I have been suffering from chronic prostatitis for over a year now. This is the non-bacterial version, which doctors say there is no cure for. My symptoms are: deep pain from prostate/groin area and an urgency to urinate.

Has anyone out there successfully treated chronic prostatitis? If so, I'd be grateful for any ideas.

Thanks

Tim

Pease tell us more about yourself to individualise the case.

Need more symptoms.

Dear Tim,

Have you ever had gonorrhea?

Can you tell us about the pain--what kind of pain, does it extend or shoot anywhere.

Is there an aggravation time--a certain time of the day or night when things seem to get worse.

What was happening in your life when these symptoms came on? Were you under any kind of stress?

Do you have any "sensations", for instance, as if you were sitting on a ball,
or a heavy sensation?

To pass urine, do you have to assume a particular position, such as bending forward or legs spread apart?

Describe any difficulty you have passing urine. Could you describe the stream: dribbling, spurting, interrupted, forked, etc.? Is there any involuntary dribbling?

Is there a discharge? If so, what color?

Are you worse from anything, such as walking, sitting, standing, passing stool, urine, anger, alcohol, coition, etc.

Are there burning sensations?

Is there low back pain?

What is your age?

Has the doctor mentioned whether or not the prostate is indurated (hard)?

Is there a fullness in the bladder after urinating?

Is there an issue or issues around sex that might relate to this problem; for instance, not enough sex, too much sex, impotence, numerous partners, etc.?

I'm sorry for all the questions, but there are so many prostate remedies, we have to have a way of narrowing them down.

Snoopy

Good one Snoopy.

Also we need to ask about his physical generals and mental generals. What do you think?

Dear Shashi,

Where we have pathological tissue changes, as in this case, we use a "reverse hierarchy", where the local symptoms become the most important rather than least important, and the physical particulars become most important, rather than the mentals. We can expect that under the circumstances, he will have fears and be depressed. We can't prescribe on that. If we can stop his pain with a remedy, the fear and depression will go away.

However, if there's anything peculiar about his mentals, it might be of interest.

The generals: his thirst, body temperature, food desires, etc. might be of interest if they are concommitants of the prostate problem. But if he desires ice, for example, but has ALWAYS desired ice, then we can't use that. I'm confident that if Tim answers these questions we can find his remedy.

Sincerely,

Snoopy

Thanks for the messages and your interest in my condition. As requested, here's some extra info:-

1: Tim, work in finance, London
2: Tall
3: Normal build
4: Age 30
5: Pain coming from deep within groin area (prostrate), worse on sitting for long periods, urge to urinate more frequently than usual, pain on ejaculation, pain from bladder (spasms), panic attacks as sometimes feel out of control of toilet habits. What makes it worse: alcohol, spicey foods, stress. What makes it better: drinking water, horsetail (taken as a tea), saw palmetto, greens (vegtables). Due to the need to go to the loo more often, it can be difficult to travel and do my job (I have lots of formal meetings).
6: No disorders of the senses. I am short-sighted.
7: Appetite: have a healthy appetite: a balanced diet with plenty of fish, vegtables and salads. Try to eat at regular intervals with biggest meals at breakfast and lunch.
8. No real cravings, though occasionally like sweets or chocolate
9: Averse to fatty foods, fried foods, curries
10: Don't like too much garlic or bread, try to avoid cow's milk.
11: Can be quite thirsty at times. I think a natural reaction when you have bladder problems is to drink less, as you are less likely to be caught out. However, recently I am trying to drink 1-2 litres a day, with majority in evening.
12:Stools: solid, dark brown, 10 cms, once daily in morning
13: one pile, dark red, came on after taking immodium tablets prescribed by doctor at start of illness
14: urine - light yellow to straw colour. Can be darker yellow after taking vitamins in morning (effect of vitamin c??). Trying to restrict urination to every 2-3 hours, though when pain bad need to go every hour or more. Often feel like I need to go again shortly after urinating (doctor says my bladder muscles may be spasming). This is one of the worst things about the illness (apart from the pain), as this can be embarrassing, especially when out with clients. This is worse when under pressure, or nervous.
15: respiration - no problems now with breathing. At start of illness, suffered from panic attacks as felt out of control (hyperventilating, filling dizzy etc.)
16: no cough
17: no expectoration
18: high sex drive. Have been told to masturbate once or twice daily by my urologist to keep prostrate clear of fluid and to prevent any infection (though I have chronic prostatits, the non-bacterial type).
19: pass
20: pass
21: pass
22: normal, though sweat heavily when exercising
23: sleep: deep, though get up 2-3 times during night to empty bladder. Sleep on back or on side. Dreams: of countryside, people I know, past holidays, past girlfriend, present partner etc.
24: Feel worse when nervous, stressed or agitated, e.g. when under work pressure, or big meeting coming up. Can get quite "down" about illness sometimes.
25: Better when adopt a positive attitude, drinking lots of water, exercising regularly (I work out 2-3 times a week at a gym), eating healthily, taking vitamin tablets, restraining from alcohol.
26: can be worried some times - think this will never go away. Can be quite stressed out sometimes from work pressures. Maybe a little nervous or anxious ahead of important meetings. Other than that, I try to be as positive as possible, doing postive affirmations etc. daily.

