I am writting on behalf of my fiance. His symptoms started in December after a bout with the flu. He had a feeling of burning and pain in his baldder when he urinated so he went to the Doc, they scared him to death with STD's, cancer, prostitis etc..The doctor said it is very unusual for a male to have a urinary tract infection. He was tested for all STD's, infections and stones. All negative. They put him on Levaquin for, I beleive, 28 days. Symptoms persisted, lower back pain, testicle pain and pain in his lower abdomen. He went to a urgologist, he put him on a cycline medication and talked to him about STD's (which was very upsetting to both of us) the doctor suggested I go to the doctor also and get tested for any STD's...all came back negative. Next the urologist did a Cyctascope...results were... his urerthra is fine..he also did a number of prostate exames, prostate size and levels are fine then put him on a Z-Pak which he took all in one day, the next day he started with Cipro for over 30 days. NO answer, symptoms are still the same. Urologist sent him to another GP for a second opinion... this guy was awesome, he listented to Matt and seemed truly concerned and didn't harp on the STD thing. treated him with pain meds and more Cipro, sent him for a CAT scan...everything is normal. He did do one more STD test...herpes I beleive...WE HAVE NO STD'S!! GOD!! The GP's conclusion was a syndrome of some kind. The urologist wants to see him back this coming Tuesday. He had a very scary episode the other night...it was late and he, very suddenly, started having shooting pains in his lower abdomen. He said he could feel it radiating from his upper abdomen down to the base of his penis and back up again. He was so uncomfortable he had to get up and tried to stand in differnt positons to stop the pain, it lasted about 1 hour. At this point I thought he was having Kidney stones and they just missed it...but no stone. He finally was able to go to sleep and the pains have not come back...he just has the "normal" testicle pain and abdomen pain. We are so over this!! (It's been 4 months no relief)
Matt is 35
about 185 lbs.
5'10"
works out regularly weights and plays basketball
drives quite a bit for work, in the car for hours a day also sits on the PC
regular sex drive...
(sometimes ejacualtion makes it feel better sometimes worse)
Matt actually found this website and I do belive it has helped his mindset. We are just so tired of this and I wish there was something I could do to help him. If anyone has had similar episodes with the shooting pains let us know. Also, I wondered if the flu episode the preceded this thing had anything to do with it...like a trigger or something. Do you think the weight lifting and driving contribute to the pain? Thanks in advance.
What the Heck!!
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webslave
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The levels of ignorance about this condition in the medical world are astonishing! It's sad to see that so little has changed.
Good News! The great ProstaQ is BACK at last! You must try it.
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CppsDad
- Retired Mod
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Sounds like Matt's case is very typical of many of us here. He has all the classic symptoms of chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome (including all the same symptoms as me), and this is strengthened by the fact that he has turned out negative for all serious medical problems. For a long time, negative tests worried me, because I always thought there was still one test out there that they hadn't run. Part of the recovery will be to accept that there IS nothing seriously wrong, and that the negative tests are just that, negative tests.
So first: If he has CPPS, then there is probably nothing serious wrong with him. Once again, I've said it before, "not serious" does NOT mean "not painful". In other words, he will get better, and you two will move ahead with your lives. This will not afflict him forever. So both of you can hopefully take something positive away from reading my post.
I think it's a GREAT sign that he had shooting pains from his abdomen. I hope this is enough to convince him to at least consider the trigger point theories as the source of his pain.
I also think that having you as a supportive, involved partner will help him tremendously. With your help and support, you guys can get passed the worst quickly. Given that he has only been symptomatic for a few months, you have a good shot at recovering quickly as well.
I don't think the flu is the sole cause of your problems. Many of us have taken our pelvic floor to the point that it is already tense, and on the verge of pain. At this point, anything can be the "final straw" that breaks the camel's back, but it is doubtful that this is the "cause". He was probably already close to becoming symptomatic, or his pain was there already, but low level enough not to be a bother. The pain can come on quickly though, but that doesn't mean it wasn't building for a while.
Make sure you buy "A Headache In The Pelvis" and see how much applies to you. Hopefully he will identify with much that is there.
The first thing he can do is start stretching and doing relaxation, both progressive relaxation and moment to moment relaxation of his abdominals and pelvic floor.
He can also start doing external massage on his abdominals, back, perinum, inner thighs, hamstrings, and stomach. In my case, my abdominals can shoot pain all the way to my penis, sphincter, and back. I don't have to push to hard to cause this referred pain, or as my therapist calls it, "zingers". He will probably find one that goes to the base of his penis. I suggest you buy a Theracane (they are pretty cheap), since this is the best tool I have found for abdominal massage.
