Top products from r/PelvicFloor

There are two components to the problem. The first is to change the habit of tensing those muscles. This is pretty tough but you just need to be conscious of any time you are tensing your abdominal muscles. Practice diaphragmatic breathing all the time. Aim for 1-2 minutes of focused breathing each hour. The second part is loosening the chronically tightened tissue. There are many PT tools that can be used to help loosen up the tissue. This is the thing that my PT recommended that I use, and it really works. Basically you use the cup to create suction, then slide it around your skin and it achieves the same effect as the PT using skin-rolling and other massage techniques. It's a cheap but effective tool. Additionally, you could try some 2-4 inch massage balls (they come in spiked and non-spiked) to help roll out the tissue. Besides those things, you can try pulling on your belly button (yep). If you're ever bored and sitting at home, feel free to start pulling on your belly button in different directions to try to free up the surrounding tissue. Pull until you feel some tension and then hold for 30 seconds. Hope this helps!

I am just so sorry you’re going through this. Totally unacceptable of that office.. I would be filing a complaint against them ASAP. Are there any other nook doctors or excision specialists within driving distance? I would also second trying some self help books for the PT. Seeing a therapist is ideal, but it’s totally possible to do the work on your own.

This book has been a wonderful resource for me:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00ORXW8BU/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1

It touches on a lot of different things.. breathing and relaxation, stretching and strengthening, and internal trigger point release. There’s a whole program in the book you can follow. You can also buy a trigger point tool on Current Medical Technologies just like what a lot of the physical therapists use.

First of all rule out a bacterial infection by seeing a urologist. 90% of the time that is not actually the problem though. If it is problem solved otherwise acquire the sixth edition of "A Headache in The Pelvis" to learn about the Stanford Protocol. This will teach you everything you need to know about your condition, treating it, and healing. It will take time. Honestly, I wish I wasn't such a stubborn bastard 2 years ago and just bought the fucking book. Because I kind of just wasted 2 years of my life. There are other great books on treating pelvic floor dysfunction. But this one in particular is truly sublime if you ask me. The amount of detail that they go into is spectacular. I understand my condition very well now. And I know how to treat it. The best part is that a physician isn't even necessary. You can treat this condition most effectively alone.

The Protocol was developed in Stanford university By Rodney Anderson (urologist) and David Wise (urologist / phycologist) . Dr Wise had the chronic Pelvic pain for decades so he tried to make a program in order to cure it.

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As far as i understand it , CPPS is a neuromuscular problem, in which people tighten ther pelvis and areas around it involuntarily and without even realizing it. These people do it due to high stress high anxiety status. So , at least in my case and in the cases described by Wise Anderson protocol, the problem is psychological. I didnt even know that i was creating tension in my pelvic muscles until much later in my effort to find something to make me better.

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They use various ways of relaxing the muscles around the pevlis :

They use a breathing technique, a kind of meditation named paradoxical relaxation (i believe a CD with paradoxical relaxation guide is inclluded in the book).

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Trigger point release . Again described in detail in the book pressure point specific areas.

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Internal Trigger Point Wand that allows the patient to safely and effectively loosen the pelvis

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They published a book that describes in detail the symptoms and the techniques to overcome this problem.

https://www.amazon.com/Headache-Pelvis-Understanding-Treatment-Prostatitis-ebook/dp/B00UESECTS

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Information about the program , the techniques you can find here:

https://www.youtube.com/user/buddharamana/videos

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thses are some quick general information about the program . I would like to know what your symptoms are exactly so we can discuss it more.

I’ve shared this before, but don’t know if anyone else has tried it. It works for me: I got a 12lb exercise ball (AmazonBasics Medicine Ball, 12-Pounds https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R3N712M/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_s-7HDbS90GFM9). I roll it clockwise around my abdomen while laying in bed. When I find a sore spot, I rest it there. You can do self-massage, but I always found it hard to apply pressure AND relax at the same time. I’m a pretty big guy—not huge, but “sturdy”, so 12lb was good for me. You may want to adjust which weight you get based on your size. You want it to push with some force, but not so much you have to tense up. I do it for 15-20 min before sleep and after a few days, it does help. Just practice breathing. As you exhale, let the ball rest on the sore bits to work the knots out. If you don’t want to buy a ball, try an empty milk jug filled with water (1 gallon of water = 8lbs). But the rigid exercise ball is perfect for me.

This is my own personal discovery. I’m not a doctor or a PT. I’d be interested to know how it feels/works for you. Shoot me a message if you try it.

please try this and crystals below


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004I771YY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_awdb_t1_GJJ8BbH9PN0XT

it's working, along with bath crystals

Not only is it actually supremely relaxing, works nearly instantly, truly supports your body in a safeway.... it is essentisl for your health anyway.

