Need Some Serious Help (GARYS case)

[robertpagen]

Consider yourself fortunate to be able to consult with Tim. From all that I hear he is among the best at this. He is certainly better than many of the PT's offering PT for pelvic issues. Make the most of it.

[GARYS]

I have taken an antidepressant for years and valium. Neither seem to have any effect. My symptom that I have always had I relate to Russian roulette, every time I use the bathroom I get very nervous wondering if or how bad the burning is going to be and the severity of the overwhelming urge to go immediately again. It has played havoc on my mind. Who would I see to get this under control? I did good for about four years and when it came back I was traumatized. I must say I wasn't doing any form of treatment when things were going well for those years and have no clue how I got better in the first place. I KNOW I need help with my mind after so many years with this. I just don't know who to see. I am totally 110% committed to doing the protocol. I wish I could be positive and somehow know its going to work for me. I know I'm crazy :icon_smile_lachuh:

[robertpagen]

Perhaps some insight which I give may be of help. There are certainly persons whose anxiety or depression are rooted in unstable dopamine or brain chemical levels. The challenge in treating these issues with anti depressants is that the foundation levels are changeable so post medicine levels will also fluctuate.

Everyone can make their own choices. I choose not to drink any alcohol or coffee as both effect both short term and medium term dopamine levels in the brain. This then has a follow on effect on the HPA axis and many other functions. I will elaborate later.

Be well,

Robert

[webslave]

Also seek out a CBT practitioner. You won't win with those mental problems hamstringing you.

[GARYS]

Thank you both!! I looked up a CBT today and going to get in to see someone, I also went by the book store and found a CBT therapy workbook. Like I said I am willing to do whatever it takes!! I am still hitting the relaxation internal external work. Gotta realize this doesn't go away overnight.

[jcacciat]

Gary, it's Joe from the clinic. My trigger points do not tend to refer pain, either (although the internal puborectalis refers mildly to the penis). However, I get relief from internal and external TrP release work, as well as from stretching. I've seen small, incremental improvements, and I know the protocol is going to work. The CBT work is a great idea. Please promise yourself that you will keep at it for several months before trying to measure your progress. I've had improvements, but I've had setbacks, too. I'm integrating the protocol into my life, and I'll assess my progress at the end of the year (3 months in).

Hang in there, brother. It was an honor to meet you and the other participants in Santa Rosa.

[GARYS]

Hey Joe
Good to see you're on this site; people were talking about other sites that sounded terrible! Glad to see you're improving! I know mine is muscles; I was just frustrated when I couldn't find anything, but I am determined. By the way my wife's sister lives in Ankeny, if you're familiar with that area. Good luck and keep in touch.

[GARYS]

After attending Dr Wise clinic I have been following the protocol daily. I have been doing a lot of lower body stretches mainly legs and I feel like I am just keeping things irritated. I have also been doing abdominal tp work and using a tennis ball for glute tps. I know its early since I have only been home a little over a month doing the treatments but it feels like I'm not moving forward yet and actually now having hip and back pain. I have had this a long long time and just wanted to see from some of you that also had it for a length of time if this sounds normal. Also I don't seem to be getting more flexibility with stretching everyday, sometimes twice. Like I said I know its early but wanted to see if anyone had any thoughts or similar experiences. On a hopefully positive side I found a CBT therapist who specializes in chronic pain. I see him this week. Wish me luck lol!!! One more thing does working on these tps seem to make things a little worse for awhile? Just hope I'm doing things right. The only complaint about the clinic is that there should have been a lot more time with Tim the PT. We spent 99% of the time working on the relaxation which is a good thing but for the money I went to see the best PT that we know of and think a lot more time should have been spent making sure we found everything, it may have been different for the others but Tim only checked my abdomen as far as external tps went but I do think he checked me internally fairly well. Only that complaint but Dr. Wise and Tim were great people I have to say and Dara was a very attractive woman. So it was a little weird going from having a man doing internal work to immediately going and seeing a pretty woman to show you skin rolling and stretching. Kind of like that Seinfeld episode where George said "I was in the pool".

[webslave]

I think you need to continue with the protocol and at the same time limit expectations. Statistically, at month 6 you can expect an average decrease in pain of about 50%.

I think the CBT could be very important to you as well. Good luck.

[stoic]

Speaking of stretching, I think we can't just indiscriminately stretch any muscles that are tight or that have trigger points. When muscles are tight because of being contracted their opposing muscles would be overstretched which would also feel tight. Taking my own case for example, when I stand upright my belly feels very tight, which I think is the result of a contracted psoas pulling my lumbar spine forward, causing strain on my guts and my abdominal wall. In cases like this, doing a cobra stretch would mean stretching already overstretched muscles, which I believe wouldn't be helpful in alleviating symptoms.

[GARYS]

I have another question, I started back in my internal work two or three days ago (backed off on the internal work because I was supposed to send my wand back due to a malfunction with the pressure gauge). Anyway it started working again but I started out by hand and stretched right inside the sphincter and this time I pulled back not very hard towards the coccyx and then proceeded with the wand and I was fine that evening. Next day and since I have a lot of pain in the rectum back towards the coccyx but inside the rectum almost feels like I tore something which I know I didn't and it hurts worse like when I cough. I thought it would have worn off in a day or two but it hasn't. Anyone had this or any idea what I did? I don't need any new symptoms so hopefully it wears off soon.
Thanks
Gary

[webslave]

You could have disturbed a hemorrhoid. Do you know if you have hemorrhoids or not? If the pain persists, you need to see a doctor, who may recommend tests like a sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy.

[GARYS]

I have been doing the Wise-Anderson Protocol for a couple months now and I was just wanting to get some thoughts. I have been doing a lot of stretching and I have been having a lot of back pain lately which I can relate to stretches like the cobra stretch, but the thing that has me so confused is the amount I have been having to urinate. For days now I have to urinate every hour for most of the day. It has nothing to do with fluid intake, caffeine etc... When I go its a lot every time. I have had episodes for like this before but only last an hour or two. I have been working on really stretching my abs and searching and working on tps in the abs as well. Tried searching it but just find lists of other diseases that I don't want to read about (weak mind). Thanks for your help.

[elitynski]

Gary - it's hard to know what is going on. It could be your body processing more fluid. It could be diabetes. It could be an overactive bladder. It could be anxiety and stress. I would check with a urologist and an internist.

You may want to start a voiding diary so that the doctors can look at the patterns and see what might be going on.

[superuse]

Garys, you may want to take it easy on the stretching. Eliminate it or greatly reduce it, especially compound stretches that mimic yoga moves. If you must experiment with the simple stretches, perhaps 5-10 min a day. Put the muscle on a slight perceivable stretch and hold it for a bit. Work on the moment to moment relaxation at work. This is definitely something you cannot power thru. ie if I stretch 1 hour 3x week I will improve three times faster than 20min 3x/ wk. Stretching something 3x as hard or fast doesn't lead to a faster outcome... probably the opposite. Especially in muscles possibly full of trigger points.

Some find Xanax more effective than valium. Flexeril may help also both of these at night. Don't know if docs will prescribe Flexeril with either at the same time. Hot baths/showers 3x day helped me also.

-j