Trying to see whether others may have similar issues

[freemeofthis]

First timing posting and basically have very similar stories to others who have kindly shared their experience.

Couple of questions to see if anyone has experienced similar complaints
1. In addition to the groin pain, low libido, ED, pelvic muscle trigger points I have some visible distal urethral inflammatory changes
2. Since onset of pain some 5 years ago (sigh) I have had body composition changes...abdominal adiposity/fat increases, and some fat in the chest region...could be all related to the muscle spasm I guess but testosterone has been normal
3. I have at times experience some electrical sensations ("zaps") in my extremities ...fingers mainly
4. I have at times had some muscle and joint aches and pains that come and go ...elbows especially

Thank you in advance

[webslave]

1. Common, nerve mediated.
2. Stress, too much sitting. Anxiety can cause extra eating. If desperate, you can try semaglutide weekly injection, very good for weight loss I hear.
3. Something neurological happening, not enough info to comment.
4. Could be fibro, commonly comorbid with UCPPS.

[freemeofthis]

Thanks for the response. My urologist biopsied the distal urethral and pathology just consistent with "mild inflammatory changes". Could that inflammation really be related to the trigger points or is it the other way around...inflammation in a nerve causing the trigger points ?

[webslave]

If you want background on how mind, nerves, muscles and inflammation are related, see this thread: https://ucpps.men/viewtopic.php?t=9341

[freemeofthis]

Hi long time sufferer here with pretty much the identical stories of many. I have a professional career that I didn't really think was ultra stressful but lately I have been questioning that thought. I have recently been focusing on not clenching my pelvis and anal sphincter during the day and have found it to be quite challenging. I am now concluding that for the previous 40+ years of my life I have just got in the habit of clenching the pelvis/anal sphincter...especially when in the midst of stressful situations (?work, athletic competitions, sex, focusing on some task intently, even driving, etc). Now that I am more aware of this, I am really having trouble intentionally relaxing. Does anyone have some tips? Is this 'clenching' really an unusual habit? I would assume that most people do the same thing during stress? Did my pelvic floor sort of reach of threshold of all the clenching it could take or is my body more susceptible to the adverse outcomes of clenching then most?

Thank you for your input...

[webslave]

Have you read the book called Paradoxical Relaxation?

[freemeofthis]

I will order it and am also thinking of going to the live clinic; any quick tips on workday relaxation...I am trying to tell myself 'drop it down' but I am sort of having trouble keeping the pelvis relaxed for long periods of time. I also find that as I have racing thoughts about things to accomplish I am tightening up the pelvis. Finally do you think that this pelvic tightening is really pathologic in general (like very few people do it) or do you just think that something in the cards we are dealt makes us susceptible?

[antmanbird]

Hello, if I may give my opinion. I have 99% freed myself of this issue.

In my first phase, I was in a positive feedback loop. The pain led to more clenching, and led to worry which also led to clenching. When I got rid of the worry (by having a proper diagnosis), it got better.

The pain took a longer time to reduce. In a nutshell, you want to relax your sphincter as often as possible. And not worry if you can’t obviously relax it. It will come. It helps if you can reduce your responsibilities (work, family, other stuff) I did. And use the extra time to relax. I think it helped me to still keep working, but I was in a situation where I could take a break anytime (I worked from home). How to relax? Stretch, especially adductors. Check out “Cure CPPS” on YouTube. And do breathing exercises when you breathe into your pelvic region, lightly inflating it like a balloon (don't push to hard though, esp. not with your abs). How long should you breathe? 15 mins felt like a meaningful time for me. Maybe longer as well.

After that I started exercising my core area, while trying to keep my pelvic floor relaxed. Slowly I added more exercises. And now I’m alright! I get occasional tightness. Triggers are stress (especially anxiety), masturbation and cold weather. But it never crosses the pain threshold. And it goes away in a day or two. I am confident you can make it there too!

[antmanbird]

And I think others do it too, it’s just that your pelvic floor is more sensitive to it and probably more tight. And you do it more than others. It’s a weakness, just like a bad low back. But I’m confident it can be managed for most of us.

Admin comment: excellent points, thanks for letting us know how you overcame this!

[freemeofthis]

Thank you for your insight!

[freemeofthis]

Longstanding sufferer with much of the same complaints as many. I have been to PT on many occasions and somewhat dabble in self (internal/external) trigger point release. I have noticed that many of my most painful trigger points seem to be external so to speak. The best way to describe these locations is that if you think of a target with a bullseye (let's say a dart board) with a series of concentric circles and the bullseye located over the anal sphincter...then, for me, the most tender trigger points start just beyond the external anal sphincter (maybe the second concentric circle) and then continue outward to even the 4th or 5th concentric circle. Some of these could be considered along the walls of the gluteal cleft. They are very stubborn and tough to work out.

Any tips on dealing with these. Do you think these area also a result of the 'clenching' habit that I have unknowingly gotten into?

Thanks for any input

[webslave]

Clenching can definitely cause that. Trigger points located there should be susceptible to heat. Have you tried sitz baths? Heating pads?

[Balenul]

@freemeofthis, my distal urethra is also inflamed.... I assume your doctor saw this in a cystoscopy? What symptoms you have? I have a constant urethral pressure and a sensation I have to pee all the time.... my urethra also hurts if I cough, laugh sometimes, especially when I have some urine in bladder

[freemeofthis]

Balenul ...yes Urologist saw it on cystoscopy but I could plainly see it too...don't recommend the biopsy though... it hurt like a Mother******! My symptoms include groin pain, low libido, erectile challenges, pain with urination and ejaculation.