big breakthough after six months

[webslave]

There are lots of overlaps between all the muscle-nerve based pelvic conditions. Some say they are all the same thing, just named differently.

BTW, make sure that you squat when defecating. That may also solve some problems...

[johnnyblotter]

Perhaps, but I don't see much discussion here lately on the benefits of biofeedback or electrostimulation when these studies seem to show favorable results for those that have very similar conditions to mine.

I mean, I can see if you have testicular or penis pain or urinary symptoms, biofeedback in your rectum might not be something to look into, but it seems like in my case it may be worth looking into. Especially since I seem to not be making much progress with trigger points and relaxation alone.

Is there some consensus that these other techniques are a waste of time compared to the Wise Anderson protocol for any/all of these types of symptoms?

[webslave]

Well, if you don't have classic CPPS symptoms, you may well benefit from other treatments. If you can find someone to administer biofeedback, go for it!

[johnnyblotter]

There's another symptom which I have which I can't seem to find any clues about. With this rectal pressure, when I lightly "clench", and then release, it feels like the swollen part way up high droops down inside me. Like it's a big hunk of gum that slides slowly down.

Sometimes everything feels like, tight and high up, and then when I clench, it's all sort of mushed up there.

It really varies a whole lot. It's much more a range of symptoms than just a swollen golf ball feeling. I've had the swollen golf ball thing in years past and this is just way weirder.

I really wonder if one muscle slipped under another and is preventing some muscle up high from dropping as it should..like it's just getting caught and slowly drooping down. I know when I had that initial "hitch" during masturbation something seemed to slip, I definitely felt like some muscle slipped somewhere.

I also wonder if any gastroenterologist would actually be able to go in with a scope and look at the musculature. Because if this is the case (and I'm not saying it IS of course, it could just be the sensation of it), then I'm not sure what will happen when I finally do get a tool to reach this area. Like I'll be able to PRESS it, but it feels like it needs to UNHOOK or something.

[johnnyblotter]

Well, on I go with another roller coaster rant. But this time it's good..I had a very good and relaxed internal tp and relaxation session today and I think I'm finally starting to get the hang of just how hard is to relax a muscle that's in spasm without trying to relax it. It just wants to keep the tension trapped! When I breathe out I imagine balloons are carrying it away but I can feel that the muscle spasms most times when I'm breathing during the relaxation sessions.

I've been practicing for about a month now, and while I've obviously been in states of despair at certain times, I think I'm starting to wrap my mind around everything.

I likely put one of the levator muscles into a really nasty spasm and it's gonna take time and practice to work out of it. That's why it probably makes the contractions feel strange....since the levator is in spasm, it will sink down a bit, but it isn't releasing normally because it's not relaxed.

I have Freedman's audio...every now and again she says, "let go of whatever lets go effortlessly..and rest with what's left". Every time I hear it, the spastic right side of the rectum just can't help fluttering. It's crazy how it triggers it to go like that. I think I listened to that part and focused on it too much. I have to make sure to listen to the whole 20 minutes of it and not think about those words because it triggers that spastic fluttering feeling.

It certainly is a strange thing to be working on, as it says in the book. I'm probably lucky to only have one real symptom. I'm gonna continue along with the protocol...slowly but surely I'm turning into a believer...

[webslave]

Fluttering = fasciculations = good. Search forum for "fasciculations".

Also take a magnesium supplement

[johnnyblotter]

Interesting.

I interpret it as the muscle is trying release tension...and while some part of it gets released, the muscle doesn't want to let most of it go.

I try to massage the area as well from time to time while doing the relaxation. I feel like if I had Jedi-like control, the fasciculations wouldn't happen, but I think I understand that the muscle is not going to give up that tension right away. So I should probably just let them happen.

[johnnyblotter]

Also what magnesium supplement would you recommend? I've also seen recommendations to take baths with a few ounces of magnesium oil.

[webslave]

Magnesium citrate is good, especially the powder (add sparingly to drinks or food). I use the one by "Now"
http://www.nowfoods.com/Magnesium-Citra ... er-8oz.htm
2020 Update: I now recommend Magnesium Glycinate because the citrate causes diarrhea (in fact the citrate can be used as laxative).

You can also add Epsom Salts to the bathwater

[MajorSky1]

From reading your posts, I can tell you are trying hard to snap out of this condition, and not have any relapses. We all do it - looking for that escape route where CPPS can't ever catch you again. But I think when you have moments where you feel better and you think you're in the clear, or you're never going to feel crappy again can actually hold you back from the real recovery. Recovering from this is slow. For me, and many others it's agonizingly slow, and very very frustrating. But with that said, when a flare up comes along, you just ride it out and realize it's going to go away. It's hard to do when they last for a long time, but the more work you do on the front end with stretches, therapy, relaxation/meditation, and diet, the shorter those relapses seem to last over the course of months.
Believe me, I wake up every day and hope that today I'll snap out of this and be back to 100% and never have to deal with it again. But until more and more serious studies are done on this condition and they find a true smoking gun to treat or cure, we have to deal with it for what it is.
It's good to get excited and appreciate those victories when you have them as long as they're kept in perspective, which should always include as much hope as we can all muster that eventually, we'll come out of it and feel GOOD again. It takes time, dedication and patience.

[johnnyblotter]

I've decided Sarno is right and had an 80% turnaround in three days. I've switched my thinking entirely and have given up the stretches and trigger points.

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=8416&p=49013#p49013

[SoothingSpaces]

Webslave, you know my story somewhat by now. I am going to my psych med doctor on Wednesday ... You know about my pain condition. I am currently on Lexapro ... What other pain fighting drugs do you recommend? I hear a lot of mention about Elavil Lyrica and nuerotonin, particularly Elavil as a mast cell inhibitor ... What are your thoughts?

[SoothingSpaces]

And I've been taking Quercetin for four weeks. I see I would need to discontinue that w/ Elavil?

[Caedar]

Where do you see that you'd need to discontinue Quercetin? As far as I know, they don't have negative interactions.

[SoothingSpaces]

I thought I read that on the forum somewhere. What are your thoughts on Elavil? Or any other painkillers for that matter...