At some point, he will need to have an internal pelvic floor evaluation done. This will probably turn up some internal trigger points as well. These are not more important than external ones, but they are harder to reach and stretch out. If you can go with him to the PT sessions, you can learn a lot from watching. After a while, when he is comfortable, you can do the internal PT work on him yourself. My wife attended two sessions, and now after a dozen sessions on me at home is as good or better than the PT that taught her. Part of this is that she cares more, and listens to me too, and doesn't need to rush. Sharing in this endeavour will save you guys a lot of money.
Most importantly, Matt needs to identify some of his emotional and physical triggers that might have caused this. Sure, working out and playing basketball can cause irritation of trigger points and taut muscles, but that doesn't mean this is the sole cause. If he is stressed, sitting too much (god knows most of us do), this can all contribute. In some cases, just a different sitting posture can help. There is also the stress and anxiety factor (wedding planning anyone?). This can cause a lot of tension in the stomach, abdominals, and pelvic floor. Just look how much your stomach comes out when you relax your stomach muscles. You can be tensing all these muscles and not even feel it.
Lastly, just remember that when he starts stretching and doing massage and PT, it is likely he will cause flare ups and possibly even more pain. This is a good sign for the most part, as it means you are on the right track. DON'T be scared off from this. Sometimes pain makes things feel wrong, like you were doing the wrong thing. But this may not be the case. And if you can run his rehab like a boot camp, it will help him get through it. In other words, don't let him stop doing stretches and massage because it hurts so much. Just make him do it for the next 3-6 months, and tell him you can reevaluate the situation at that time. I'm guessing that if he sticks with the plan, you will see significant results by then, enough to make him work even harder to get symptom free.
Mike
So first: If he has CPPS, then there is probably nothing serious wrong with him. Once again, I've said it before, "not serious" does NOT mean "not painful". In other words, he will get better, and you two will move ahead with your lives. This will not afflict him forever. So both of you can hopefully take something positive away from reading my post.
I think it's a GREAT sign that he had shooting pains from his abdomen. I hope this is enough to convince him to at least consider the trigger point theories as the source of his pain.
I also think that having you as a supportive, involved partner will help him tremendously. With your help and support, you guys can get passed the worst quickly. Given that he has only been symptomatic for a few months, you have a good shot at recovering quickly as well.
I don't think the flu is the sole cause of your problems. Many of us have taken our pelvic floor to the point that it is already tense, and on the verge of pain. At this point, anything can be the "final straw" that breaks the camel's back, but it is doubtful that this is the "cause". He was probably already close to becoming symptomatic, or his pain was there already, but low level enough not to be a bother. The pain can come on quickly though, but that doesn't mean it wasn't building for a while.
Make sure you buy "A Headache In The Pelvis" and see how much applies to you. Hopefully he will identify with much that is there.
The first thing he can do is start stretching and doing relaxation, both progressive relaxation and moment to moment relaxation of his abdominals and pelvic floor.
He can also start doing external massage on his abdominals, back, perinum, inner thighs, hamstrings, and stomach. In my case, my abdominals can shoot pain all the way to my penis, sphincter, and back. I don't have to push to hard to cause this referred pain, or as my therapist calls it, "zingers". He will probably find one that goes to the base of his penis. I suggest you buy a Theracane (they are pretty cheap), since this is the best tool I have found for abdominal massage.
At some point, he will need to have an internal pelvic floor evaluation done. This will probably turn up some internal trigger points as well. These are not more important than external ones, but they are harder to reach and stretch out. If you can go with him to the PT sessions, you can learn a lot from watching. After a while, when he is comfortable, you can do the internal PT work on him yourself. My wife attended two sessions, and now after a dozen sessions on me at home is as good or better than the PT that taught her. Part of this is that she cares more, and listens to me too, and doesn't need to rush. Sharing in this endeavour will save you guys a lot of money.
Most importantly, Matt needs to identify some of his emotional and physical triggers that might have caused this. Sure, working out and playing basketball can cause irritation of trigger points and taut muscles, but that doesn't mean this is the sole cause. If he is stressed, sitting too much (god knows most of us do), this can all contribute. In some cases, just a different sitting posture can help. There is also the stress and anxiety factor (wedding planning anyone?). This can cause a lot of tension in the stomach, abdominals, and pelvic floor. Just look how much your stomach comes out when you relax your stomach muscles. You can be tensing all these muscles and not even feel it.
