Avoid situps at all costs

Male pelvic pain, prostatitis, IC
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graeme
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Avoid situps at all costs

Post by graeme »

Feeling good and thinking of doing some exercise like an idiot I decided to do sit ups. Of course now I'm paying the price :boom:

Just what I needed the night my new one is due. Any way I am not going to stress I say I'm not going to stress I say I'm not going to... :icon11:
Age:33 | Onset Age:19 | Symptoms:burning urethra, deep sore stinging around the perineum, dribbling | Helped By:when flare starts deep relaxing over a toilet to let out dribbling urine, hot bath, rubbing a heat cream on the perineum, Tens with a pad on the perineum, running, medication (solpadol) for pain. Current treatment: PT. | Worsened By:sitting, stressing over it, ejaculation, sometimes alcohol but I risk it. Been feeling a lot better last 6 months about 85% with a few flares lasting about 5 days. No longer having PT. Stretching every other night and I believe time is also a big factor for me
calguy
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Re: Avoid situps at all costs

Post by calguy »

Wow I did the same thing last week! Was just going to post on how great I was doing and went to the gym and did a really lite set of crunches and the next day bam . . Flare :62_58_40: :62_58_40: I am so mad at myself, what was I thinking! I just hope it won't take me a year to calm things down again! I would rather have a gut than deal with frequency and other symptoms. I trying to laugh about it but really frustrated!
Age 32, onset 32 Onset Aug 07- frequency was main problem in the beginning-really bad. Now 1 to 2x per night when frequency flairs up. Sore and tight lower abdominal muscles. Occasional burning after bowel movement and full feeling. What helps: Healthy diet(this is huge for me) Started drinking super greens supplament and almost going totally vegetarian to get body more alkaline, starting Prosta-Q, quercetin/zinc tablet in morning helped frequency problem I believe. Massaging abs and doing stretches helps calm down frequency when it is acting up. Wine or vodka after long day. Flexeral and melatonin at night. Swimming and light weights. .5 of Elavil every other day helps with frequency and healing process. Trying to stay positive and not stressing over this!
Whoaday
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Re: Avoid situps at all costs

Post by Whoaday »

Hey guys,

Wanted to give you some advice I received from my PT just this week. She was going over a video with me that showed how to do stretches and strengthening for the pelvic floor. One thing they taught got my attention. They said doing sit ups was bad for CPPS. Why? Because when you do a sit up, you are essentially pushing your organs out, toward your rectum...you are forcing things in an outward motion.

But since strengthening the pelvic floor was necessary, they showed an alternative. Instead of curling toward your knees, you simply bring your knees toward your chest while sitting down. Get a small ball to put between your chest and your legs and bring your legs up to the ball pushing it toward your chest. It may not sound like a lot but it is a good workout. And, if all goes according to plan, should serve the purpose the sit up did without causing the problems.

Hope that helps you in some small way!

Whoaday
Age: ? | Onset Age: ? | Symptoms: ? | Helped By: ? | Worsened By: ?
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carld
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Re: Avoid situps at all costs

Post by carld »

Excellent, Whoaday..I can attest to that because I recently started doing a similar abs workout where I lay on my back hold a weighted ball and bring by knees to the ball with no issues after thus far...Of course I have been slacking lately going to the gym... :wink:
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Age, 44 onset age 37 Feb 2006 Freq. need to urinate. Sensation of having to urinate soon after going. Perineum discomfort/burning/tightness, pubic area discomfort @ times,poor urine stream, post urine dripping/spray. All symptoms have improved with my protocol. At the worst I give it a 1 to 2 on irritation and discomfort and frequency. Helps: Elavil 5mg for anxiety and mast cell protection, (will only take it as needed) self internal PT as needed, stretching, walking, stairmaster cardio workout and light weights, reducing stress, moment to moment relaxation, deep breathing relaxation and using a Theracane. Makes worse: sitting for long periods, stress, over focusing on it. Currently 95%-98% recovered. Stay positive, relaxed and control your anxiety.
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graeme
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Re: Avoid situps at all costs

