having given the pelvic floor a rest for a few weeks. Am I completely wrong?

[webslave]

No, you're right, and I think this is more or less how Tim Parks went about it.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1609611586



But I think it's easier —for most people— to have expert instruction on how to keep the pelvis relaxed (all the various ploys and pitfalls), and to have the process facilitated by direct actions to resolve trigger points, which can take a long time to fade if left to themselves.

[superuse]

Sure those muscles are still going to be shortened and need some lengthening, but I would still expect to see at least some kind of change just from having given the pelvic floor a rest for a few weeks. Am I completely wrong?

It would be great to see improvement in a few weeks. That seems to be in the minority unfortunately. I thought I read it took D Wise himself 2 years to see marked improvement, (and a lifelong modification of his habits?). The difference between a fist and the pf muscles seem to be their uniqueness. Semi or involuntary smooth muscle tissue as compared to skeletal muscle. Sometimes it seems evaluating results on a monthly or quarterly response may be needed for a lengthly period.

In other words I don't think perceived lack of results performing part of the program over a few weeks or months would mean anything. This stuff may take time to sort out and calm down.

get well
--jjf

[seawalker]

Thanks for your replies gents. Great forum by the way. My therapist told me not to visit forums on the subject during my last visit. I told her that I am well aware of the possible "skewed" population that can visit health related forums, but forums like these have educated me tremendously and have saved my tail. Maybe she was referring to the PNE forums.

[critthinker]

This is a very interesting question. The way I see it is that lowering your nervous system arousal is the most important component, but that TrP release can hasten the return to being pain free. Also, the two are related: resolving the TrPs will reduce pain, which will reduce anxiety, which will reduce muscle tension, which will prevent TrPs from forming. On the flip side, lowering nervous system arousal will reduce anxiety, which will reduce muscle tension, which will prevent TrPs from forming.

What I wonder a lot is whether asymptomatic people have TrPs that are just as sensitive. I wonder whether it is simply the hyper-arousal of our nervous systems that make us able to feel the pain associated with those TrPs.

[samgg10]

Webslave has recommended a great book. I'll just add to the chorus: Time is the major factor. If you've had symptoms for a few years it can take a lot longer to heal. You won't notice any obvious improvement for 4-6 months, possibly more. I say 'obvious' because it's damnably hard to notice & to believe in your own improvement when it's still early-going and the pain levels feel arbitrary (e.g. if your pain fluctuates daily, and you've decreased your average pain level from 6 to 5.5, you would never notice.)

Luckily if you identify chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome early you can often heal quickly. I've known a couple guys like this, success stories. If the medical community would cooperate on correct diagnoses there'd be a lot more of them...

Anyway have faith in recovery. It's a cheeseball line, sure, except true. It took me 5-6 months to feel certain I was healing via relaxation, and nowadays month-to-month I suffer less and less.

[wrcftw]

I've gone through 2 flare ups that have been quieted by moment to moment relaxation, stretching, and no alcohol/caffeine. No supplements, no PT (some light massaging occasionally).

I'm currently on my 3rd flare up. The 1st last 4 months, the 2nd 2 weeks, and I'm on week 1 of this one and the pain is changing and starting to subside. It's a blessing and curse that our minds can almost 'erase' the memory of dark times, painful events...but after months and months of no pain at all I go back to my old ways and forget to relax my pelvic floor and my symptoms go .

Everyone is different, and everyone has varying severity. At the height of my symptoms I was taken to an emergency room, and during the good times...I'm as happy and relaxed as a clam with no pain/discomfort at all! What a weird condition...

[elitynski]

I'm glad that this book was highlighted. This looks like an excellent read. I'm taking a Mind-Body Stress Reduction class and this book will fit right in.