Prostatitis: A New Theory

August 24, 2005 10:38 PM

Prostatitis is a Tension Disorder.Researchers from The Stanford University Department of Urology have come to the conclusion that "approximately 95% of symptoms that are commonly diagnosed as prostatitis [are] not caused by an infection or inflammation of the prostate gland."
They have identified a group of chronic pelvic pain syndromes which are the result of an overzealous use of the instinct to protect the genital area. Their web site devoted to these findings is www.pelvicpainhelp.com.
Their research shows that chronic pelvic pain along with negative emotions, anxiety and rage create a self-perpetuating cycle. Anxiety in certain individuals expresses itself through tension in the pelvic floor area and the "overuse" of the instinct to protect the genital region. That physical tension in turn adds to the emotional anxiety and stress, which in turn creates more pelvic tension as the cycle reinforces itself.
In a study of their treatment protocol, 72% of patients were considered moderately improved or markedly improved.
The third edition of their book A Headache in the Pelvis: A New Understanding and Treatment for Prostatitis and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes , by David Wise Ph.D. and Rodney Anderson M.D., which describes the syndromes and the Stanford treatment protocol, has just been released.
While prostatitis is a male problem because only men have a prostate, chronic pelvic pain is a problem that affects both men and women because both have a pelvic floor with many of the same muscles.
This is a revolutionary theory considering the number of men who have been told by their doctors that prostatitis is just an inevitable part of growing old.
posted by MonkeyC (24 comments total)

So your saying the sufferer should have gay sex or be pegged to stop this condition?
posted by Dean Keaton at 10:46 PM on August 24, 2005

"the result of an overzealous use of the instinct to protect the genital area...chronic pelvic pain along with negative emotions, anxiety and rage create a self-perpetuating cycle." - It sounds almost like a well conceived hoax.

But I'm afraid it's likely true.

This is grimly fitting.
posted by troutfishing at 10:48 PM on August 24, 2005

how can you "overzelously use" an instinct? Shouldn't they at least say that people are overzealously following an instinct, not 'using' it?

And what exactly are they doing to 'protect' it? I'm so confused... some kind of muscle contraction?

I'm imagining people some how covering their groin area with their hands so often it causes injury.
posted by delmoi at 11:15 PM on August 24, 2005

"Nobody knows what entitilitus is, but entitilitus kills."
posted by sharksandwich at 11:35 PM on August 24, 2005

So just stop flinching and take your kick to the nuts like a man?
posted by nightchrome at 1:18 AM on August 25, 2005

interesting. thanks for posting this.
posted by pointilist at 1:30 AM on August 25, 2005

and balls to the nay sayers.
posted by pointilist at 1:30 AM on August 25, 2005

With regard to the last comment in the post: "...the number of men who have been told by their doctors that prostatitis is just an inevitable part of growing old."
You might have confused prostatitis, which mainly affects young men, with prostatism, which affects many older men.
posted by roofus at 3:48 AM on August 25, 2005

kudos on the post.
posted by rxrfrx at 4:18 AM on August 25, 2005

And the award for most negligent disrespect for the more inside standard goes to............
posted by sourbrew at 5:22 AM on August 25, 2005

/stops doing his Kegels
posted by kika at 5:32 AM on August 25, 2005

I've, um, had this multiple times. Each time I was given some powerful antibiotics and it eventually got better. But this study says it probably had nothing to do with the drugs, which is just as well because they actually made me feel worse than I already was. I guess I'll have to buy the book and take care of myself.
posted by tommasz at 6:24 AM on August 25, 2005

Great post. Thank you.
posted by boymilo at 6:30 AM on August 25, 2005

I think the occasional use of a vibrating butt plug and some valium would take care of this.
posted by MonkeyC at 6:38 AM on August 25, 2005

I think the occasional use of a vibrating butt plug and some valium would take care of this.

This applies to many of life's little problems.
posted by mkhall at 7:58 AM on August 25, 2005

Well, I appreciate this post. A few years ago I had mysterious pains and many of the symptoms described here, including constantly feeling like I needed to piss and never feeling like I'd emptied afterwards. I had all the checks for the typical prostate problems, from enlargement (negative) to cancer (negative, phew). After a few months of worry, antibiotics and finally having the probe shoved down the old fella, the quacks admitted to bafflement.

The symptoms gradually waned and, touch wood, haven't been back since. Maybe this explains it. It could well have been tension-related since it occurred shortly after a painful and unexpected marital split. I was not a happy bunny at the time.
posted by Decani at 8:46 AM on August 25, 2005

Metafilter -- The result of an overzealous use of the instinct to protect the genital area.

catchy, huh?
posted by LordSludge at 9:04 AM on August 25, 2005

afroblanca,
Butt plugs, valium and a SENSE OF HUMOR are all antidotes to pain, anxiety an tension when used properly.
I was only half kidding.
If you've read their theory, I can imagine that my suggestions might actually work on some people when combined with changing their way of thinking.
Given that most men who have symptoms of what is called prostatitis (which means in inflamation of the prostate) don't actually have an enlarged prostate, I think they are on the right track also, which is why I brought attention to their work in addition to offering a couple of suggestions for potentially therapeutic treatments.
I haven't read their book, so I don't know, they might have already thought of it themselves.
posted by MonkeyC at 9:50 AM on August 25, 2005

MonkeyC - Although I disagree with the buttplug/valium suggestion, I can accept it as a joke an move on.

And yes, thank you for posting the link. It makes me glad to see people discussing this. Only when people are no longer afraid to talk about ailments such as this will we actually make progress in treatment.
posted by afroblanca at 10:31 AM on August 25, 2005

No discussion on "male problems" can possibly omit
mention of the heartbreak of insufficient masturbation
(under "treatment"). Masturbate wisely and remember
not to talk about it.
posted by the Real Dan at 11:28 AM on August 25, 2005

So I'm confused. The How To Goodbye Depression guy is wrong?
posted by deshead at 2:33 PM on August 25, 2005

Prostate massage works to help some male people with pelvic pain, afroblanca. It's too bad that it's also funny; it retards our ability to have serious discussions about the topic.
posted by ikkyu2 at 7:57 PM on August 25, 2005

see also, back pain
posted by Fupped Duck at 12:37 AM on August 26, 2005

I think the occasional use of a vibrating butt plug and some valium would take care of this.

Bill O'Reilly would agree.

But don't forget the falafel.
posted by Artifice_Eternity at 1:28 PM on August 26, 2005