It has been a year

 This month marks the one year anniversary of the prostatectomy.  What a year it has been!  The good news is that after twelve months, I am still undetectable!

Aside from the typical side effects of the surgery (ED), I now have a new issue to work though.  I have leg pain as if my hamstring was injured.  There was no trauma or injury, but it was painful and could even wake me during the night.  My doctor sent me to physical therapy for assistance.

While at PT, I reviewed my history and mentioned information I have heard about pelvic floor issues.  Since I have been using the pelvic floor differently this past year, I thought I would mention it.  By the way, I heard this from the podcast "The Penis Project" where they interviewed a therapist that specialized in pelvic floor therapy after he battled prostate cancer.  Since I mentioned it, the PT stated she would research it further.

When I returned the following week, she confirmed my symptoms matched a tight pelvic floor.  My stress and tension since the surgery and leakage manifested itself right there!  The homework was to focus on releasing the pelvic floor when I notice the clenching (either tension/stress or just because there may be a leak if I let go).  I found myself constantly relaxing as I unconsciously would clench even as I sat and typed on the computer with no movement to induce using my clenching.  The best part is that when I focus on relaxing, the leg pain disappeared!!!  

I write this in hopes that it can help another that is having pain that cannot be explained in any other way.  Don't be afraid to ask questions and share information.  If I hadn't opened up and be honest with the therapist, I would have been getting frustrated as nothing would relieve the pain.

All of this comes full circle.  Communication is the best tip for anyone suffering.  Open up to your spouse, your doctor (beyond the urologist), and anyone else involved in your care.  My PT is now considering others that have had similar pain and could it have been a tight pelvic floor? 

Hopefully with the pelvic floor relaxation the pudendal nerve which caused the leg pain can open up and work again.  I know it can work.  Hindsight is great - during an acupuncture appointment, the nerve was stimulated and there was actually a positive response.  I was excited.  That small sign was enough to give me new hope that with time, the nerves will heal and come back to life.

As they say, things happen for a reason.  Perhaps I needed to relax more.  Message received, but I wish it was done in a different way because prostate cancer sucks!

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