Pelvic Pain Chronicles – Ben’s successful recovery from Pelvic Pain

This is Ben’s successful recovery from Pelvic Pain. A huge thanks to Ben for his very kind words and very open account

In the beginning

I can vividly remember when my pain first started. I had just turned 18 and was finishing at school when I woke up one morning feeling like there was a golf ball in my pelvis and that I desperately needed the toilet. I rushed to the toilet but felt exactly the same afterwards. It was both perplexing and very distressing at the same time. I quickly made an appointment to see my GP, who seemed equally confused by my symptoms and asked me if I’d tried paracetamol. Needless to say, that made me feel no better.

For two years I was bounced between various urologists and pain management specialists and had every diagnostic procedure in the book. They all came back negative. The doctors would say things like “I’m sorry but I’m not sure what else we can do for you” and that “I’m sure the symptoms will go away on their own eventually,” while telling me to continue with my daily regimen of painkillers and sleeping pills.

Hope

I came across Karl’s clinic through internet searches looking for anyone who might be able to help. Just seeing the testimonials and knowing other people had the same problem made me feel immensely reassured. I emailed Karl to tell him about my symptoms and, from our first contact, he was incredibly friendly, empathic and knowledgeable. 

At our first session Karl took time to understand my symptoms and wider life, far removed from the short questioning I was used to from my NHS appointments. Karl explained to me the interplay between body and mind which can result in pain developing and created a tailor-made holistic programme which I could easily incorporate into my daily life. 

Recovery

I began by performing deep breathing exercise and carrying out daily massages, which gave me an immediate degree of symptom relief. The more I came back to Karl the further my programme developed, incorporating yoga and stretching techniques. Over time my symptoms transformed from a state of constant, numbing pain and insomnia to now, where I rarely need to wake up in the night to urinate and can go days at a time without feeling any pain. Even when my symptoms do get worse, I now know how to manage my pain and can quickly get myself back on track. 

Without Karl’s help and support I don’t know where I would be now. It both frightens and angers me when I think about how little support there is out there for people suffering from pelvic pain and how long it took me to find help. Karl’s therapy is truly life changing and I wish it was more widely known and practised. If more doctors and physiotherapists were trained, or even just made aware of, Karl’s programme then the world would be a better and less frightening place for those with CPPS. 

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Karl Monahan is the owner of The Pelvic Pain Clinic, London. He has been successfully treating male pelvic pain since 2009. His depth of knowledge and personal experience on the subject provides his patients with a compassionate approach that is rarely found. His holistic approach to treating male pelvic pain addresses, lifestyle, diet, exercise, stress management and therapeutic movement. The clinics approach is very much aimed at empowering the patient, teaching them the tools and techniques to manage and reduce their own symptoms allowing them to be the driver in their own recovery and not just a passenger. www.thepelvicpainclinic.co.uk