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Success Story: Overcoming Perineal and Testicular Pain

In Male Interstitial Cystitis / Nonbacterial Chronic Prostatitis / Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome, Male Pelvic Pain by Amanda Stuart

By Amanda Stuart, DPT, PHRC Los Angeles   Did you know that September is Chronic Pelvic Pain Awareness Month? Whether you have pelvic pain or need to treat pelvic pain, this blog will be following the success of one our patients and their time in pelvic floor physical therapy. Fact: Research shows that up to 16% of men suffer from …

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Success Story! How Josh recovered from Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS)

In Male Interstitial Cystitis / Nonbacterial Chronic Prostatitis / Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome, Male Pelvic Pain by Cambria Oetken

By Cambria Oetken, PHRC Westlake Village     June is Men’s Health month, and men suffer from pelvic pain too. Research shows that up to 16% of men suffer from Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) at some point in their life. However, we suspect this number is lower than the actual prevalence because it is so commonly misdiagnosed as a …

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10 Common Behaviors that Can Lead to Pelvic Pain

In Bladder Dysfunction, Bowel Dysfunction, Female Pelvic Pain, Male Pelvic Pain, Pelvic Floor Dysfunction by Elizabeth Akincilar

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MSPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack   Pelvic pain is a complex condition that can have various causes, including medical conditions, injuries, and certain behaviors. In this blog, we will discuss 10 common behaviors that can potentially lead to pelvic pain(and potentially chronic pelvic pain). It’s important to note that while these behaviors may contribute to pelvic pain, they …

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Prioritizing Mental Health: A Necessity, Not a Luxury

In Female Pelvic Pain, Male Pelvic Pain, Pain, Pelvic Health by Emily Tran

By Emily Tran   In the realm of chronic pain management, the intricate link between physical suffering and mental well-being cannot be overstated. Mental health counselors specializing in chronic pain populations often emphasize that chronic pain is more than a physical condition; it deeply impacts one’s mental health, potentially leading to or worsening conditions such as depression, anxiety, and stress. …

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Emphasizing Sexual Awareness: National Condom Week

In Male Pelvic Pain by Elizabeth Akincilar

By PHRC Admin National Condom Week, celebrated every year from February 14th to 21st, serves as a pivotal reminder of the importance of sexual health and awareness. It provides an opportunity to educate about safe sex practices and their significance in maintaining overall wellbeing. As pelvic floor physical therapists, understanding the intricate relationship between sexual health and pelvic health is …

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June is Men’s Health Awareness Month

In Male Pelvic Pain by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MSPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack   June is Men’s Health Awareness Month and it’s an important reminder of the need to prioritize preventative care and wellness for all. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, men are more likely to experience serious health problems such as heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, diabetes, suicide, substance abuse …

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Male Pelvic Health: Erectile Dysfunction Causes & Treatments

In Male Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the leading cause of sexual dysfunction in men affecting one in five men. It is defined as the inability to achieve & maintain an erection satisfactory for sexual intercourse. There are several causes for ED. Vasculogenic, or due to an issue with blood supply, is the …

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It’s National Men’s Health Week!

In Male Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles National Men’s Health Week is held each year from June 8-14, and it is a time to raise awareness about the health of men and boys. This year’s theme focuses on the importance of preventive care, early detection, and treatment of medical conditions.   Men tend to avoid doctor visits, with …

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The Case of the Mysterious Hip and Testicular Pain

In Male Pelvic Pain by pelv_admin3 Comments

By Molly Bachmann PT, DPT, Birth Doula, PHRC San Francisco, CA One of the most common questions I receive as a physical therapist is “But why does it hurt? How did I get this?” Sometimes, these questions are really challenging to answer. Other times, there is a distinct root cause. Let me tell you the story about a patient with …

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Why Do Men Develop Penile Pain? Plus video resources!

