Prostatitis
Men: If you’ve been told that your pelvic pain is the result of chronic prostatitis, you are not alone.
If you’ve been put on antibiotic after antibiotic, you are in the company of millions of other men who, it turns out, may have never had a prostate infection at all.
Close to 95% of chronic prostatitis is actually a type of chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome. This type of prostatitis contains no evidence of bacterial infection.
Cause
Why do the pelvic floor muscles become short and hypertonic with this patient population?
The cause can originate from different body systems, such as constipation, hemorrhoids, compulsive orgasm, poor posture, muscle imbalance, lack of blood flow to the pelvis, stress, and much more! It is our job as pelvic floor physical therapists to pinpoint these causes and uncover what the underlying driving factors are. This, in turn, ensures that treatment is long-lasting and results permanent.
Symptoms
Symptoms of non-bacterial prostatitis may include:
penile pain
perineal pain
urinary urgency
urinary frequency
ejaculatory pain
suprapubic pain
rectal pain
dysuria (pain with urinating)
low back pain
The Problem
Most men have many sites of pain, not just one, which often confuses both patients and practitioners alike.
What most urologists and patients fail to recognize is that structures inside and outside of the urinary tract, particularly the pelvic floor muscles (and its associated connective tissue) and/or the nervous system, can play a role in non-bacterial prostatitis.
The Research
Dr. Jeanette Potts, a brilliant urologist, discusses these concepts in her article Male Pelvic Pain: Beyond Urology and Chronic Prostatitis, "Current Urology Rheumatology Review," v. 12, number 2, 2015.
Dr. Potts states,
"Thoughtful interview and methodical physical examination can very often reveal pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, Myofascial pain syndromes, Functional Somatic Syndrome/Central Sensitization Syndromes and/or psychosocial distress.
In her article, Dr. Potts makes the point that prostatitis is a real, serious, and treatable condition, however, not all discomfort in the male pelvic region is, indeed due to true prostatitis.
This is where the musculoskeletal system and pelvic floor physical therapy come into play—both of which have been on the scene for quite a while, but are just now getting the recognition they deserve.
Pelvic floor physical therapy should be the cornerstone treatment for chronic non-bacterial prostatitis and the results can not only be dramatic but life changing.
The Good News
Hope and Healing are always possible.
If you haven't already, check out real stories of real men who have been helped with pelvic floor physical therapy.
Interventions from your physical therapist would include a pelvic exam and manual therapy. These techniques would include myofascial release to treat trigger points and allow tissues to become normalized, visceral manipulation to treat organs that have been affected by adhesions, and scar tissue mobilization. Through skilled interventions, we help provide pain relief and improve overall tissue mobility.
Sarton Physical Therapy is home to the best pelvic health physical therapists in Orange County. The women at Sarton PT have an eclectic perspective in treating prostatitis with their successful interventions. Let our advance board certified physical therapists help, please contact us with any questions or requests for additional information.
