Lumbar ache stiffness

[Ranzzar]

I have had chronic non bacterial prostatitis CPPS; waxing and waning unpredictably for about 14 months. Lately it has been associated with a lot of lower backache and stiffness; especially in the mornings. Has anyone else experienced this as part of their condition? Any tips on how to manage it?

[webslave]

Lower back pain can be associated with CPPS, but is a very common symptom in the general population too, so may be unrelated.



Just make sure you have a good mattress (less than 7 years old, firm, and turned frequently). Then try ice packs.

If neither of those help, it could be purely CPPS-related and will only improve if the condition itself is tackled (and this entire site is devoted to that).

[Ranzzar]

Thanks Webslave

[Ranzzar]

Hello again,

I was just wanting to get some reassurance/feedback I suppose that what I am experiencing is consistent with CPPS or not and whether I need to get more check ups etc. And if so, will it ever go away?

It's taken me quite a while to start to accept that maybe there is not something physically wrong now (I am sure initially I did have some sort of undiagnosed infection) .. but that now it is likely neural pathway activation etc) .... all the investigations and the opinions of a few physicians and urologists over 12 months have come up with nothing much on any tests /cultures or cystoscopy. Therefore I am left with CPPS I suppose, but worry there is still possibly something there which hasn't been detected or is significantly wrong (e. g. some occult infection or inflammation). I just wondered if the following which I experience are all consistent with CPPS.

1. The symptoms going away completely for a week or two or three ( and thinking I am finally rid of this) and then returning
2. Weird symptoms like burning or tingling in toes or feet (associated with mild dysuria or penis tip pain)
3. Changes in symptoms over time... now I get mild discomfort after ejaculation; whereas initially I never got this at all, and also now pains in other parts of body. Initially I had the golf ball/perineal pain.. which morphed into these other manifestations
4. Occasionally increased white cells detected in my urine culture, but never any growth... how can CPPS cause this?? I find this hard to explain
5. Prolonged course... now about 18 months up and down.... does this thing ever go away completely??

last year I had around 6 urine tests/cultures including DNA detection tests for bacteria and viruses etc (all negative, except the increased WBC sometimes), semen cultures, blood tests, renal and prostate ultrasound, cystoscopy-----all negative.

Should I get more checkups/opinions etc and urine tests etc with persistent/recurrent symptoms or just forget about chasing further tests and doctors at this point and and learn to live with it?

I would appreciate any comments anybody has

[MajorSky1]

Since you've had so many tests, and nothing was found, it sounds like CPPS to me. Pelvic floor dysfunction. All that peripheral pain in the toes, and feet, shifting pain, discomfort after ejaculation - all from misfiring nervous system which reflexively tries to protect. Some of that is from anxiety which feeds the pain, and feeds the tightening.
If you read this board you'll eventually see where it says that this condition never resolves in a smooth downward trajectory. It comes and goes, spikes and seems to resolve only to come back. It takes months to measure improvement. If it were me (which it has been because I've been through the same thing) I'd worry less about finding a smoking gun, and just get set up with a good physical therapist to help you not only with any pelvic TPs if they are present, but also to help you learn how to manage the peripheral pain in adductors, tuberocity, tailbone, iliopsoas, glutes, lower back via use of stretches and exercises to keep tightness at bay. I have also found acupuncture to be very very helpful, but you have to go once a week for a while and gradually stretch it out to once a month. If you haven't already, learn how to use deep breathing to release tension. Light yoga is good too.
The best thing you can do is learn how to reassure yourself because no one else will satisfy that desire to be empathized.
Yes, it will eventually go away, probably all the way. But it's going to take a long time because that's how the NS works in resolving it's malfunction. You'll be ok, but between now and it being gone, the best thing you can do is proactively find ways that work for you to manage it, and those management techniques are a little different for everyone.
I used to feel like ejaculation made it worse, but I found that the stress relief benefits from it outweighed the discomfort afterward, and over time have had a lot of improvement with post ejaculatory issues resolving.
If you haven't, you may want to find a good pain psychologist to help unravel some of what caused any anxiety you may have had to overflow to the point where it has cause this condition. If nothing else, it's good to have someone to talk to once in a while.
Anyone is welcome to correct me if I've stated anything incorrect here, or to add to what I've said. I'm no expert, except with my own experience, as are most of us.

[webslave]

Occasionally increased white cells detected in my urine culture, but never any growth... how can CPPS cause this?? I find this hard to explain

Read this page carefully
https://ucpps.men/chron ... condition/

Prolonged course... now about 18 months up and down.... does this thing ever go away completely??

Remember "the graph"

[Ranzzar]

Thanks guys for the replies and references. The comments have been really helpful in helping me to understand this condition better and get things in perspective. I am having trouble still finding a good (any!) PT in this city ... but I am sure they are out there. I'm motivated to keep looking!
best