90% Americans deficient

pills suck

I'm assuming you've been checked for diabetes. It could be pfd as it sounds like they did thorough testing for anything else. Just warning you the tests for pfd are not pleasant.

I have pfd but it doesn't cause urinary problems too often for me but that doesn't mean you don't potentially have it. Also letting you know that with pfd, the mind is thought to be a major contributing factor and physical therapy is often accompanied with talk therapy. It's really up to you if you want to pursue testing and see if this route is worth it.

There's also a good book about pfd excercises if you just wanted to try them at home. Most of the exercises in the book are just regular stretches but there is some inner rectal work involved.

A Headache in the Pelvis might be a good read as its research mainly focused on male pelvic pain. I am female with chronic pelvic pain and the book has at least given me other outlooks and resource. Valium suppositories helped me more than oral muscle relaxers as my personal experience. I’ve also had suppositories compounded with baclofen and tetracaine (and Valium). Possibly finding a second opinion urologist or even a pain management might help getting answers. Good luck

I bought this one a few months ago and has been working great so far:
https://www.amazon.com/TENS-7000-Digital-Unit-accessories/dp/B00NCRE4GO/ref=sr_1_4_s_it?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1539291812&sr=1-4&keywords=tens+unit&dpID=41a85-5QkSL&preST=_SX342_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

Of course, here it is: Hab It: Pelvic Floor https://www.amazon.com/dp/0510539610

I’m doing the exercises right now in bed! I wish I kept up with it so my symptoms would never relapse. Pelvic floor problems are such a pain because it affects your quality of life so much. I’ll be rooting for you! Hope you find relief soon:

Have you looked into a coccyx pillow? I bought this one on Amazon for work and it’s helped me. It’s not also lower back support so that maybe something missing for you.

He doesn't really go into it in this book. He has another book specifically about it.

Paradoxical Relaxation : The Theory and Practice of Dissolving Anxiety by Accepting It https://www.amazon.com/dp/0972775587/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_stlxCbA5K4GZY

I have tried some of the techniques. It's still not super specific or clear but it's basically the same as other anti anxiety approaches for accepting what is and fighting resistance in the mind like negative self talk, not accepting the present, letting go and surrending to relaxation. The book also goes into how PFD and anxiety are related.

Yes.

Get a standing desk converter for your cubicle. Some employers will offer them, others won't. If yours does not, get one from Amazon. This is the one I got:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B019GTZ5ZA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_iSe5BbPH6H7SE

It takes some practice and effort, but if you do start standing at work, I promise your symptoms will be greatly reduced.

I'm at a point where work is actually the place where my PFD is the least problematic now. I stand for 6 out of the 8 hours I'm there.

Sitting is the new smoking. Gotta kick the habit.

God, I'm so sorry you're going through this. I say try anything you think could help.

If you haven't already, check out pelvic pain chairs and this pelvic pain reference book.

Read this: http://www.amazon.com/Headache-Revised-Expanded-Updated-Edition/dp/0972775552

Watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dP_jtZvz9w

Also: Stop smoking the MJ. It turned out to be one of my biggest triggers for pain. Smoking causes a sustained release of Prostaglandin E2 in the prostate which is exactly what we're trying to avoid. Load up on anti-inflamitories like Naproxen in the meantime.

Coffee tends to be a problem for many men experiencing chronic pelvic pain or non bacterial prostatitis, coffee in general makes people pee more and for people with pelvic pain, the nerves to the bladder are already irritated creating urinary frequency. It's up to you if you feel like coffee doesn't make much of a difference then you can probably keep it. These are the bands, or you want something like them, you don't have to buy these exact ones if shipping takes forever. You don't want straps. You want the cable, to hook around your thigh and groin muscles and let the tension work. You might have to attach 2-3 bands to get more tension to the adductor muscles. To learn more about how you can use the bands, on Instagram find Donnie Thompson, & David Weck. Donnie Thompson uses real heavy duty straps to decompress his back. David Weck uses a a metal ring to address the muscles. But the straps like this are perfect for the adductors and opening up the front of the hips. https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/7245456313/ref=psdcmw_3407931_t1_B07NC1KTVH

I'm adding my own story here so its in this summary of recoveries..

What triggered it

Chronic hypertonic pelvic pain started when I had a real stressful life event happen to me (I'm 39 male) and triggered the whole thing. Pain started in tip of my penis and epididymis, then moved to perennial area, buttocks and side of my abs.

