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Pelvic Floor Exercises 2023

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User
Posted 11 Mar 2023 at 10:17

I had a prostatectomy in Dec 22 . Does any one else on here find the pelvic floor exercises painful . My penis aches for hours after doing them .I have informed my urology nurse but all she says is keep doing them.looking ahead to the future when you are dry do you still keep doing the exercises or do you cut back on the amount you do . Any advice is much appreciated .

I currently do 5 sessions a day

10 reps x 10secs squeeze x 5sec relax time for slow squeezes .

10 quick squeezes

Thank Pat

User
Posted 11 Mar 2023 at 12:46

I can think of no physiological reason why PFEs would make a penis ache - if done correctly, the penis isn't involved!

I wonder if you have suffered some nerve damage which is causing confused messages to be sent to your brain, e.g., the pain is generated somewhere else but your brain is interpreting it as penis pain.

PFEs are a good thing for everyone to do as they get older, not just men who have had RP. Lots of women (especially those who have had a baby) know that keeping their pelvic floor healthy will help to avoid age-related incontinence in the future.

Edited by member 11 Mar 2023 at 12:49  | Reason: Not specified

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 11 Mar 2023 at 16:13

Pat, from my experience (RP Nov 2021).

Is what you feel a persistent ache that seems to be in the underside of your penis, rather than sharp pain in the tip? If so, you could be overdoing it. My surgeon told me to do 5 sets daily but my pelvic health physio (I strongly suggest you see one to validate you are exercising correctly) reduced it to three sets after four months post op. Also, I don't think your relax time of 5 seconds is long enough. I always did 10 seconds, i. e. same time as the squeeze. Overdoing it  can be counterproductive and tiring, as with any other muscle. The advice from my physio was that once in maintenance mode, perhaps after 6 to 8 months, exercise once daily and don't panic if you miss a day. The PF muscle is an important support to what's left of your waterworks but it is just a muscle like any other. 

Peter

 

 

User
Posted 11 Mar 2023 at 18:04

Pat;

I've struggled with these exercises not as easy as you'd think I find somedays can feel quite stiff in that area , this week I had a appointment with a specialist who spent an hour explaining correct method but it's still not easy .

One point she made was that you can over do these exercises as with any form of exercise can be over done and things will ache , so three times a day recommended I was doing four times.

Vern.

Vern.

User
Posted 11 Mar 2023 at 19:21

Pat, I was told there was a fair old wait on the NHS and I was incontinent and miserable at the time. Luckily I had private health insurance (my op. was NHS) and it covered physio so I went that way. Problem is, from the list of pelvic health physios they gave me, only one worked with men. All the rest were for females only. I suggest, if you have no insurance, to discuss  with the Urology team at your hospital to see if you can be referred, or if you want to self fund to contact local physio practices or private hospital. I don't know where you are but I found my physio at The Chiltern Hospital in Great Missenden.

Others on this site may know more. 

Peter

User
Posted 11 Mar 2023 at 19:26

Scuba, I doubt the description of pain and diarrhea in yesterday's  post would be a result of pelvic floor exercises. The PFEs could irritate something in the urethra.

Thanks Chris 

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User
Posted 11 Mar 2023 at 12:46

I can think of no physiological reason why PFEs would make a penis ache - if done correctly, the penis isn't involved!

I wonder if you have suffered some nerve damage which is causing confused messages to be sent to your brain, e.g., the pain is generated somewhere else but your brain is interpreting it as penis pain.

PFEs are a good thing for everyone to do as they get older, not just men who have had RP. Lots of women (especially those who have had a baby) know that keeping their pelvic floor healthy will help to avoid age-related incontinence in the future.

Edited by member 11 Mar 2023 at 12:49  | Reason: Not specified

"Life can only be understood backwards; but it must be lived forwards." Soren Kierkegaard

User
Posted 11 Mar 2023 at 16:13

Pat, from my experience (RP Nov 2021).

Is what you feel a persistent ache that seems to be in the underside of your penis, rather than sharp pain in the tip? If so, you could be overdoing it. My surgeon told me to do 5 sets daily but my pelvic health physio (I strongly suggest you see one to validate you are exercising correctly) reduced it to three sets after four months post op. Also, I don't think your relax time of 5 seconds is long enough. I always did 10 seconds, i. e. same time as the squeeze. Overdoing it  can be counterproductive and tiring, as with any other muscle. The advice from my physio was that once in maintenance mode, perhaps after 6 to 8 months, exercise once daily and don't panic if you miss a day. The PF muscle is an important support to what's left of your waterworks but it is just a muscle like any other. 

Peter

 

 

User
Posted 11 Mar 2023 at 17:02

Hi Peter 

Yes I have a persistent ache on the underside of penis & a sharp pain in the tip of penis . How do you get to see a pelvic health physio ? . I will try reduce the exercises to three to see will it ease off and extend my rest period to 10 secs . Thanks for the information 

pat

User
Posted 11 Mar 2023 at 18:04

Pat;

I've struggled with these exercises not as easy as you'd think I find somedays can feel quite stiff in that area , this week I had a appointment with a specialist who spent an hour explaining correct method but it's still not easy .

One point she made was that you can over do these exercises as with any form of exercise can be over done and things will ache , so three times a day recommended I was doing four times.

Vern.

Vern.

User
Posted 11 Mar 2023 at 19:21

Pat, I was told there was a fair old wait on the NHS and I was incontinent and miserable at the time. Luckily I had private health insurance (my op. was NHS) and it covered physio so I went that way. Problem is, from the list of pelvic health physios they gave me, only one worked with men. All the rest were for females only. I suggest, if you have no insurance, to discuss  with the Urology team at your hospital to see if you can be referred, or if you want to self fund to contact local physio practices or private hospital. I don't know where you are but I found my physio at The Chiltern Hospital in Great Missenden.

Others on this site may know more. 

Peter

User
Posted 11 Mar 2023 at 19:26

Scuba, I doubt the description of pain and diarrhea in yesterday's  post would be a result of pelvic floor exercises. The PFEs could irritate something in the urethra.

Thanks Chris 

User
Posted 15 May 2023 at 14:08

I had my surgery over 12 years ago when I had no help at all post surgery! I was totally incontinent and one morning after removing my very heavy pad I set on the toilet simply to get some rest! As the urine was dripping away, I quite initiatively tried to stop the flow and to my surprise I found that the rate at which the urine was dripping reduced slightly. That was a Eureka moment. Unknowingly I found my Kegel muscle (or pelvic floor) and then onwards I set on the toilet three times a day, try and stop the flow for the count of ten, then let go for the count of ten and repeat ten times. After a week I began to see a significant difference any by the third week I was 99.9% continent: only dripping when getting up from squatting position or when sexually excited! That is where I am at now and if you want to read further about our story go to:

https://community.prostatecanceruk.org/posts/t28948-Re-establishing-Sex-Life

Although I have nothing against men going to, at time expensive, physio treatments which in my view is not really necessary. I notice you can even purchase a probe you insert in you rectum and control it via a smart phone - something I certainly would not risk after surgery!

 'Physics is like sex: sure, it may give some practical results, but that’s not why we do it.'                    Richard Feynman (1918-1988) Nobel Prize laureate

 

 

User
Posted 15 May 2023 at 14:48

Pat, I think you may be over doing it. Usual recommendation is 3 x per day when building up strength and then drop back lower for maintenance.

Overdoing it can be counterproductive and actually cause leakage.

 
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