Re: Pelvic Pain with a strange twist

In article <1181879440.029342.181370@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>, JD
<jasonsjunk@xxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hello All. I posted the message below on a few other newsgroups a
couple months ago and got a couple suggestions which I thought people
in this group might be able to comment on.

The two suggestions were to look into a problem with my femoral
genital plexus nerve or a possible pinched nerve around L3-L4-L5.
However, I had MRI's of my abdomin, pelvis, and spine so the question
is - could these have been missed or would they not even show up on
these tests? If anyone can suggest a good doc or chiro in the LA area,
please let me know.... thank you! Or if you have more suggestions!

Here's my original post...


For the past 6-8 months, I've had pain in my lower abdomin and
problems with maintaining an erection, or even starting one. I've had
many tests done to rule out other physiological causes of erectile
problems:


Thanks for taking the time to read my post!


* a negative NPT test (tests erection activity during sleep),
* clean mri/mra of the pelvis area and abdomin (except for celiac
issue described in #8 below)
* negative blood tests, etc.
* blood pressure in the penis vs. arms and legs was normal as well.


Here are the major "Features" of my ED/pelvic pain particular
problem:


1) very quick onset. One day I just started having problems
maintaining an erection (doctors tell me that a quick onset like that
is actually better than something that came up slowly over time with
regards to getting better)


2) pain in right around the pubic area and the very lower abdomin
right above. It seems to get if I stand up and bend me head all the
way back so my stomach is sticking out. Also worse while lying on my
stomach as opposed to lying on my back. Sitting also irritates. In
both cases, right above the pubic area.


3) pain sometimes referred to areas right around the base of the
penis. Doctors say the only thing there is a muscle junction. also
sometimes radiates to two points on the lower abdomin about three
inches out on each side - doctors say those are muscles as well.
sometimes into the testicle as well, but less often


4) I have absolutely no problems with urination - no increased
urgency
and no problem completely emptying out, no burning, not feeling like
I
have to go (which to me, is a good way to rule out most forms of
prostatits)


5) Just a general achy or heavy feeling in the whole area which
doesn't seem to be affected by exercise, just stretching.


6) the weirdest thing - a couple months ago while lifting weights, I
felt what felt like a tear in that area - but nothing came up in the
mri of pelvis and abdomin. I've got a follow-up scan coming up, but
that may be clean as well.


7) They found vericoceles on each side, but despite what I've read on
some sites, doctors are not worried.


8) The MRI of ab was clear except for "High Grade Stenosis of the
celiac artery due to median arcuate ligament compression with
extensive collateral circulation through the pancreaticoduodenal
arcade". The doctor seemed unconcerned about this an upon research, I
found one reason why he might feel that way:http://
radiology.rsnajnls.org/cgi/content/full/228/2/437 - but I'm wondering
if it would be a good idea to look further into this.


9) The weird thing about the erections - it feels like the reason
it's
difficult to get one is because the muscles on the top of the penis
and the pubic area almost feel like they are too weak to hold it up!
The same muscles that are used to make it get harder appear to be
strained.

10) Three surgeons, none suspected anything that could be repaired by
surgery.


Thanks again, and I appreciate any and all replies.


I have read that both trigger points and dysfunction of the pelvic
muscles can cause prostatitis-like symptoms or pain in the area of the
bladder, and also erectile dysfunction.

http://prostatitis.org/physicalcause.html

Another condition that can cause both pain in the bladder and lower
abdomen and erectile dysfunction is interstitial cystitis, which is
poorly understood by most doctors, many of whom believe it doesn't
occur in men. You may find this article and website of interest:

http://www.ichelp.org/research/2003AUAAnnualMeetingAbstracts.html

"Of the 300 patients, 240 (80%) showed the characteristic
glomerulations on cystoscopy with hydrodistention, which confirmed a
diagnosis of IC. All patients with IC had some degree of erectile
dysfunction and burning or pain during and/or after ejaculation."

http://www.ichelp.org/cafeica/Vol06No03.html

Certain Problems Predict IC, Chronic Prostatitis Severity

Clemens JQ, Brown SO, Kozloff L, Calhoun EA. Predictors of symptom
severity in patients with chronic prostatitis and interstitial
cystitis. J Urol. 2006 Mar;175(3 Pt 1):963-6; discussion 967.

Using standard symptom and problem questionnaires and patients¹ reports
of associated problems, these researchers determined that there is a
correlation between the severity of a patient¹s IC or chronic
prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) and some of these
characteristics. In the 174 men with CP/CPPS, the mean NIH Chronic
Prostatitis Symptom Index score was 15.32, and in women with IC, the
mean O¹Leary-Sant Symptom and Problem Indexes score was 19.17. Among
other disorders, men most often reported allergies, sinusitis, erectile
dysfunction, and irritable bowel syndrome.

Just because some of your tests are normal doesn't mean there isn't a
possible muscular or neurological basis to your problem. Prostate pain
can be cause by pressure against the prostate and may not involve
difficultry urinating. See if you can find a good urologist, perhaps
those websites have a referral service or someone on the boards there
could give you a referral.

Hope this helps,

--Sean C
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Pelvic Pain with a strange twist
    ... Doctors say the only thing there is a muscle junction. ... bladder, and also erectile dysfunction. ... Another condition that can cause both pain in the bladder and lower ... Certain Problems Predict IC, Chronic Prostatitis Severity ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: Pelvic Pain with a strange twist
    ... Doctors say the only thing there is a muscle junction. ... bladder, and also erectile dysfunction. ... Another condition that can cause both pain in the bladder and lower ... can be cause by pressure against the prostate and may not involve ...
    (alt.support.chronic-pain)
  • Re: Prostatitis and Rectal Pain
    ... > basically have chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, ... > was only 39 ml so I am able to dribble my bladder almost empty. ... > prostatitis pain, and I will still have some blockage caused by BPH, ... All I do is go to doctors and I hope I don't have to ...
    (sci.med.prostate.prostatitis)
  • Re: Prostatitis and Rectal Pain
    ... > basically have chronic non-bacterial prostatitis, ... > was only 39 ml so I am able to dribble my bladder almost empty. ... > prostatitis pain, and I will still have some blockage caused by BPH, ... All I do is go to doctors and I hope I don't have to ...
    (sci.med.prostate.prostatitis)
  • Re: Any Dr. Federico Guercini patients?
    ... Prostatitis is the big pain guy as far as I am concerned, ... a very gnawing, eating, kind of burning pain (but not true burning like ... >> doctors involved and a lot of suffering prostatitis persons just like you ...
    (sci.med.prostate.prostatitis)