A Headache in the Pelvis: The Wise-Anderson Protocol for Healing Pelvic Pain: The Definitive Edition

I updated this review on March 10th, 2012 to reflect more recent developments. For this new version, I am going to simply provide a copy of the letter that I sent to roughly 10 doctors in the Las Vegas area:Dear Dr. [NAME REMOVED],I am writing you this letter as you are one of the many doctors involved in my journey to escape from my mysterious illness. Since I am now in the process of healing and recovery, I wish to share as much information as possible about my condition in an effort to help present and future patients that suffer from it.Beginning in July 2011, I began to experience the following symptoms: nausea, vomiting, malaise, rapid heart beat, lower back pain, testicular pain, burning penile pain, constipation, bowel movement pain, prostate pain, sitting pain, arm and leg pain, burning with urination, burning pain in the hands, sensation of pressure in the neck, chills, and blurred vision with pain in the right eye. The most bizarre aspect of the condition was the fact that all the symptoms were cyclical: they would come and go, seemingly at random.Due to the nature of many of my symptoms the search for an STD explanation led nearly everyone astray, including myself. I was misdiagnosed first with herpetic neuropathy, then with chlamydia, and finally with e-coli prostate infection. I was put on antivirals and antibiotics, and ultimately admitted to Southern Hills Hospital and put on IV antibiotics. The tentative diagnosis was acute bacterial prostatitis, but the antibiotics did not relieve the condition.The day after I was discharged from the hospital on an antidepressant and a projected six-month antibiotic regimen, I was feeling my absolute worst. My father did some research on prostatitis, and the first relevant datum we discovered was the fact that 95% of cases of so-called prostatitis are abacterial, and thus antibiotics are useless for the condition. We stopped the antibiotics the next day. Upon further research, we learned that my true condition and its treatment are not well known.A few weeks later I was officially diagnosed with Chronic Prostatitis / Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome, or CP/CPPS, by Dr. Nevin Smith (a Stanford-educated urologist) in Sonoma, CA. He forwarded me to a clinic for pelvic pain patients. There I learned everything about my condition, which affects some 20 million Americans. Most important, I was given a treatment regimen known as the Stanford Protocol, developed by the psychologist Dr. David Wise and the neuro-urologist Dr. Rodney Anderson. I also read their famous book "A Headache in the Pelvis" repeatedly.At first I was concerned because many of my symptoms didn't seem to fit with CPPS, but after only a few minutes with Tim Sawyer, a physical therapist who trained with Dr. Janett Travell (the discoverer of myofascial trigger points), it became clear that there was a common mechanism for all my symptoms. The term prostatitis is incorrect as the prostate has essentially nothing to do with the disease, and the term CPPS is incomplete since the condition can affect all areas of the body, as was my case. By far the most correct terminology is simply Chronic Myofascial Pain, or CMP.CMP has historically been categorized alongside fibromyalgia, but the two are distinct. The most obvious difference is that fibro is a whole-body disorder that likely effects the central nervous system, whereas CMP is usually localized to specific muscles or muscle groups. CMP is characterized by the presence of trigger points in damaged muscle tissue that refer pain and symptoms to other areas, either with muscle movement or spontaneously when at rest. CMP subsumes not just CP/CPPS, but also Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), whiplash associated disorder (WAS), and many other forms of chronic illness. Far from a rare condition, CMP is everywhere: an estimated 50% of all visits to urologists and gastroenterologists are for symptoms caused by CMP, but these patients are rarely properly diagnosed and treated.I have followed the Stanford Protocol for six months now, and have been getting treatment from Tina Baum, a physical therapist here in town that specializes in pelvic pain, Kris Kelley for trigger point massage therapy and myofascial release, and psychologist Dr. Jacqueline Panish for anxiety and stress reduction. I have experienced a slow yet dramatic two-thirds reduction in the severity of my symptoms thus far, and hope to be completely pain free within a couple years. If it weren't for Dr. Wise and his book I probably would not be alive today. Thank you for your efforts on my behalf. I truly appreciate the assistance and care that you gave me during this difficult period.Sincerely,Elliott A. [email protected]

Wow, where to start...This review has been a long time coming, but I needed to wait until I could say with confidence that Dr. Wise cured me of CPPS during one of the most difficult and painful periods of my life.Please trust me when I say that if you think you have CPPS, please please please read this book and visit his clinic. I'm a 27 y/o male (with little means) and lived with CPPS for over 6 months before finding out about this book and Dr. Wise. After reading "Headache" in just over 2 days I called Dr. Wise immediately. I know that 6 months is not long compared to others, but I was in bad shape, unable to function, relationship with long term gf falling apart, and afraid that if the CPPS continued that my life was not worth living.I won't going into too much detail but I was a classic case. I visited countless urology offices, including one of the top urology clinics in the nation, continuously being told I had Chronic Prostatitis and to take antibiotics and that it would eventually go away. I wasn't satisfied with doctors not giving a s***. I was walking around feeling like I've been kicked in the nuts, having to pee every 20 mins, excruciating orgasms, and terrified of bedtime because it was so hard to sleep because I felt like I still needed to go to the bathroom. I made my way to Dr. Wise's clinic in March of 2012. My life changed!Since going to the clinic my life is back, and as crazy as it sounds I'm thankful to have gone through this experience and I know for a fact I'm better off for it. Dr. Wise's protocol is the cure, and although he can't tell you that it WILL cure you, I can. This is not false hope. The Paradoxical Relaxation, the stretching, the external and internal trigger point therapy in combination saved my life. I'm a more self aware, self confident, and happier personal because of all this. Not to mention I don't have CPPS anymore. I will continue to meditate and stretch, it's now part of my life and I love it!My recommendation would be to read the book, GO TO THE CLINIC (just make it happen), and be patient. Remember that every day you follow the protocol you'll be getting just that little bit better. It took me two months before I started to feel any change, and every month that followed I got better and better. Until about 6-7 months in is when I realized I was going to make it through this.I've used my real name for this review, so if you have any questions, please look me up on Facebook and I'd be happy to answer any questions you might have.There is hope and there is a cure. Dr. Wise is the man!!!!!!!!-Perry Paolini

Excellent book !!!

This is a must read book for anyone who is suffering or has suffered from this terrible condition. I have found many answers to my problem in this book and I am glad I bought it. Highly recommended.

A very comprehensive exposition of a specific protocol for the treatment of pelvis originating disorders.

eventually arrived three days after I sent my enquiry. No need for refund, every thing has turned out fine albeit a little late. Many Thanks

Informative