Since I've been getting myofascial/trigger point release therapy and using relaxation techniques I've had a 70% improvement in my symptoms (in the 6 weeks I've been using this approach).
Details:
On the 5th July 03, after sex, I passed water and started to get burning sensations and the feeling to pass water again. Over the past 10 years I've also had about 1 incident a year when this occurred, but the feeling disappeared after a couple hours.
This time however, the feeling, which was intense but didn't really have any other pain, continued for 4 days - during which time more pain around my anus and perineum flared up along with a high temperature. Couldn't sleep, very distressed - went to the doctor.
Blood and urine samples were taken (initial urine tests were clear) and I was put on antibiotics, an anti-inflammatory and pain killers. Blood and urine tests came back clear but still had intense pain and the terrible feeling of always needing to urinate (later on I recognised that this was a form of penile pain -- as the "˜needing to go' feeling amplified into intense pain during a DRE by the urologist).
Symptoms were:
- Increased frequency of urination
Urgency in urination (constant needing to go which can get painful)
Burning sensation between the legs
Pain in the perineum
Pain just above the anus (golf ball time)
Pain in my bottom cheeks
In the early days I had lower back pain and pain down my legs
I didn't have problems or pain getting erections - or have pain when ejaculating, but the overall pain/sensation and burning feeling is worse for the rest of the day when I do ejaculate. This has been reduced massively by relaxing prior to organism (as suggested on this forum).
After 5 weeks I changed onto a second batch of antibiotics (got a reaction to the first batch) and whilst the symptoms had reduced slightly it was still horrific.
Medication was: Diclofenac 50mg (two a day), Trimethoprim 200mg (two a day) and co-codamol 30/500mg for pain. None of it seemed to make much of a difference.
Turning the corner:
I was feeling pretty low -- having read the usual horror stories about how long non-bacterial Prostatitis took to get better. Found this forum and ordered "˜A Headache in the Pelvis'. What a great book!!! immediately made me feel positive about beating this condition. Bought some books on relaxation techniques and had immediate benefits through breathing exercises. Also did the stretching exercises from the book (twice a day and still doing them).
I started to look for a physiotherapist who practiced myofascial/trigger point release (I'm based in central Scotland) and was signposted to Bill Taylor in Edinburgh by AlProst on this forum (thank you).
My second course of antibiotics were running out and my doctor and I agreed that I should come off all current medication since they didn't seem to be effective (8 weeks in total). I was to practice skilled relaxation and continue seeing my physio. I also started any accredited quercetin product once the antibiotics stopped (2 capsules a day).
My first session with my physio was on 3rd September. Bill has been treating chronic pelvic pain for some time, very much in line with the protocol being developed in Stanford.
Numerous trigger points were found and my pelvis was out of alignment. My first session with Bill lasted over 2 hours, when I had a thorough examination and initial external treatment of the trigger points and pelvis alignment. That night I had about a 20% decrease in my symptoms.
I've now had 6 sessions -- and recently my wife has been taught external trigger point release (which we have just started doing daily) and I'm continuing to see my physio weekly for internal trigger point release. On most occasions I've felt a direct improvement following the physiotherepy (either that night or the day after). This approach works. The "˜golf ball' feeling was away after the third session (I still had discomfort but the tension ball was gone).
Current symptoms:
- Constant feelings of discomfort -- where previously it was outright pain.
Pain around the rectum and "˜tense' feeling towards the end of the day (golf ball)
Occasional pain in the penis (constant ache though)
Still have frequency of urination
I no longer have any perineum pain
I've had flair ups (long period of driving, long days at work, etc) but they calm down again after a few days. Some days I get a lot of pain, for no apparent reason, but again it quietens down to the uncomfortable norm.
I'm currently stopping the any accredited quercetin product to see what effect that brings -- as I currently feel that my improvement is via the physiotherapy and relaxation techniques.
We're starting with biofeedback in the next couple of weeks -- to train my pelvic floor muscles.
My physio is very interested in my response to the treatment, as I saw him after only having the condition for 8 weeks -- whilst his experience in the past is seeing sufferers who have 12+ months under their belts. My progress has been pretty rapid to date (long may it continue). It just reiterates the importance of getting the appropriate treatment early.
I don't yet know how long it will be before I'm "˜cured' (6-8 months?) but I'm on the right path.
I'll continue to post updates on my progress.
Richard.
Your case is very interesting, since you are not a chronic sufferer yet. We shall monitor your progress keenly. 