Lastly, just remember that when he starts stretching and doing massage and PT, it is likely he will cause flare ups and possibly even more pain. This is a good sign for the most part, as it means you are on the right track. DON'T be scared off from this. Sometimes pain makes things feel wrong, like you were doing the wrong thing. But this may not be the case. And if you can run his rehab like a boot camp, it will help him get through it. In other words, don't let him stop doing stretches and massage because it hurts so much. Just make him do it for the next 3-6 months, and tell him you can reevaluate the situation at that time. I'm guessing that if he sticks with the plan, you will see significant results by then, enough to make him work even harder to get symptom free.
Mike
This is NOT medical advice. I am NOT a doctor.
Age: 43 CPPS: 10+ Yrs Recovery Status: 80-85% Symptoms: Pain in testicles, scrotum, rectum, prostate, perineum Makes Worse: Anxiety, Tension, too much Nookie Makes Better: Stretching, Abdominal Massage (Go Theracane!), Relaxation
Age: 43 CPPS: 10+ Yrs Recovery Status: 80-85% Symptoms: Pain in testicles, scrotum, rectum, prostate, perineum Makes Worse: Anxiety, Tension, too much Nookie Makes Better: Stretching, Abdominal Massage (Go Theracane!), Relaxation
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mattvic
thanks
It sure sounds exactly like what he has. I appreicate your replys and look forward to some peace of mind. One more question...on Tuesday the urologist wants to inject some sort of dye into his bladder via the urethra...anybody have this done?? What is it like and what will it show?
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webslave
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Voiding Cysto-urethrogram (VCUG) -- This test involves inserting a catheter through the urethra into the bladder, injecting a dye into the catheter, pulling out the catheter, and urinating the dye back out. Several x-rays are taken during the procedure. The dye outlines the bladder and urethra on the x-ray to show if any structural problem exists. This dye does not damage the bladder or kidneys, and it is flushed out quickly with urinating.
I predict it will offer no new information, but I cannot advise you not to do it. There is an exposure to x-rays during this procedure, so that's the down side.
More - http://www.inland-imaging.com/procedure ... aspx?id=50
I predict it will offer no new information, but I cannot advise you not to do it. There is an exposure to x-rays during this procedure, so that's the down side.
More - http://www.inland-imaging.com/procedure ... aspx?id=50
Good News! The great ProstaQ is BACK at last! You must try it.
| HAS THIS SITE HELPED YOU? Say Thanks by donating. Keep the Forum alive on the Internet! PayPal link at end of page ↓ Contact me at support at ucpps.men | |
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LightningTree
- Sage
- Posts: 623
- Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 6:50 pm
- Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Hey there,
I occasionally get shooting pains that run from the tip of my penis, up the shaft and up through the "inside" of my pelvis. For me, they dissappear somewhere inside the pelvis. The sensation is very rapid, like a lightning strike moving through the body. I posted a week or two ago about this to see if anyone else had this symptom. At the time I got no others responding, so I figured it was unusual. Now I guess I know I'm not the only one to which this happens.
I believe that these have something to do with internal musculature and nerves, myself. I get them most frequently when bending forward (over a bathroom sink, for example) or when taking two steps at a time in a stair well. Occasionally, however, it comes out of nowhere and usually makes me make some sound, since it is a very strong painful sensation. For me, it is usually so vrief, however, that it is gone before I can react to it.
If had to take an uneducated guess about why your partner's symptoms lasted for an hour with the strikes firing over and over again, I would guess that it was nerve flare-up and or levitar ani muscle spasm. But that's just a total guess.
I occasionally get shooting pains that run from the tip of my penis, up the shaft and up through the "inside" of my pelvis. For me, they dissappear somewhere inside the pelvis. The sensation is very rapid, like a lightning strike moving through the body. I posted a week or two ago about this to see if anyone else had this symptom. At the time I got no others responding, so I figured it was unusual. Now I guess I know I'm not the only one to which this happens.
I believe that these have something to do with internal musculature and nerves, myself. I get them most frequently when bending forward (over a bathroom sink, for example) or when taking two steps at a time in a stair well. Occasionally, however, it comes out of nowhere and usually makes me make some sound, since it is a very strong painful sensation. For me, it is usually so vrief, however, that it is gone before I can react to it.
If had to take an uneducated guess about why your partner's symptoms lasted for an hour with the strikes firing over and over again, I would guess that it was nerve flare-up and or levitar ani muscle spasm. But that's just a total guess.