Diagnoses

At first I thought I had a UTI, STD or maybe cancer but ran through all the tests multiple times and everything came back normal. Doctors didn't know what it was and gave me no help or direction. Finally the 2nd urologist I saw said he was fairly confident it was Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. My physiotherapist called it 'hypertonic pelvic pain', which is a constantly tight pelvic floor. After reading a few books on this topic, all my symptoms matched exactly and I accepted this was what I was dealing with.

18 months ago my pain was at a 7 to 8 out of 10 but has now slowing progressed downward to 2 after doing a combination of steps (See below). It’s still affecting me but I’m getting control of it and confident I can get rid of it completely (as many people have).

It is posited that the root cause of hypertonic pelvic floor is a central nervous system and sympathetic nervous that’s gone haywire, usually do to emotional or physical trauma/stress. The feedback loop is first triggered by the trauma, which cause the pelvic floor to tighten, but then the constantly tight pelvic floor sends pain signals which the CNS/SNS responds to by further tightening the pelvic floor. The feedback loop becomes perpetual.

Road to recovery... and breaking the perpetual feedback loop.

Here are the things that have helped reduce the pain the most for me.

1. Stop catastrophic thinking (i.e. This pain will never end, I can't live like this!). Catastrophic thinking triggers stress which triggers your central nervous system which triggers your pelvic floor to tighten.
   
   
2. Do lots of exercise to increase blood flow in the pelvis. It goes away for me completely when I jog or play soccer. Try to do aerobic exercise everyday.
   
   
3. Do pelvic stretches every morning
   
   https://www.pelvicpain.org.au/easy-stretches-to-relax-the-pelvis-men/
   
   
4. Read ‘Headache in the Pelvis’ and read ‘the Mindbody prescription'
   
   https://www.amazon.com/Headache-Pelvis-Wise-Anderson-Protocol-Definitive/dp/1524762040
   
   https://www.amazon.ca/Mindbody-Prescription-Healing-Body-Pain/dp/0446675156
   
   
5. Do internal trigger point release on the pelvic floor to release muscle tension in the short term. Look at buying the thera wand available online.
   
   https://www.physiotherapyroom.com/Therawand-Trigger-Wand
   
   ‘Headache in Pelvis’ book has trigger point release techniques in the book.
   
   
6. Meditate 20min in the morning and before you go to bed and learn reverse kegels and belly breathing .
   
   I use the headspace app on iOS to help: https://apps.apple.com/ca/app/headspace-meditation-sleep/id493145008
   
   
7. Stay away from stimulants (caffeine/alcohol) it activates your central nervous system which triggers your pelvic area to tighten and flare up.
   
   
8. Eat healthy and get lots of sleep. If I sleep less than 7 hrs my flare ups happen way more.
   
   
9. Take a high quality all in one men’s vitamin (optimen) and fish oil.
   
   
10. Some people also complain that orgasming/masturbating triggers flare ups as it causes the pelvic floor to convulse via spasm. Just so you know.
    
    
11. Avoid long periods of sitting (ex. office workers)
    
    Advice to community
    
    Hang in there, stay positive, stay disciplined in your recovery regime. There are lots of stories of people resolving this issue 100% but it takes time and dedication. I'm almost there and can see the light. Please share your positive stories so these threads can see successes in addition to the problems.

Before I was diagnosed by a colon and rectal specialist as having Levator Ani Syndrome I had about three weeks of agony. I thought I had the world's worst case of hemorrhoids at first because most of the pain was localized there. I would flare up for four hours a day, like clockwork (from 9am-1pm, give or take an hour) and I was moderately sore for the rest of the day and night. During flareup hours I couldn't sit (I have a desk job), much less concentrate on work. I soldiered through the first few days of it but had to call in from work or try to work from home if I was feeling up to it. I have a 30+ minute commute to the office and the whole drive I was shifting in my seat, punching the steering wheel, shouting. While home I would spend much of the day lying down, punching the floor, or pacing around the house in a cold sweat. I tried Epsom Salts sitz baths, stretching exercises, herbal teas, meditation, taichi, pain meds but nothing got rid of the pain until my specialist put me on Elavil, a tricyclic antidepressant. Two days after I started taking it I was fully functional again. I still had constant tightness, difficulty pooping, and discomfort but, man, the agonizing pain was gone.

So, Elavil was a game changer for me. Another was going to a physical therapist specializing in male pelvic floor disorder. She got me feeling really close to normal, I mean, some days no tightness or discomfort at all. She recommended a book called Pelvic Pain: The Ultimate Cock Block, which has some good exercises and thinking-outside-of-the-box insight.