The Low-Down
Male pelvic pain (which is known as prostatitis), refers to: “inflammation of your prostate gland. Your prostate gland sits below your bladder, in front of your rectum. Your urethra (the tube that carries urine and semen out of your body), runs through the centre of your prostate” [1]. There are four types of prostatitis, and if you have any symptoms, the smart move is to book an in-person or online appointment with a Pain Specialist as soon as possible
Types of Prostatitis & Symptoms to Look Out For
If you are suffering from one of the four different forms of prostatitis, then you will find that the tissue in and around your prostate gland, is irritated, tender, and swollen. Of note: bacterial infections such as infections of the urinary tract (UTIs), can be the root cause of certain types of prostatitis. – However, in some cases, there is no clear cause [1].
The different varieties of prostatitis comprise:
• Acute Bacterial Prostatitis: this describes a bacterial infection which generates acute prostatitis. Symptoms can include chills and fever, and sufferers may also have difficulty passing water. Furthermore, they could also experience frequent and painful urination. Acute bacterial prostatitis comes on all of a sudden, and to that end necessitates quick medical treatment. This normally leads to the Pain Consultant prescribing specific antibiotics, and then monitoring the situation
• Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis: this is another type of prostatitis which involves a bacterial infection. However, in this case, symptoms may arise gradually, and it can take more time to treat. In addition, generally speaking, chronic bacterial prostatitis does not cause chills and fever. Yet sufferers still experience symptoms such as having difficulty passing water, or feeling pain when urinating
• Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome: also known as CPPS, this is not an infection. It is classed as the most common from of prostatitis, impacting around one in three people who are assigned male at birth. This form of chronic pelvic pain syndrome is responsible for long-term pain in the genitals, perineum (the area between the scrotum and rectum), and pelvis. This pain can go on for many months or years, so it is crucial to contact a Pain Consultant who will draw up a Personalised Treatment Plan
• Nonbacterial Prostatitis: also referred to as asymptomatic inflammatory prostatitis, this condition is not an infection, and does not produce any symptoms. – Yet it causes inflammation of the prostate gland. Patients often learn that they have this condition when they undergo tests to determine the root of other symptoms [1]
So What Treatments Does a Pain Doctor Provide For Prostatitis?
• Treatment provided by a Pain Specialist is centred on removing treatable causes. When it comes to a bacterial infection, many Pain Doctors will prescribe a prolonged course of oral antibiotics (these are chosen inline with the test results). If the patient has an acute or severe infection, then intravenous antibiotics may be recommended
• When there is no evidence of a specific infection, then the Pain Consultant may simply prescribe a single course of antibiotics
• If the Pain Doctor feels that the patient’s pain is linked to pelvic floor muscle dysfunction, then after the consultation (which includes reviewing your medical history, giving you an examination (if required), and and looking at the results of any necessary tests or scans), they will then refer you to a specialist pelvic floor physical therapist who works within their team. Moreover, they may also prescribe the latest cutting-edge muscle relaxants and other pharmaceuticals which are proven to ameliorate muscle tension [2]
References
[1]. Cleveland Clinic (2023). “Prostatitis.”
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15319-prostatitis
[2]. University of California (2024). “Prostatitis.”
https://urology.ucsf.edu/patient-care/adult-non-cancer/male-sexual-and-reproductive-health/prostatitis#:~:text=If%20pain%20is%20thought%20to,designed%20to%20decrease%20muscle%20tension.