Post by graeme »

makes you wonder how many guys do sit ups etc without realising the damage down there as onset can be days later etc :shock:
Age:33 | Onset Age:19 | Symptoms:burning urethra, deep sore stinging around the perineum, dribbling | Helped By:when flare starts deep relaxing over a toilet to let out dribbling urine, hot bath, rubbing a heat cream on the perineum, Tens with a pad on the perineum, running, medication (solpadol) for pain. Current treatment: PT. | Worsened By:sitting, stressing over it, ejaculation, sometimes alcohol but I risk it. Been feeling a lot better last 6 months about 85% with a few flares lasting about 5 days. No longer having PT. Stretching every other night and I believe time is also a big factor for me
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Jay
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Re: Avoid situps at all costs

Post by Jay »

Generally, when it comes to muscular tension issues, any exercise with 'crunch' in the description sets off alarm bells for me. :wink:
I am not a physician. This is not medical advice. Consult your doctor!

Age: 26 Onset Age: 17 Symptoms: Shooting, nerve-like pains throughout the penis, which abruptly hit and leave. Testicular pain, perineum pain, burning/irritative urination, extended pain after ejaculation. Occasionally, some allodynia or ache in the coccyx/sacrum/thigh/buttocks/legs. Diagnosis: Pelvic floor dysfunction, degenerated lumbar disk, and mildly herniated lumbar disk. Helped By: Physical therapy, pain management doctor, hot baths, therapy pool, stretching regimen, breathing exercises, relaxation, distraction. Worsened By: Arousal/ejaculation (worst), constipation, panicking/obsessing, other triggers depend upon current symptoms. Tests/Prior Treatments: Too many antibiotics to count, multiple urine tests (all normal), testicular ultrasound (normal), bladder and renal ultrasound (normal), lumbar and pelvic MRI with and w/o contrast (revealed disk problems), Elavil 25mg (caused retention), Flomax 0.4mg.
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graeme
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Re: Avoid situps at all costs

Post by graeme »

picking anything heavy up off the ground should also be avoided as I've found out in the past :agree:
Age:33 | Onset Age:19 | Symptoms:burning urethra, deep sore stinging around the perineum, dribbling | Helped By:when flare starts deep relaxing over a toilet to let out dribbling urine, hot bath, rubbing a heat cream on the perineum, Tens with a pad on the perineum, running, medication (solpadol) for pain. Current treatment: PT. | Worsened By:sitting, stressing over it, ejaculation, sometimes alcohol but I risk it. Been feeling a lot better last 6 months about 85% with a few flares lasting about 5 days. No longer having PT. Stretching every other night and I believe time is also a big factor for me
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alprost
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Re: Avoid situps at all costs

Post by alprost »

graeme wrote:Feeling good and thinking of doing some exercise like an idiot I decided to do sit ups. Of course now I'm paying the price :boom:
graeme wrote:picking anything heavy up off the ground should also be avoided as I've found out in the past :agree:
Hi Graeme,
I've been there - you obviously have active trigger points in your abdominals and pelvic floor. Do you know where they are? Are you actively treating them?
This is not Medical advice - Consult your Doctor!

Age:39. Age at onset:31. Symptoms prior to treatment: Golf ball in rectum, severe urinary frequency (2-3x/hr; 5-10x/night); weak stream; painful ejaculation; coccygeal pain; tip of penis pain; general pelvic pain on left; testicular pain; supra-pubic pain. Current | Symptoms: Urinary frequency 1x every 2-3 hrs and 1-2 x a night; mild pelvic pain on left hand side (all symptoms still improving!)
Helped by: Trigger point release; avoiding exercise; pelvic floor relaxation; Neurontin decreased bladder sensitivity somewhat. Worsened by: Exercise; frequent ejaculation; ibuprofen irritates bladder. Made no difference: Diet; biofeedback; quercetin; Steroid anti-inflammatories; Elavil.

****UPDATE*** I am now able to sit again at work all day, and can perform moderate aerobic exersise again for the first time in 8 years!!!

