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What is causing these pelvic cramps?

Posted , 3 users are following.

blodjer
blodjer

I have just recently posted pretty much the same post in the IBS group because I'm trying to get to the bottom of my problems and find some understanding.

I've been having these problems for the last 12 years or so that have caused me a lot of worry and contributed to me not moving on in life for a long time.  The doctors never found anything wrong with me. 

They seemed to start when I was about 20 years old,  I'd been taking a lot of drugs, alcohol, and generally not looking after myself properly.  I turned myself into a nervous wreck and this seems to be when it started.

I get these weird sensations that I couldn't put my finger on but now I can describe it as a scratchy sort of tightness in my lower stomach and pelvic area where I can't relax.  It affects my genitals (penis, I'm a male), it would feel strange, a tight pulling sensation underneath, shrunken.  This would cause me great anxiety that there was something wrong down there.

The uncomfortable feeling would last for about 3 days to a week, gradually tapering off.

Not only that it would affect my nerves in my arms, legs, and all over really.  I would get noticable muscle spasms, tension in my head and my eyes would feel strained and look dilated.  I would worry that there was something wrong with my nervous system then too.  That I had damaged myself permanetly with all that I had done.  

Now I just think that this was all just sensations of anxiety feeding into the problems.

Over the years I have noticed paterns of things that trigger my symptoms. Back then I used to drink to self medicate as I used to get the problem pretty much every week.  I came to realise that alcohol triggered it, or maybe alcohol came to tigger anxiety that came to trigger it.  I know that drinking too much cola seems to trigger my symptoms.  I also have a suspicion that masturbation triggers it. If I have an important event coming up that I'm worried about, or that I worry about having the problem on the event, this seems to trigger it.  Also recently I have found a patern with doing too much strenuous execise without enough rest (I push myself too hard).

Over the years though, it doesn't seem to happen as much and the symptoms aren't as severe.  I put this down to lifestyle changes and improvement in health.  I don't drink alcohol at the moment, I don't smoke, I try to eat healthily and I exercise regularly.  I'm not as anxious or depressed (on going mental health problems) these days and I've learnt to relax more so maybe this helps.  

When it does happen though usually about every 1 or 2 months it really gets me down.  I feel like I can't go out and do the things I normally do, and when I do I feel ashamed that people can notice that there's something wrong with me as it's usually acompanied by this anxious feeling with my eyes looking glased and odd.  I get this gassy feeling and can't relax and sometimes panic.  I sometimes take valium and this eases the symptoms although I don't like doing this but I get so angry and frustrated.  I've just recently thought it may be IBS as my mother suffers from it and my brother has had problems with his stomach in the past due to stress.

What is this cramping?  Is it IBS?  Is it to do with my mental state?  Is it some sort of chemical imbalance in my brain?  Is it my nervous system?

Sorry that I've gone on a bit but if anyone has taken the time to read this and can relate to any of it, I'd like to hear from you.  Thanks smile

1 like, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • jenny66856
    jenny66856 blodjer

    Posted

    Hi there, just joined this today. Hope you are feeling a bit better. Even though I'm a woman I have experienced all the drinking and anxiety and was diagnosed with ibs because of stomach cramps.. I had a lot of tightness in lower back pelvic are genitals etc.. Very uncomfortable and frightening.best thing I ever did after medications and tests and physio was found myself a great acupuncturist she also did cupping which relieved all my muscles.i can finally sit down again and walk normally with no pain or tightness or irritations in the genital area.. I would highly recommend this as I got no relief anywhere else.. It is so important though to try and stay calm and positive as it just increases the symptoms. Also baths and hot water bottles helped.. Take care
  • Whatup9796
    Whatup9796 blodjer

    Posted

    If you have chronic pelvic pain syndrome, good luck with treating it. I've had it for 6 months and it has pretty much destroyed my life. I'm afraid of losing my job, wife, and son because of it. Nobody believes that you have it since they consider it a condition of elimination. My wife accused me of being crazy and said it was all in my head. I can't sit or stand for long periods without being in pain. There is no magical pill, surgery, or other treatment for it. It royally sucks. My whole life has been turned upside down because of it. I hope and pray it is anything but cpps for you. Otherwise, you have a rough road ahead of you and I'm sorry. I don't mean to sound discouraging but this condition is very depressing and has a way of destroying you inside and out. I also have defecation problems that come along with it sometimes too. Yeah! The fun never ends with it.
  • jenny66856
    jenny66856 blodjer

    Posted

    hi blodjer, you can look up Dr David wise pelvic pain he describes it well. I had it 9 yrs ago and it lasted me 6 months and one morning I woke up and it was just gone. This time I have had it longer and it is improving with physio and acupuncture and cupping has relieved me immensely in the last month. I gave up on doctors they didn't know much.. the only thing I got off them was anti depressants and a relaxer because I was so anxious and fed up and drained with the pain of it. Anxiety fires it up more and intensifies the pain. I had to leave work because of it because I work in a job were I stand all day. I couldn't physically do it. The pain is real and no tests or scans will tell you.. Look up levator ani syndrome to. It's anxiety that has tightened everything in the pelvic. It's something that has been building up for years before it happens. What I have learned from this is to relax regardless of pain and stresses nearly accept it and then it seems to get better. I had to leave work. And couldn't afford rent anymore had to move home, broke my heart. All that stress didn't help at all. Please god I hope it eases for you soon. Look up David wise and see what you think.. And it's not in your head it's very real and many people suffer with this. Take care
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