Pelvis floor muscle relaxation exercises for BPH

Posted , 8 users are following.

I recently discovered that pelvis floor muscle tightness can cause symptoms similar to that of BPH, namely urinary frequency, urgency, hesitancy, difficulty in starting, stop and go, as well as retention, and even ED. This problem occurs in men as well as women. I can't help but wondering if it's one of the reasons why some people underwent otherwise successful prostate surgery without significant results?

Does anyone out there have experiences with pelvis floor muscle relaxation exercises ? These exercises are sometimes referred as 'reverse kegels', as they are supposed to relax the pelvic floor muscles, to help one peeing better, while kegels will do the opposite, to strengthen the muscles. Kegels are used mainly to control incontinence, and can make peeing more difficult. What exercises did you use ? Any results ? Hank

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  • Posted

    Hank,

    I have been doing the stretching exercises for two months with no effect. It might work for some people, but for me the rate of flow remains unchanged: 3ml/sec during the day and 1-2ml/sec at night. Normal is about 20ml/sec. 

    Tom

    • Posted

      Hi Tom, are the stretching you are doing designed to relax the PFMs ? Otherwise, it won't do any good, or may even makes it worse. Hank you

    • Posted

      My uro sent me to PT and the therapist has me doing various stretching movements, and in two sessions did massage internally on the pelvic floor muscles. Didn't do anything. My conclusion from all of this is that my prostate is squeezing on my urethra and making it difficult and slow when I try to urinate. The flow isn't blocked, says my uro, but I am being squeezed (that's my take on all of this). I had a PAE last year and it only helped a little bit. Before moving forward with a second PAE or something more aggressive, I am trying this PT. Glad you introduced this topic here. 

    • Posted

      Tom, from what I've seen on YouTube, good PFM relaxation exercises involve no stretching, since stretching means strengthening muscles, and this usually tightens, not relaxes them. I've also read PTs tend to teach patients these tightening exercises, regardless of their real problems. Hank

    • Posted

      Tom, when your urologist says the flow isn't blocked but it's being squeezed, I interpret that as typical BPH/LUTS because if it were blocked you'd be in acute retention and most with bph aren't. Sounds like the PAE just didn't shrink the prostate enough or not where it needed to be shrunk to take pressure off the urethra. PT might help, but like some of the other things I mentioned earlier, the degree of help may not be enough to overcome the two biggies -- your prostatic obstruction and bladder elasticity. If you haven't already, I'd have a cystoscopy and urodynamic testing to see what's going on and then make plans from there be it another surgery or not. BPH/LUTS is a complex combination of factors, including pelvic floor function, but that doesn't mean that removing any single factor will necessarily do the trick.

      Jim

    • Posted

      If you have constipation, like I used to have, you'll experience the slow flow and other symptoms as well. I remember, meds did not help either. And guess what, constipation is one of the main side effects of pelvic floor dysfunction.

      A busted bladder can also cause the same thing. Hank

    • Posted

      Jim,

      My uro did a cystosopy in Feb and said I wasn't blocked. So, if I'm not "blocked" why is it so hard to pee? My interpretation of this is that my urethra is being squeezed by my enlarged prostate - simple. By the way, after the cystoscopy I got a bad UTI, took Cipro, and may now be having some side effects from that dangerous antibiotic. I wish I had never had the cystoscopy in the first place. 

      Tom

       

  • Posted

    Good afternoon Hank  That is what I was told by my doctor in November  I was suppose to go for exercises but never did because of running back and forth to Georgia to watch my grand kids.  I was told also that I have a very tight external sphincter so my doctor put me on a muscle relaxer for that and my bladder.  I take Vesicare 10 MG and Cyclobenzapr 10 MG..  I take 1 in the morning and 1 in the evening.  They work well Take care  Ken
    • Posted

      Hi Ken. It seems your situation fits this well. Did the doctor recommend any specific exercises to loosen your external sphincter ? Hank
    • Posted

      I was suppose to go see someone.  He sent me to the Pelvic Health and Rehabilitation Center   But I have not been in town long enough to go..  Going back to Georgia and will be back July 4.  I will be in town for 8 week when I come back  I may set up something then.      The muscle relaxer are working okay..I can't take them together they make me tired Right now I"m waiting for my Urologist I think I had a kidney infection  I turned in a sample on Thursday.  I only peed a couple of time very little saw some blood and I have had the runs for 3 days.  Lost 7 pounds.  Talk to my brother he said to go to the hospital. Don't want to . He was a nurse many years ago.  He's 75 He said that the bladdern infection may be hitting the colon.  I was in the hospital to many time.  I'm going to stay away.  The last time I went it was clearer so not to worried  I will see what he tell me on Monday.  They did say it may take a few days.  I am going to lay down in a little while to see if I can get some rest.  Been up from 3 AM.  Take care  Ken       

    • Posted

      Hope you get better soon. You should have someone looking into this. It maybe recurring. Hank
    • Posted

      Yes it had something to do with the last thing I went through in the hospital.  Don't know what is causing it.  Maybe my stricture.  I know my prostate is still wide open.  It's just the rest is felling apart.  When I come back in July I am going to make appointment to see I have to have a scope done to check the stricture.  He will be able to look at all the other stuff.  Ken   

    • Posted

      Sorry I can't help myself

      As long as his Doc didn't recommend anal sex or a big dildo he should have tried the loosening exercises 

    • Posted

      Ken, which one are you taking right now, Vesicare or Cyclobenzaprine ? Vesicare is for bladder OAB and/or spasms. Cyclobenzaprine is for floor muscle relaxing. Hank

    • Posted

      Hank  I take 1 or each.    I take Vesicare for my bladder and Cyclobenzaprine muscle relaxing.  He wanted me to take 3 a day of the Cyclibenzaprine.  I told him no  It would put me to sleep and I don't need that while I was watching the kids.  Can't be sleeping with a 4 and 6 years old.  When I see him in July  I want to know why I am getting infections again.  Well see  Ken  

    • Posted

      Sorry Hank that comment was for Ken. He said:

      I was told also that I have a very tight external sphincter

      His comment coupled with my commet made me laugh so I posted. Maybe a little inapprpriate ( I'm not saying you think its inappropriate although you may )  but we all need a laugh once in a while. And that one tickled me. 

       

    • Posted

      Uncklefester.......That is true with all the problems we have we do need to laugh sometimes.  Have a great Sunday   Ken 
    • Posted

      You have a good Sunday also Ken. I'm gonna take the dogs for a ride in the car after dinner. They're in 7th Heaven when they're riding around. 

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