UCPPS - Prostatitis, Interstitial Cystitis Forum

I am hesitant about posting this here - as I know full well it is way too soon to call anything a success.

But I feel that the improvement to my quality of life has been substantial enough to at lease report on it here - with updates.

It may turn out to be a short term thing - and if thats the case - I will report that too.

Here's the deal - I have suffered (it hurts like nothing else) a series of injections into my prostate and seminal vesicals following a modified version of Dr. Bahns well published protocol for injections.

I had 5 injections over 2+ months (that is 2 more then Bahn suggests).

So far the relief has been outstanding and improved the quality of my life greatly. I am still keeping up my supplements (quercitan, grape seed extract) and meds (avodart and very low dose long term antibiotics).

I am a different person writing this today than I was when I first found this board - I was in pain for so long that I forgot what it felt like to not be in pain. This is very liberating.

It would be irresponsible of me to say this is a cure - it is NOT!
But - is is a way for ME to manage my condition and improve my quality of life - I can be a father to my 2 year old again! I can work all day and not obsess about my prostate pain or the gulf ball up my butt that I used to feel!

My greatest hope is that this relief lasts 3 - 4 months - then I will repeat the series of injections when the pain increases to levels that are comparble to what is was before the injections.

My urologist has been a dream to consider this therapy - they contacted Dr. Bahn and modified his protocol and are considering me an experiment in progress. I think my urologist thinks I am a little crazy for wanting to do this - since the injections are so painful - but that pain is to temporary it doesn't matter.

I know that many who read this will disagree with both my injections and use of long term low dose antibiotics (I don't care if it is the AntiInflamatory effect!!) but I have to live with these symptoms - and be a father and a bread winner - so I am doing everything I can to get better.

If this totally fails - I will try other things (low temp WIT etc) and keep trying until I am improved.

I will post condition updates at least monthly and reply to any questions anyone has about m procedure.

I was in contact with both Bahn and Guercini before I decided to have my Uro give it try.

As I write this my fingers are crossed and prayers in hand - I hope this relief lasts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is a follow up post to update on the success of the injections to date.
So far relief has held constant and improvement is stable. I actually feel great.

I will post a reply here either in a month or sooner if I relapse (say a good word for me so that that won't happen ok).

I am quite surprised that I feel as good as I do - this is great so far.

james-d wrote:I actually feel great

Great news

I think your improvement must be due to the dexamethasone (steroid). Dr Shoskes tried this technique, just using antibiotics and a local anesthetic (no steroids), without success:

From: Daniel Shoskes MD
Subject: Re: Intraprostatic injection of gentamycin-xylocaine
Date: 1999/04/17

We have tried this technique following the exact protocol in 5 patients
without improvement in a single one.

James, you might like to read this post on low temperature WIT: viewtopic.php?t=207&sid=531ace0d5d0d4a7 ... cb55ed29c6

In it, Dr Shoskes states:

My VERY EARLY impression is that it is most helpful for men with recurrent bouts of prostatitis that typically respond to antibiotics but always come back. I am 4 for 4 in that category.

I have seen/read that as well as met with Dr. Shoskes in person.

He explained the WIT to me.

I am going to try the low temp WIT if I relapse significantly again and Shoskes said I seem like a good candidate for it.

Just another follow up on the injections.

So far -I still feel great.

I am worried that one day soon I will wake up and all will be lost again - but for the moment - all is good.

james-d wrote:I have suffered (it hurts like nothing else) a series of injections into my prostate and seminal vesicals

Just a thought: with all the men reporting success with non-invasive techniques like physiotherapy to the pelvic floor, have you considered putting this aside for a while and trying that instead? Just think how preferable it would be if you could find a permanent, benign solution to your problem without having to turn your internal organs into pin-cushions

You could always go back to injections if it doesn't work out.

Webslave,

The injections are long since done - so I no longer recieve them.
Its been several weeks now - and I don't plan on any more unless I relapse badly.

I have always considered physio-therapy as useful to some (perhaps many) men. I may try it myself if all else fails - I just beleive that in my case it is unlikely to succeed. I did discuss this with Shoskes during my appointment with him - he said my case does not strike him as muscle tension related (but he did not discourage me trying that therapy).

I think I am likely to try WIT, Physio-therapy and more injections if I relapse. Now that I remember what life is like without constant pain - I am scared to death of falling back into it.


But since you bring up the point - let me ask you - how does one find a PT in thier area to do this type of therapy?

I don't know. At this stage it's all by word of mouth. Others travel to see the experts in various centers.

Well - just another update on my status.

I am remarkably stable and elated about it.

I must admit - I never thought it would be this good!

Dr Shoskes had one or two patients cured with immunosuppressants. It's too radical for me.

James-d , glad it worked for you . As long as it works for someone its a great success story . Keep us posted ....

Now - I have disagreed with this forum - and many of its posts - more than most.

But I wanted to say thanks to the forum and the web site in general.

My path to feeling better was diferent than most (injections of a cocktail of steroids, antibiotics, anti-funguls, and lidocaine- and vey low dose long term anti-biotics) - but the information that allowed me to make that decision was gleened here.

The discussion of Dr. Bahn was what led me to contact him and have my uro try his technique of injection.

I also never would have relied on my supplements (Querciatan and Grape Seed Extract) with the info on the "protocol" page.

So - thanks - I am feeling fine - in no small part to the info I gathered from here and the prostatitis--dot--org site.

-Jim

Well - several months into this approach and I still feel great.

I still use my supplements and my cushion religiously - and will likely continue them for a long long time.

I admit that I don't understand the bio-chemistry of it - or why it works at all - but I feel great - and thats all I care about at the moment.

I will update periodically.