Please read:
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=808&p=3954
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=239&p=1158
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=248&p=1214
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graeme
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Re: Avoid situps at all costs

Post by graeme »

They have calmed back down now but yes, they are insertions to the prostate both sides but worst on left deep and hard to reach, me or my PT are unable to find any in abs but all my symptoms are recreated with internal ones :wink:
Age:33 | Onset Age:19 | Symptoms:burning urethra, deep sore stinging around the perineum, dribbling | Helped By:when flare starts deep relaxing over a toilet to let out dribbling urine, hot bath, rubbing a heat cream on the perineum, Tens with a pad on the perineum, running, medication (solpadol) for pain. Current treatment: PT. | Worsened By:sitting, stressing over it, ejaculation, sometimes alcohol but I risk it. Been feeling a lot better last 6 months about 85% with a few flares lasting about 5 days. No longer having PT. Stretching every other night and I believe time is also a big factor for me
JTC1
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Re: Avoid situps at all costs

Post by JTC1 »

I think my foolish focus on intense AB workouts was the main contributor in starting chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome for me. Constipation, stress, and other weightlifting creating the perfect storm - but it was my "more is better" with weights during ab workouts that sealed the deal. I accused my cycling - as I sure beat the heck out of my perineum while mountain biking - I never had any chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome like symptoms as a result. Not until I started intense weight lifting did I experience my first flare. My taint felt like it was tingling and burning - like I had a rash at first.

I still have tender spots in me psoa area. I dont do any ab workouts now - but will start doing the leg lifts as described here. Any other chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome friendly ab workout advice would be appreciated.
Age: 44 | Onset Age: 43 | Symptoms: Steady burning in the perineum. Left side (Pudendal Nerve?) worse - almost no pain on right side. Mild ED. Urine often is split stream at start. Unknown cause - Profile seems a bulls-eye for this issue - I am serious cyclist, weight lift, and suffer mild constipation, and sit all day at office. Bicyclist for years without a problem - started frequent hard weight lifting - then suffered perineum pain. | Helped By: Sleep - I wake up every morning with NO symptoms. Symptoms present everyday while sitting, after BM, etc.. Hot bath helps. Moment-to-moment relaxation helps ( I tend to clench my pelvic floor when concentrating or stress). This board helps - reading other (PNA) boards make things worse. Being distracted helps. Sex is OK. Have only had external pelvic floor PT - only one Pelvic floor PT in my area. | Worsened By: Bowel Movement, sitting for extended periods, some weight workouts, sometimes cycling .
scotcan
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Re: Avoid situps at all costs

Post by scotcan »

I also had problems doing sit ups and crunches and stopped doing them altogether. In fact I do a weight class at my gym and always leave early now as I don't want to do the abb workout

I have also found that a regular bowel movement makes me feel better as well. I always had trouble going regularly and would 3 or 4 days sometime without. but I changed my diet to a high fibre, low fat one and, coupled with exercise and drinking plenty of water, I now go almost every day

I'm feeling better but still have a way to go!
Age: 43 | Onset Age: 33 | Symptoms: Burning in urethra and tip of penis at meatus. Lower back pain and occasional dull ache in groin & testicles. Pain in coccyx and left side buttock when sitting | Medication: Quercetin 1000mg, Omega 3, Turmeric 1500mg, Shilajit Extract 400mg, Ashwagandha 920mg, Glucosamine/Condroitin | Helped By: stretching, rest, light exercise, sitz baths | Worsened By: sitting for long periods of time, driving, stressful situations | Comments: I'm 90% better and don't experience much burning anymore, but get the occasional flare. My main problem now is the sitting pain, which can be quite debilitating at times. I'm sure it's something to do with the exercises & stretching I've been doing as I didn't have this problem a year ago!
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Sleeper Service
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Re: Avoid situps at all costs

Post by Sleeper Service »

Heh. It varies for us all I think.

Sit ups - along with weight training and cycling (I use a split seat) have been good for me and have helped me shed weight as well as generally making me feel better. The thing that causes flare ups for me - and when I say flare up I mean a bit of a ramp up in symptoms, not the way it was at the beginning - is getting a cold or flu. I wonder if it's the inflammation that does it (I get sore ears, stiff neck, headaches, etc too)?

Annoying but it passes. Just one of these things I suppose. Chin up G, it's world better than it was.
Age 56: Onset 2006 and bouts on and off since then. See posts for details.