advice appreciated

[PainInPA]

Here are my symptoms from most bothersome to least:

Urge/Feeling of the need to Urinate (This is the worst part and is worst at work when I'm sitting at PC for hours.) It is not a painful feeling as much as just that feeling of 'needing to go' constantly. Back in April/May when it was worst - I would feel like I had to go about 10 minutes after going. I was going to the bathroom every hour or so at work. Less at home.

IBS-type of pain. At my worst, I was having these episodes where I suddenly feel like I have to go right now and usually both ways. Usually I have extreme gas, too. When I do relieve myself, I am usually left with an extreme pain that doesn't go away until the next morning. I have learned that lots of Ibuprofen helps.

Pain in the Prostate. I had this worst earlier this year. The uro checked it and said that it "felt" fine, but when he hit it, I nearly jumped through the ceiling. It STUNG really bad. I had pain for a while and now it is only occasionally.

Weak stream. There are times when I do have the old flow of yesteryear, but mostly it is a fairly weak stream. This is probably directly due to the tense muscles that have to do with the process of going, etc.

Dribbling. I group this with the whole weak stream thing.

Spasms. I occasionally feel a fluttering or spasm in the pelvic floor area. Never gave it a second thought until reading about it here. It doesn't do it very often.

I was also very tired during the worst part of my symptoms.

I do attribute most of the flare-up to stress in my life, as with taking the vitamins/herbals and my stress level has lessened a little - I feel like I'm recovering to a comfort level that is tolerable.

[Rhemium]

Rhemium, I assume you have you been to Tuscon to try the treatment?

No, but I have spoken with Polecheck, as did my father (a doc). Not impressed.

Just trust me - don't waste your time or money. Even a cursory search of the Tucson Clinic on sci.med.prostate.prostatitis would reveal enough doubt about their practices to prove it isn't worth the risk.

Trust me.

[Cruiser]

I also live 2 hrs from Pittsburgh and have had this condition for 3 years now. After trying a multitude of products too many to list I have finally settled on Tramadol 50mg 3-4x (half dose) and has worked the best for me. I was a little leary at first cause I didn't want to get hooked but after being in so much discomfort for so long and going into depression I said screw it and started taking it and never looked back. No a cure I know but until they find an answer to all this it is all I have. It has made my life almost normal. I can pretty much do anything I want in moderation ie. work, sports, social drinking, etc. with minumum discomfort. Moderate exercise I have found helps a great deal also. Hand in there it's all you can do. :thumbup: Good luck

[conradin]

While it may be difficult to find someone trained in the Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol physio, a good way to find a subsittute is to find a physio that usually works in a womens clinic. Ask for references of any physio that specifically deals with women pelvic floor issues, like ic and stuff. When you get ahold of a physio who deals with women, explain to her what you need. A good physio who knows how to treat pelvic floor on women could be able to transform her skills for men.

It is more difficult to work on men then women because women has two orifice which the physio has access to in order to reach certian muscle trigger points, while men basically has one. But the idea is the same and if the physio is good and familiar with all the muscles group and good at internal work, it should do. Chances are teh physio is a woman so she will go a bit more gentle for you.

Going to Stanford probably is a must though...