Have I finally found trigger points???

[kevin]

lorem ipsum

[CppsDad]

Sounds like you are being wise. I think it's best to know what you have there before you go hog wild and hurt yourself. The biggest danger of the Crystal Wand verse using your own hands (which I can't do), is that you can a) press harder with the wand, and b) can't feel what you are pressing on. That's why it's important to have an expert go over the whole region, so you know what each spot feels like.

In general, pressing hard anywhere in your pelvic floor will create some pain and/or discomfort. But the barometer is usually the same spot on the other side, or other similar spots throughout the pelvic floor. I will say this: you shouldn't experience a tremendous amount of pain when pressing on your pelvic floor. Pressing on your prostate, your urethra, or your coxcyx (sp) WILL create some quick pain, so be aware of those areas, and be gentle until you learn how they are participating in your condition.

I remember after I had had about 15 PT sessions, that I would ask my PT if he was pressing on the same spots as he had previously, and he would answer "yes" as well as "and not only that, I'm pressing HARDER". So, the lesson I learned was that when the area is not sensitive, you should be able to press on it fairly hard without an undue amount of pain.

In the end, you'll have to learn your body, and trust your instincts. Increase your strength slowly, so that you can learn how your respond to gentle pushing, normal pushing, and hard pushing. Then you will know when things have gone wrong. I think your reaction to your own internal sessions is a GOOD sign. You are certainly a candidate for the placebo effect early on, but recreating symptoms is good, and a few days of relief is very good too.

I don't think finding trigger points is that easy. Some are deep in there, and require contact at just the right angles to find. Armed with the knowledge you've gained on your own, you might be able to revisit with the PT's and have them focus on the spots you've found and work hard in those areas. Hopefully something will turn up. I'd also like to point out that not all pain necessarily must come from trigger points. I think knotted up muscles, taut muscles, and irritated muscles may not necessarily have a distinct trigger point, but all can be affected by stretching and relaxation.

Michael

[timberdoodle]

This isn't a direct answer to your question, but a question of my own about the crystal wand. What is the diameter of it? Is it about the same size as a finger or is it thicker? What is it made of? Hard plastic? Or something more flexible? Does it feel a lot different to you than the other internal work you've hade done?

[kevin]

thanks.

[CppsDad]

I'd agree with that assessment. It's about a thumb's width. It feels different only in that it's hard. There's no give. But other than that, it is rounded and very smooth. It looks like it's made of glass because it is clear and cold to the touch, but I'll trust that Kevin that it is made of plastic (seems safer that way anyway).

I used my Crystal Wand for a while, but I don't like how short it is. The length makes it hard for me to hold it in some positions. I prefer longer implements that I can really grip.

Mike

[robertpagen]

So have you found self administered therapy to be affective. I have only tried to do it with my own finger

[CppsDad]

I've found it quite effective, when I get up the energy to do it. I go very slow, hold positions for a long time, and hit all the spots I want to hit. My PT was great, but we really only did 20 minutes or so of internal work because a) his hands tired out, and b) the 50 minute session had external work and "warm up" stuff too. So I feel like I get a better session by myself. My personal session would easily last 30-45 minutes, or more. When I was doing a lot of internal work, I would check in with my PT every other month or so for a status check up. I don't do that any more, mostly because it is expensive.

Michael

[robertpagen]

I found that using my finger gives me more feedback. Is this the way you do it? Or do you use a tool? How do you know where to press? From the 3rd edition of AHIP? The chart?

[CppsDad]

I found that using my finger gives me more feedback. Is this the way you do it? Or do you use a tool?

I use "tools" to help me. I've mentioned the Crystal Wand previously. I don't really use that now. But I've found other, longer, things to help me. My back is bad these days, and I can't hold any position with my fingers for very long. I'm sure you feel much more with the fingers, but it's not really an option for me.

How do you know where to press? From the 3rd edition of AHIP? The chart?

For my internal work, I don't use any charts per se. I actually relied mostly on my experience with PT in the beginning. Prior to PT, I tried it myself, and I was scared senseless by everything I felt. Nowadays, I know the areas I need to work on, so I go there. I can also now tell what a trigger point "area" generally feels like, so if I find one of those spots, I'll press on it for a long time. It's mostly experimentation at this point.

Michael

[robertpagen]

When my PT first starts to press inside on the muscles I always release a little fluid onto the sheet. Is this normal? I have told her not to press directly on to the prostate and she says she is not, but she is very vague as to where she is pressing. I can tell she seems to be winging it and I don't want to damage the prostate. This makes me fearful to continue with PT at all. I hate falling back in a flare as It reminds me of all I have been thru. Should a PT be able to say exactly where she is pushing and why?

[Richie]

Personally, I let the PT go where they want. They are generally looking for a reaction or lumpy area (trigger points). The leakage you indicate is common for me and has not caused harm. Also, if they cause a flare, this means for me they have found the correct irritated area, which they should return to next time. Mine charts these areas, prostate included.

The flares should get lesser each time and the length of relief should get longer each time.



Not a Dr. not medical advice.

[CppsDad]

Charting is a good idea. Have her give you a sheet telling you where all your trigger points are? Mine did a few of these, and they changed over time.

I agree that fluid isn't a big deal. Although, pressing on the prostate is uncomfortable, it probably isn't damaging.

Michael

[webslave]

I am more conservative about this. I prefer that people ask their therapists to avoid direct pressure on the prostate itself in case it results in a urethral tear and a consequent stricture:
https://ucpps.men/prostate-massage

[timberdoodle]

Should a PT be able to say exactly where she is pushing and why?

The PT I see at Cleveland Clinic almost overwhelms me with her knowledge of the muscle groups and all the technical names for the muscles of the pelvic floor. She knows exactly what she is on and can name it for me if I'd like.

On the flip side, my wife has been trained by the same PTs and we feel more like we're winging it when we do internal work. It does help release tension though.

It seems to me a PT ought to know what muscles they're on, but the therapy can still be effective if they don't.

[kevin]

thanks