Hope this helps! Thanks very much for your assistance - it makes a difference to think that you might be able to help.

Regards

Tim

Dear Snoopy

Thanks for your interest in my condition. Here are the answers to your questions:

Have you ever had gonorrhea? No.

Can you tell us about the pain--what kind of pain, does it extend or shoot anywhere. Deep pain, feels like coming from rectum or testicles. My doctor says this is because the nerve endings round the prostrate are not that sensitive, so the pain isn't specific. Feels like sitting on hard stone, or like your pc muscles are tense. Pain from bladder is feeling of needing to urinate. Spasming pain straight after urinating (feel like need to go again).

Is there an aggravation time--a certain time of the day or night when things seem to get worse. Worse in morning, or after going to the loo frequently. Better in evening at end of day, or when mind is distracted from the pain (e.g. watching tv.)

What was happening in your life when these symptoms came on? Were you under any kind of stress? Had just changed jobs, was under a great deal of stress - was moved to new position within company, but no replacement for old job was found. Effectively did 2 jobs for 5 months doing long hours every day. Felt pain building up over a number of months (the doctor originally couldn't work out what was going wrong), then started to have panic attacks in meetings and on trains. Pain then came on badly, with associated side-effects (see my other reply for details). Had various tests for cancer by 2 urologists which freaked me out a bit (MRI scan, CT scan, rectal ultrasound, rectal examination). Initially thought I might have prostrate cancer. Official diagnosis is chronic prostatitis or chronic pelvic pain syndrome (i.e. no bacteria present). My doctor put me on various drugs that didn't help e.g. antibiotics, immodium, diurectis, alpha blockers, anti-depression tablets. Have now come off all drugs and am only taking natural remedies (horsetail, multi-vitamins, quercetin, saw palmetto).

Do you have any "sensations", for instance, as if you were sitting on a ball,
or a heavy sensation? Feels like deep throbing pain, or as if pc muscle have given out. pain from bladder seems to spasm in cycles.

To pass urine, do you have to assume a particular position, such as bending forward or legs spread apart? I stand as normal.

Describe any difficulty you have passing urine. Could you describe the stream: dribbling, spurting, interrupted, forked, etc.? Is there any involuntary dribbling? Stream not as strong as before, but pretty steady stream. Feels like I need to go more than I do in reality.

Is there a discharge? If so, what color? No discharge.

Are you worse from anything, such as walking, sitting, standing, passing stool, urine, anger, alcohol, coition, etc. Worse on sitting for long periods (e.g. at work).

Are there burning sensations? None.

Is there low back pain? I do have a lower back problem anyway, but this is not worse.

What is your age? 30

Has the doctor mentioned whether or not the prostate is indurated (hard)? He said it felt "enlarged and tender," not hard. I've had all the tests for prostrate cancer and these were negative, though there is some history in my family (my grandfather had it before he died).

Is there a fullness in the bladder after urinating? Feels like I need to go again, even though I know my bladder is empty.

Is there an issue or issues around sex that might relate to this problem; for instance, not enough sex, too much sex, impotence, numerous partners, etc.? Have been in long-term relationships. 3 sexual partners. Have high sex drive which isn't always fulfilled with present partner. No other issues.

That's about it. Thanks for your help, Snoopy.

Regards

Tim

Dear Tim,

I'm going to give you the easy answer--easy because you have already told us that the herb "saw palmetto" is helping you. I'm going to recommend that you try a course of homeopathic saw palmetto (Sabal Serrulata).

Sabal is noted for frequent urging to urinate in prostate problems and painful ejaculation. You can order Sabal 6C from a homeopathic pharmacy, such as Ainsworth's Pharmacy, and I would take two to five pellets (they melt in your mouth)three times a day; expect to take them for roughly a month, or until symptom-free, and let us know if you're being helped.

Also, masturbation as therapy....We in homeopathy have a catagory of health problems known as "ailments from the loss of vital fluids". Anything which causes the body to consistantly lose fluids over a period of time will lower your vitality and make it difficult for your body to mount a successful defense against disease or assaults of any kind. I would reconsider your doctor's advice on this one and leave it to the right homeopathic remedy to totally cure this problem.

Snoopy

Snoopy, I consider this patient needs constitutional treatment rather than palliation with Sabal.

This looks important to me:
"13: one pile, dark red, came on after taking immodium tablets prescribed by doctor at start of illness"

Was there suppressed diarrhoea prior to the onset of prostatitis?

Anna

Thanks for your comments.

I was prescribed immodium at the onset of the prostatitis, as I had diarrhoea and an upset stomach. With hindsight, I think this was connected with the panic attacks and stress- I freaked out a bit when I first got the illness and felt generally out of control in relation to going to the loo.

Regards

Tim