This is not medical advice, and I am NOT a doctor of medicine or a related field.
* Age:33 Onset: February 2004.
* 99.9% IMPROVEMENT in 2.5 Years with the first year being the really hard part
* Current Symptoms: Mild irritation of perineal muscles on occasion. Relieved for days at a time by a specific stretch (see below).
* Initial Symptoms: Terrible penile, urethral, rectal, and perineal burning/aching with addition afferent sensations.
* Current Treatments: Deep stretching of the legs and pelvis. Most effective: Deep psoas and levitar ani stretch using the first phase of the "pigeon pose" from Yoga. When a deep pulling is felt in the middle of the pelvis next to the upper rectum, symptoms are completely alleviated for several days.
* Past Treatments Hyperprotection of the perineum for 1.7 years, Walking, Rectal biofeedback, Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol, Conditioned deep relaxation practice, Men's Multi-Vitamin and an Extra B-complex pill, all seemed to help.
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CppsDad
- Retired Mod
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- Joined: Sat Nov 20, 2004 7:24 am
- Location: N. America
If I just push moderately hard on my abdomen in certain spots, I get those "lightening strike" type pains that shoot through my abdomen, penis, and perineum. If I push on others, I get nothing. My PT says that it should be pretty consistent throughout, and that I should really get those types of pain anywhere. Because of this, he believes I have a lot of trigger points in the abdomen that I have to work out.
Mike
Mike
This is NOT medical advice. I am NOT a doctor.
Age: 43 CPPS: 10+ Yrs Recovery Status: 80-85% Symptoms: Pain in testicles, scrotum, rectum, prostate, perineum Makes Worse: Anxiety, Tension, too much Nookie Makes Better: Stretching, Abdominal Massage (Go Theracane!), Relaxation
Age: 43 CPPS: 10+ Yrs Recovery Status: 80-85% Symptoms: Pain in testicles, scrotum, rectum, prostate, perineum Makes Worse: Anxiety, Tension, too much Nookie Makes Better: Stretching, Abdominal Massage (Go Theracane!), Relaxation
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mattvic
These pains were so intense he jumped up from sleeping and was grabbing his stomach. The pain was bad enough that I thought he was having a kidney stone episode. (I remember my father passing a stone....not a pretty site.) He just kept saying "somethings happening!! What the f@#@!! Somethings happening!!" It really scared us..it never happend before and I guess with all the other problems we just felt like WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON!!! Why can't a DR figure this out!! I wanted to take him to the ER but he wanted to wait and see if it passed, which it did...but that was very scarry to see him in that much pain. I didn't like it one bit.
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CppsDad
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Well, my abdominals hurt a lot, and cause lots of "lightning" like pains, but I don't think they ever hurt like a kidney-stone. It's definitely worth making sure that stones and abdominal issues are ruled out. Try doing some massage work on his abdominals and see how much it hurts him. Just press on various spots on the abdomen and he'll tell you if it refers a lot of pain. You DON'T have to press very hard. You can increase the pressure as he allows.
Michael
Michael
This is NOT medical advice. I am NOT a doctor.
Age: 43 CPPS: 10+ Yrs Recovery Status: 80-85% Symptoms: Pain in testicles, scrotum, rectum, prostate, perineum Makes Worse: Anxiety, Tension, too much Nookie Makes Better: Stretching, Abdominal Massage (Go Theracane!), Relaxation
Age: 43 CPPS: 10+ Yrs Recovery Status: 80-85% Symptoms: Pain in testicles, scrotum, rectum, prostate, perineum Makes Worse: Anxiety, Tension, too much Nookie Makes Better: Stretching, Abdominal Massage (Go Theracane!), Relaxation
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conradin
- Experienced
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- Joined: Mon Nov 24, 2003 10:19 pm
- Location: Oakland, CA
It soudnslke he has the typical CPPS. He even has the same profile as me! (long commute, desk job, athletic).
Read upon Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol, that is the best bet. Start changing diet and lifestyle. The sooner you get on it, the sooner it will pass.
Yes, it is very painful. I once jumped out of a moving van on the hwy to the horror of my SO who was driving because I could not stand the pain...(thankfully she got the van almost stopped otherwise I will not be typing here).
Read upon Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol, that is the best bet. Start changing diet and lifestyle. The sooner you get on it, the sooner it will pass.
