ANOTHER NEWBIE.......PLEASE READ

[flump]

Hello,

I'm 31 yrs old and male and I need some help/advise please ... This is my story a bit long winded but I would like to give you the full picture : (....

I used to be a fitness fanatic for about 10 yrs (weights/running) then in august of 2004 I suffered another shoulder injury a dislocating shoulder which ended my love of fitness (weight training) had to give it up as it just kept dislocating under heavy weights and I felt if I could not do the weights then I didn't want to do anything this hit me hard...... STRESS!

Then in November 28th 2004 I buried a friend of mine who died of cancer, now this is where my real problem started.... That night I had problems going toilet (poo) the next day I had a pain in my rectum and I couldn't pee very well (I have always had to go wee every 5 minutes weak bladder ). ..... I was taken into hospital and diagnosed with hemorrhoids and had to under go a operation to have one removed in the rectum...... While in hospital my pain was so bad (pain in the rectum) they injected me with morphine at 2. 30 am and it turned out I am allergic to it and it shut my heart down and I had to be resuscitated it was touch or go at the time so I was told : (..... STRESS!

Next day they removed a hemorrhoid and I was sent home..... Pain came back 2 days later and still could not pee.... Was told it was prostatitis and they gave me some antibiotics these didn't work.... After being in and out of hospital etc I was given 2 other lots of antibiotics which didn't work either.... Was sent for tests of chlamydia and gonorrhea !.... All came back clear.... Went and paid private to see a specialist who said because I had lost so much weight etc could be cancer so had to have a camera up me bum and intestines all came back ok no cancer, no hemorrhoids, no anal fissures, they took a sample of the insides all came back clear.... MORE STRESS!

Basically they did all sorts of tests to me so many I can't remember them all digital examination, this thing where you have some stuff shoved up your bum and you poo it out and they x ray you to see it all working..... The only thing they could find was I have a slight prolapse of the bowel and prostate but nothing warrant any surgery.... All the doctors I have seen etc think because they can't find anything its in my head (we all heard this one before eh ). ... I have been diagnosed with proctalgia fugax ... While all this was going on in April of 2005 my cousin was killed in a hit and run again this added to the STRESS!...

So here's where I am at...

My pain is a feeling of a ball in my bum and pressure there, weak urinary flow and difficulty to go wee, also occasionally get a terrible pain in my testicle especially when running.... (IMPORTANT) now the MAIN problem is when I go to do anything and I mean ANYTHING do the washing, drive the car, general house work anything which is slightly challenging my pain gets worse in the rectum so bad I really can't handle it, its like someone shoving a stick up my bum I have been of work for 2yrs now because of this main problem the rest I can handle but not this the pain is so immense and it lasts until I sit down and relax, when I relax and all feels ok off we go again do some housework rtc and it kicks in..... This I have now learnt myself is my levator ani muscles tensing and I have also learnt I am doing it to MYSELF by "clenching" "tensing" my body when I do things and this sets of the levator ani muscles I know deep down after all the stress which has happened to me my body is stuck in a state of "STRESS" so when I go to do things the pain gets worse.... I can wake up in the morning and there's no lump/ball feeling then when I start doing things it comes back.... If I relax totally and sit watching telly I'm ok no problem (unless I get uptight on the computer or telly)

I know there is nothing actually wrong with me by that I mean I don't have cancer, I'm not going to die, I don't have any other illness, I fully understand my problem.... What I DO have is muscle spasm deep in my rectum!.... I read a book 2 months ago (won't say the name as its different to the one used on this site) and it explained my problems (which I already figured out myself but confirmed I'm not mad ) and explains how to help my problem....

Now this is what I do 2 x daily....

I exercise/stretch doing these exercises

1. The butterfly stretch
2. The cobra stretch
3. The cat pose stretch
4. The piriformis stretch
5. The pelvic floor squat
6. The straight leg stretch

I have a bath (twice a day) I add in each bath 3/4 of a pint of Epsom salts

(once a day) I run for 20 mins a day and walk 10 mins a day after running

I lie on my bed and try to relax my whole body (not easy!)

My partner is also stretching the levator ani muscles 3 times a week (been doing this for 2 months). .. Pain is far, far worse on the left hand side of the rectum

I'm currently taking medication wise..