In Male Pelvic Pain by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MSPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack   One in 10 men will suffer from Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome at some point in their symptoms. Men can develop penile pain for numerous reasons: Excessive exercise Aggressive force and/or frequency of masturbation Persisting pain after disease, infection or inflammation Aggressive jelqing, attempts at foreskin regeneration, penile enhancement protocols   Symptoms of …

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Prostatectomy: Facts, Complications and How Pelvic Floor PT Can Help

In Male Pelvic Pain by Stephanie PrendergastLeave a Comment

By Stephanie A. Prendergast, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Los Angeles   Let’s Talk Prostatectomy Facts   Although prostatectomy is a very effective surgical intervention for prostate cancer, there are some common symptoms that can occur following surgery that each person undergoing this procedure should be aware of. In fact, only 22% of patients undergoing radical prostatectomy were sufficiently counseled on the …

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Success Story: How André Recovered from Groin Pain

In Male Pelvic Pain by Emily Tran1 Comment

By Jennifer Guan, PT, DPT  PHRC  Los Gatos   André Fenri* is a 28 year old male who was referred to PHRC by his urologist. André reports that three months prior to his initial evaluation, he developed pressure and pain on the left side in his groin region. He reports that he had gone skateboarding prior and his MD suspected …

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Hard Flaccid: Causes, Treatments, and Symptoms

In Male Pelvic Pain by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack Although our knowledge is limited with regards to hard-flaccid syndrome, based upon the minimal medical literature dedicated to this syndrome and our own experience at PHRC, hard-flaccid syndrome most commonly occurs secondary to the following:   When the PFM, particularly the urogenital diaphragm, or superficial PFM, become too tight or hypertonic, they can …

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How PFPT Helped Following a Prostatectomy: Peter’s Story

In Male Pelvic Pain by Melinda FontaineLeave a Comment

By Peter and Melinda Fontaine, DPT, PHRC Walnut Creek Pelvic Physical Therapy (PPT) has been a wonderfully life changing experience for me following prostate cancer treatment. It has been a nearly three year journey, and I cannot speak highly enough of the benefits of my kind, caring, and immensely skilled PPT therapist. What are these benefits? In short, marked improvement …

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Success Story: How PFPT Helped Following Peter’s Prostatectomy

In Male Pelvic Pain by Melinda FontaineLeave a Comment

By Melinda Fontaine, DPT, PHRC Walnut Creek Peter was a 63 year old experiencing urinary urgency and leakage three months after having his prostate surgically removed for prostate cancer. Luckily, his surgeon referred him to a pelvic floor physical therapist. He was using at least two incontinence pads per day, but was mostly dry at night. He had a strong …

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Penile Pain: Frequently Asked Questions and Their Answers

In Male Pelvic Pain, Pain, Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy, Pelvic Health, Pelvic Pain by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Merrimack   Over the last couple of years PHRC has shared many YouTube videos and educational material on Instagram educating our viewers and readers about pelvic health. We have received an overwhelming response to several of our posts discussing male pelvic pain, in particular penile pain. Listed below are some of the most common …

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How pelvic floor physical therapy helps men with pelvic pain

In Male Pelvic Pain by Elizabeth AkincilarLeave a Comment

By Elizabeth Akincilar, MPT, Cofounder, PHRC Lexington In the past, when most folks in the medical community thought about pelvic pain, the assumption often was that it was due to pregnancy or labor and delivery, or something related to a woman’s menstrual cycle or reproductive organs. Thankfully, the medical community has come a long way. Within the community of medical …

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Penile Pain- A Success Story

In Male Pelvic Pain by pelv_adminLeave a Comment

By Molly Bachmann PT, DPT, PHRC San Francisco   “Penile numbness, perineum pain, post void dribble . . . oh my!” *All names and other identifying information has been changed.   Symptom Presentation:    Frank began to have pain in his perineum seemingly out of the blue. The only connection he could make was an instance of loose stool that …

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Why Men Are Given Unnecessary Antibiotics & What to do Instead

In Male Pelvic Pain by Joshua Gonzalez, MDLeave a Comment

By Stephanie Prendergast, MPT and Urology Expert Joshua Gonzalez, MD   Most men who develop the symptoms of Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS) are given unnecessary courses of antibiotics, at least once. How do we know they were unnecessary? Most of our patients have never been properly tested for a prostate infection. Men with CPPS account for up to 97% …

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How Pelvic Floor PT Helps Men’s Health & Pelvic Floor Dysfunction

In Male Pelvic Pain by Melinda FontaineLeave a Comment

By Melinda Fontaine, DPT, PHRC Walnut Creek Did You Know….   Pelvic floor exercises are equally effective as sildenafil (Viagra) in treating erectile dysfunction. Pelvic floor physical therapy can help incontinence, erectile dysfunction, post void dribbling, overactive bladder, premature ejaculation, and pelvic floor tension myalgia. Erectile dysfunction is associated with twice as much absenteeism, decreases in work productivity, and decreases …