22 year old with suspected prostatitis

[Jfletch]

About 9 months ago I started getting pain in my central lower back, pretty low down there, about 3 or 4 inches above the buttocks. I suppose I contribute some of this to getting regularly trashed in my college dormitory, and consuming lots of caffeine. But really, nothing extremely out of ordinary for your typical college student. This condition is doubly annoying because it comes and goes (although pressure on the lower back is always present). Sometimes the pain occurs in the bladder (pressing pain feels like I have to go when I don't), I will occasionally feel an unpleasant spasm in my groin, or a burning sensation felt in my dick. Lower back hurts more whenever my bladder is full. The pain intensifies a lot whenever I smoke marijuana, interesting because I used to have a case of tendinitis which would flare up much worse whenever I smoked, and both ailments seem to have something to do with nerves. Most disconcerting of all, this problem has caused a great degree of sexual problems, such as libido and erectile dysfunction.

Towards the end of the fall semester, one day it started hurting so bad I thought I was having another kidney stone, so I had a friend take me to the ER. They x-rayed me and didn't find anything, just attributed to this odd disorder whose name now escapes me. I went to see my GP and then a urologist a few months ago. I had my lower back MRId, and my urine tested for blood, cultures, and other anomalies. Nothing. Suspecting prostatitis, they tried me on the Cipro treatment. I started to feel better, but stupidly quit as soon as symptoms went away. I was then told to cut out all fluids other than water. I recently followed this for a few weeks along with daily prostate medicine from the health store (contained things such as saw palmetto, zinc, and marshmallow root). It would seem to get better for a few days, and then always re-manifest itself. I am about to start school and am extremely depressed, when I should be happy. I am on another round of Cipro, hoping to god it just might be something of the bacterial sort. So can anybody help me? Which method of treatment seems to work the best for yall?

[webslave]

You should try quercetin (Quercetin is free for the first month, see my signature for link). It helps about 70% of men, and that, along with attention to stress, may be all you need at this early stage.

[BrettP]

Good luck man stay calm and don't panic. Weed makes it worse for everyone I think. I got this young too. Not gunna lie, it's pretty much ruined my life's ideal fantasy. But I make myself worse with anxiety. In the end we do this to ourselves via anxiety. I know how you feel. Don't let the despair or anxiety create a negative feedback loop ... That's when it'll get you for good. Just do what webslave says and relax. Moderate your party activities and life stress. See if that works. This board is full of people with the same issue. Also just a word of advice. There is no one hit wonder medicine that will magically fix you. Don't go looking for it. You'll waste thousands of dollars and end up with more anxiety and pain than when you started. Supplements can help but ultimately it's about learning to control your anxiety. I have gotten better and fallen back many many times. Every time has been associated with stress and anxiety feedback loops via obsessive thinking. Everyone's triggers are different though.

What is your major?

[Jfletch]

The thing is though, I'm not an anxious person! I'm one of the most chill, "don't really care" people that I know. It only used to be when I was in certain social settings that my anxiety would go through the roof, but I've conquered that these days. And I've had the entire summer to be carefree and put all stress aside. What are your thoughts about Quercetin? And my major is changing to psychology, because I am very interested in studying such issues as addiction, why people are good or evil, and other issues of freewill. And if a lot of this prostatitis really is psychosomatic, I will most definitely be interested in researching that as well.

[webslave]

People are notoriously bad at gauging whether or not they are stressed or anxious. You should let a psychologist give you tests to decide that. There are also some online tests, for example this one at Psychology Today.

[Jfletch]

So is it pretty much for certain that I have chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome ? I had IC a long time ago back when I was 15, but without any other symptoms besides feeling of urgency. It just seems odd to me that I don't experience pain in my pelvis, rectum, or testicles. It's just that ****ing lower back pain that won't go away. Urgency/pressure on bladder has been pretty bad the past week. How long does it generally take for Quercetin/quercetin to start working?

[webslave]

Have you had a MRI of the lower spine?

[BrettP]

Jfletch, I read somewhere that sitting a lot can cause lumbar issues essentially putting pressure forward into pelvis. Obviously it's just a thought possibly causing the surrounding muscles to tense and become dysfunctional. Really should get evaluated with MRI.

Interesting note about your history of IC. Was that anxiety related? Also may be good to think of your moods and thoughts when it flares up. Could be something in your head driving the anxiety which drives the CPPS. Easier said than done.

I personally suffer with IBS-C and CPPS. They are a package deal. I think what happens in my case at least is that the bowel spasms and the colon is irritated and I confuse the two pains. Essentially the pain in colon feels like bladder. Or maybe vice versa. The reason I mention is I was wondering if you have stomach issues as well. I just know from CP that bowel issues make it worse. IBS-C can cause back and pelvic pain too.