10mg of cipralex daily (anti-depressant) this was due to me being suicidal because of the pain : (

10mg of alfuzosin xl (helps me pee). .. I find if I don't take these I strain to go toilet and it makes the ball in the bum feeling worse

Pain killer wise I tried tramacet but they don't help much....


Now this is where I need YOUR help PLEASE ....

I was told that all what I am doing WILL WORK but will take time any idea how long before I should really notice if I'm beating it?

1. What else can I do to help me?
2. What can I do to stop myself from tensing/clenching the rectum/levator ani muscles if I can beat this I can beat my problems!
3. Anymore exercise I should be doing (heard the name pigeon stretch??)
4. I don't believe in taking drugs I want to beat this myself BUT I need some sort of pain killer to take the edge of the pain can you recommend one?.. What works for you?..
5. Is it the sore spot in the rectum my partner should be pressing or the hard areas?
6. I KNOW it can be beaten but I need someone to tell me they have done it to help me....
7. Is there a name for this condition???

As of today I don't have any real life I try to get out as much as I can but the bad pain limits what I can do, plus I can't work because of this pain and I really want to work and earn some money to pay the bills before I lose my house and my partner!... I used to be VERY stressy I'm learning to DESTRESS plus I'm a perfectionist which doesn't help

Thanks for taking the time to read this and ANY help is appreciated

[GP2]

Read all the success stories to start with. Print them off and keep them close at hand as I do. You've found this forum - thats your biggest bonus so far. Look though all the positive stuff here - theres loads. Sounds like you are on the right track but dont confuse yourself - every day that passes you'll learn more about chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome & how to beat it.

Try & keep smiling!

greg

[scoobysnacks]

Hey man, my symptoms were very similar to yours, and guess what I was an avid weightlifter to the point of competitions. Trained very fiercely 5 X a week. I was also a college athlete playing soccer, but I have a bit of an obsessive uptight personality. Anyways....

My levators were tight and I was also diagnosed with a spasm in my rectum by a proctologist and this diagnosis has been the best for me. What helps me the most is internal massage which I believe your are doing, stretching, and applying Prep H just inside the canal Extra Strength brand (3x daily). Get the cream, not the suppositories. I used to use those and tried the cream and the cream works wonders for me to the point I have things under control.

Do a search for my name and read a lot of my posts I think you will find many glaring similarities.

One thing you will find with this is that we all have different areas that are wound tight resulting in different symptoms. But, like you, when I used to do anything active it would get very tight and painful, ball in rectum feeling. Thats just the muscles, anal sphincter included, tightening up.

When I massage internally I do it myself. I sit on toilet, hand in front of body, I massage the sphincter like a clock. I have found my worst area is the band of muscle about 1/4 inch in toward the testicle, so the perineum area/side, but not deep at all. If I get this to relax all pain goes away and I pee normal. As you are massaging bear down a bit to get the anal sphincter to relax. You should be able to get it very workable, meaning somewhat loose and pliable. Slightly bearing down will help this because it opens when we defecate. After this massage apply the Prep H and take a valium or an Ativan. This will provide relief and allow it to stay relaxed, get used to this feeling, and over time you'll be able to do it on your own.

For me, running causes tightness too, so I've cut it out (for now), I just walk right now in morning on empty stomach to keep the fat off. So I had to give up my two passions, bodybuilding and soccer. But we are both young, and I hope to return to them better and more knowledgeable for beating thing thing.

Please PM me with the book you read.

Regards,

SS

[HelpADude]

You got good advices above. Yet another point I would raise is to learn to live the life you are given and not keeping thinking about the life you wish you could have. I know, easy to say but hard to do.



Check out the book or audio book, Loving What Is by Byron Katie.

[flump]

thanks for the replys its great to share with people who have similar to me...FINALLY i`m not mad there are more of us ...

scoobysnacks I read some of your posts and I read your web page to my partner she said that sounds just like me!!!....i`ll PM you later bro

once again thanks for taking the time people to read/reply

[Clay]

Welcome to the club, sorry you had to join. I'm struck by how little you and I have in common - except stress, depression and anxiety - oh yeah, and pain. Finding this forum has given me some hope, I help it helps you too.

