Treatment
of Pelvic Pain with the Stanford Protocol
If
you suffer from pelvic pain, you'll be happy to know that researchers
at Stanford University have developed a new treatment called the
Stanford Protocol, for prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndromes
that helps a large majority of qualifying male and female patients.
In a recent study in the Journal of Urology (see below), researchers
showed that an overall reduction of symptoms was reported by 72%
of the participants in the study.
This treatment, called the Stanford Protocol, was developed at Stanford University in the department of Urology over an eight year period. The treatment
is offered monthly in California in a 6 day clinic open to qualifying
patients. The purpose of the monthly clinics is to teach patients
how to reduce or resolve their symptoms using the methods taught
at the clinic and to help participants become independent of professional
help.
In
the case of men with prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndromes,
95% of patients with prostatitis symptoms do not have
an infection or inflammation that can account for their symptoms.
The evidence is compelling that in these cases, the prostate
is not the issue.
The Inappropriate Use of Surgery and Antibiotics
in Treating Pelvic Pain
Those of us who developed the Stanford Protocol involved in treating patients with pelvic pain of presumed neuromuscular origin, particularly when the pain arises from a chronically contracted pelvic floor with active trigger points, no evidence of infection, and no anatomical abnormality have never seen a satisfactory surgical intervention. We have seen patients who have undergone multiple surgeries in a vain attempt to eradicate their problem. In fact for these conditions, surgery, in our experience, has often hurt the patient, complicated management of their condition and often created new pain and made it more difficult to treat the original pain and dysfunction. We strongly advise against surgery for the kind of pelvic pain we describe on this website and in our book, A Headache in the Pelvis. Furthermore, pelvic pain with no evidence of infection rarely responds to antibiotic treatment, and we have occasionally seen patients suffer increased problems from antibiotic treatment, particularly when antibiotics are given over long periods of time.
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Most
of the symptoms of discomfort, urinary dysfunction and pain related
to sitting or sexual activity in cases diagnosed as prostatitis
have nothing to do with infection but are caused by chronically
tightened muscles in and around the pelvis. Our natural protective
instincts can tighten the pelvic basin, causing pain and other
perplexing and distressing symptoms. Stress is intimately involved
in creating and continuing of these symptoms. Once the condition
starts, the symptoms tend to have a life of their own.
And
the good news is that it is possible for a large majority of sufferers
to reduce and sometimes eliminate symptoms. The groundbreaking
book, A Headache In The Pelvis: A New Understanding and Treatment
for Prostatitis and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes, now out
in the 4th edition, by Drs. David Wise and Rodney Anderson, describes
how chronic tension in the pelvic muscles can cause many of the
bewildering symptoms of prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndromes.
People with pelvic pain successfully treated by the Stanford Protocol
initially had reported at least on and sometimes more of these
symptoms before begining the Stanford Protocol:
- Pain
in the rectum, abdomen, testicles, penis, vagina, groin, legs,
area above the pubic bone around the bladder, thighs, lower
back , or other places
- A
need to urinate frequently even when there is little to urinate, nocturia, dysuria, uninary frequency, urinary urgency
- A
sense of a golf ball in the rectum, rectal spasm, rectal discomfort, anal pain, anal discomfort
- Pain in the penis, tip-of-the penis discomfort/pain, urethra, groin
- Increased
pain or discomfort when sitting
- Discomfort
hours or days after (or sometimes during) sex
- Not
feeling fully empty or normally relieved after urination
- Either
discomfort or relief after a bowel movement
- Other
symptoms of pain and urinary, bowel or sexual dysfunction
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For
the last few years Drs. Wise and Anderson presented their findings
at the American Urological Association meetings and published
their results in the Journal of Urology. They have created an
effective treatment that "breaks the cycle by rehabilitating
the shortened pelvic muscles and connective tissue supporting
the pelvic organs while simultaneously using a specific methodology
to modify the tendency to tighten the muscles of the pelvic floor
when under stress."
Below
are abstracts of recent studies published in the Journal of Urology
reporting the effectiveness of the Stanford Protocol. These results
have been reported at the American Urological Association Meetings.
You
can contact the National Center for Pelvic Pain
by clicking here:
Latest
Published Research
