Opinions please

[Ginny]

Copied this from Announcements. Would like everyone's opinion.

>If you struggle with muscle tension, the brand >new "A Headache in the Pelvis: A New >Understanding And Treatment For Prostatitis and >Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes!" may be very very >helpful. This book describes a landmark >treatment for individuals who have chronic >pelvic pain syndromes (including prostatitis & >interstitial cystitis & even vulvodynia).

Ginny :confused:

[Kelli]

I guess I don't know what your question is. Do you want opinions about the book itself? I haven't bought it yet, but plan to in the near future.

[Ginny]

From what I understand it is about muscle tension causing the pain of IC and Vulvodynia. I was just wondering if anyone thought this could be the problem. I know myself that my muscles are clenched but is that because of the pain or is the pain because of the muscle clenching.

Ginny

[darlene]

I agree with Ginny. If muscle tension caused IC and vulvodynia, it would be Soooo much more common. I think more men would have IC than women, because they are very protective of that area, think protective cups for sports.

[poetgirl]

My understanding is that the spasming of the muscles are what is causing the pain. If you've ever had a back injury and had to have the spasm worked out in physical therapy, you'd know what I mean. However, your muscles can also be tight or spasmed and you might not feel that pain until those muscles are being worked/overworked in some way.

[Kelli]

hmm thats a hard question, almost like which came first, the chicken or the egg?

I do know however that when I am having a flare, if I try to rest and relax the muscles it helps some. I guess thats why we use heat, or ice to relieve some of our symptoms, to keep the muscles as relaxed as possible and leaving us in less pain.

[ICNDonna]

I think it can be a vicious circle --- if I feel a little bit of irritation, my muscles tighten, which increases the discomfort, which makes the muscles even tighter, and on and on.

When I begin to feel any discomfort, I start on antispasmodics to help relax the smooth muscles --- for me it works. Once the muscles begin to relax the pain is much less.

Donna

[Ginny]

It has to make me think that maybe the VV came as a result of tightening of muscles from the pain of IC.
I'm mostly asking for opinions because if I buy the book and do whatever it says and I am not helped I will go off the deep end. I've been doing this too long.
Ginny

[Brianna]

My dr did a little test on my vulva like the potassium sensitivity test. He put those same solutions on my vulva with cotton balls and I have the same reaction as with the sensitivity test!!! He said he believes the lining of our vulva is gone in places ---just like the lining of our bladder.
hugs
brianna

[poetgirl]

My gynecologist believes that the two conditions (vulvar vestibulitis and IC) are related. It just gets tricky when trying to treat them both. Some of the medications provide relief from related symptoms (the Elavil he prescribed for the VV has really helped my bladder) but it all seems to be a lot of trial and error. When he did my biospy last week, he said the area where I was having the lesions was thicker (scarred?) which makes me think that like the bladder wall, I've been experiencing similar tissue damage.

[Im Colleen]

Hi,

I'm new to this board and to ic. I have burning inside my vagina but the ob/gyn says no infection. The outside of my vaginal area does not hurt when I touch it, just the inside. Is this vulvodynia? Does the burning usually stay forever or does it come and go like ic symptoms? Is the burning usually related to some specific time in the menstrual cycle? (I have just noticed it in the few days before my period and now during it too) Does anyone have any good tips on how to make sex more comfortable with this? Will it continue to get worse? (sorry for so many questions)

Thanks
Colleen