Scoobysnacks, thanks for your input. I've also discovered Preparation H, but I haven't got to internal massage yet and your description helps.

Why would you not mention the book? Surely there's room here for anything that helps?

[flump]

Welcome to the club, sorry you had to join. I'm struck by how little you and I have in common - except stress, depression and anxiety - oh yeah, and pain. Finding this forum has given me some hope, I help it helps you too.

Scoobysnacks, thanks for your input. I've also discovered Preparation H, but I haven't got to internal massage yet and your description helps.

Why would you not mention the book? Surely there's room here for anything that helps?

thanks clay ..

see here ref the book ...

viewtopic.php?t=3973

you both mention prep H what is that?...i assume its a cream to put into the rectum to help relieve muscle spasm?....i tried some stuff similar to that but to much of it and it gave you a serious headacke plus it relaxed the external sphinchter muscles when i`m sure mines the internal,can't remember the name just wondering if its the same stuff but named diffrent over here in the UK???

[scotsman]

Prep H (Preparation H) cream is the same pile/hemorrhoids that's sold here in the UK. It comes in cream or gel (I use the gel). You can buy it in boots, tescos or almost any supermarket/chemist.

Richard.

[flump]

Prep H (Preparation H) cream is the same pile/hemorrhoids that's sold here in the UK. It comes in cream or gel (I use the gel). You can buy it in boots, tescos or almost any supermarket/chemist.

Richard.

thanks scotsman

[latte]

I don't what part of the world you are located but if I was you I would find a PT to do internal pelvic massage. I went to my PT about 30 times and it really helped although it took a several months. Have you tried to contact a PT close to you? You are on the right track. You are lucky, it took me several years to figure it out with the help of this forum.

[flump]

I don't what part of the world you are located but if I was you I would find a PT to do internal pelvic massage. I went to my PT about 30 times and it really helped although it took a several months. Have you tried to contact a PT close to you? You are on the right track. You are lucky, it took me several years to figure it out with the help of this forum.

hey bro,

i am from the united kingdom,southwest area....i have had my condition for nearly 2 yrs now and have only in the past couple of months found out/reconised what it is....something else I have found out the signs were there yrs ago the "clencing" and "holding my gut in" same as scobbysnacks as I allso was a avid weight trainner done this for about 8 yrs holding the gut in so I expect the recovery to be a long haul not a 6 month thing...trying to cal round today for a pt but no joy so far going to try further afield tommorow ....thanks for the reply it all helps

[latte]

Flump, great you are on the right track. I had a very hard time finding the right PT. You have to find one that does the internal massage, external massage may help but not directly with the trigger points. I had to call around to women's clinics who treat female pelvic pain. I then asked them if they would work on a man and I finally found a good one about 40 miles from me. You can also email Dr. Wise(search the forum and I am sure you will find him email address) and ask him if he knows a PT in the UK. He may be able to direct you.

[flump]

Flump, great you are on the right track. I had a very hard time finding the right PT. You have to find one that does the internal massage, external massage may help but not directly with the trigger points. I had to call around to women's clinics who treat female pelvic pain. I then asked them if they would work on a man and I finally found a good one about 40 miles from me. You can also email Dr. Wise(search the forum and I am sure you will find him email address) and ask him if he knows a PT in the UK. He may be able to direct you.

thanks for that I may do that email him and ask about the PT I never gave that a thought

[chewymix]

Hi - when you say south west do you mean devon/cornwall type way or closer to London? I only say that as there is a PT in Harrow, London that has been treating someone who went to the US for the SP clinic and she is having very encouraging results from what I hear.

I would add though that this is not a PT I have seen myself just someone I have hear about. Harrow may be the closest one to the SW you can find.

thanks

[flump]

Hi - when you say south west do you mean devon/cornwall type way or closer to London? I only say that as there is a PT in Harrow, London that has been treating someone who went to the US for the SP clinic and she is having very encouraging results from what I hear.

I would add though that this is not a PT I have seen myself just someone I have hear about. Harrow may be the closest one to the SW you can find.

thanks

hi,

i am in the south west....thats good news to hear thanks for the heads up