Yes, it is very painful. I once jumped out of a moving van on the hwy to the horror of my SO who was driving because I could not stand the pain...(thankfully she got the van almost stopped otherwise I will not be typing here).
Age:37 | Onset Age: 34 | Symptoms: Pain on Right Leg, Fireball, Urethral and Testicular Pain, Urgency, Bladder lost control, Lower and Upper abdominal Pain, Perineum Pain, Nausea, ED, Pain during arousal, Ejaculation Pain, Lower Back Pain , Fatigue, Short term memory loss, anxiety, bowel pseudo-obstruction/IBS, bloating, unable to pass gas, intestinal burning sensations. | Helped By: Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol, Elavil, Valium, Stretching, Skin Rolls, Donut Cushion, External Trigger point | Worsened By: Sit for more than an hour, Caffiene, Sex, Bowel movement, Symptoms come without warning.
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LightningTree
- Sage
- Posts: 623
- Joined: Sat Jul 03, 2004 6:50 pm
- Location: San Francisco, CA, USA
Well, it sounds like a bunch of us have those fast pains some times. I guess the big question for the original poster is: are these pains regular or irregular?
Have you seen medical professionals about the pain? You really should if you have not.
If it is chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome related, I wouldn't panic about it. In my case, the shooting pains are the exception and not the rule.
Its interesting to hear that those pains can have an abdominal trigger. I'll have to investigate that on myself. My lower left abomin is always tender, but I thought that was my guts, not the muscles. My PT said "no that's the muscles", but the pain feels like it is along a band, so I assumed it was my intestines and not muscle tissue pain.
Have you seen medical professionals about the pain? You really should if you have not.
If it is chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome related, I wouldn't panic about it. In my case, the shooting pains are the exception and not the rule.
Its interesting to hear that those pains can have an abdominal trigger. I'll have to investigate that on myself. My lower left abomin is always tender, but I thought that was my guts, not the muscles. My PT said "no that's the muscles", but the pain feels like it is along a band, so I assumed it was my intestines and not muscle tissue pain.
This is not medical advice, and I am NOT a doctor of medicine or a related field.
* Age:33 Onset: February 2004.
* 99.9% IMPROVEMENT in 2.5 Years with the first year being the really hard part
* Current Symptoms: Mild irritation of perineal muscles on occasion. Relieved for days at a time by a specific stretch (see below).
* Initial Symptoms: Terrible penile, urethral, rectal, and perineal burning/aching with addition afferent sensations.
* Current Treatments: Deep stretching of the legs and pelvis. Most effective: Deep psoas and levitar ani stretch using the first phase of the "pigeon pose" from Yoga. When a deep pulling is felt in the middle of the pelvis next to the upper rectum, symptoms are completely alleviated for several days.
* Past Treatments Hyperprotection of the perineum for 1.7 years, Walking, Rectal biofeedback, Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol, Conditioned deep relaxation practice, Men's Multi-Vitamin and an Extra B-complex pill, all seemed to help.
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mattvic
Yes, he has consistently been to the Dr. since this all began, they know every ache, pain and twinge, they checked him for stones but when the episode started I just thought they must have missed them. He only had one of those episodes and I hope it doesn't happen again. After reading through these postings, I've got a few more questions. What is the Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol? Where does it come from? What are trigger points? How do you recoginise trigger points...this sounds like something a chiropractor talks about . This isn't spiritual healing or something is it? I would go for it but I don't htink he would have faith that it would work. Now, he goes to the Dr. on Tuesday, they are injecting his bladder with some dye...he is going to talk to the Dr. about what we have read here and the symptoms of CPPS..do you have any advice on how to get this ball rolling with therapy...is the PT a massage therapist or a physical therapist? Is this a condition they can take a test to prove you have it or is this like an elimination diagnosis? What I mean by that is... there are no other answers so it must be this?
Thanks guys!! and you know what...you are very lucky because if a women went to the Doc and said my abdomen and my crothch are killing me...do you know what they would say??!! LOL I feel for you all because being a women with many female problems I know this is AWFUL I can completely sympathise and I do know you have to be your own advocate with the Dr.s..if you can't get an answer you have to keep pushing. Take care.
Thanks guys!! and you know what...you are very lucky because if a women went to the Doc and said my abdomen and my crothch are killing me...do you know what they would say??!! LOL I feel for you all because being a women with many female problems I know this is AWFUL I can completely sympathise and I do know you have to be your own advocate with the Dr.s..if you can't get an answer you have to keep pushing. Take care.
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mattvic
