A Headache in the Pelvis: A New Understanding and Treatment for Prostatitis and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes, 4th Edition [Paperback]

David Wise (Author), Rodney Anderson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 15, 2007

This groundbreaking book describes the Stanford Protocol for pelvic pain in men and women, a new and revolutionary treatment developed at Stanford University. The 4th edition enlarges the scope of the book to specifically address the Stanford Protocol for womenÕs pelvic pain and includes a large illustrated section on the method of pelvic floor trigger point release. It also includes details of Paradoxical Relaxation for conditions of pelvic pain that affect women.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Wise, Ph.D., is a psychologist who spent 8 years in the Department of Urology at Stanford University Medical Center as a Research Scholar in the development of a new treatment for prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndromes. His research interest is in behavioral medicine and autonomic self-regulation. He enjoys playing the mandolin, watercolor painting, and carpentry.

Product Details

• Paperback: 413 pages
• Publisher: National Center for Pelvic Pain; 4th edition (March 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972775536
• ISBN-13: 978-0972775533
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #859,107 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #91 in Books > Health, Fitness & Dieting > Disorders & Diseases > Genitourinary & STDs

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Information: A+ Presentation: C+, February 28, 2008

By 

William L. Hooper "Bill Hooper" (Hollywood, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: A Headache in the Pelvis: A New Understanding and Treatment for Prostatitis and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes, 4th Edition (Paperback)

To my knowledge, this is the only book on the subject of chronic pelvic pain and after reading it, I finally have a sense of hope for my condition. In my situation, symptoms having been getting worse over the past year - not so bad that I've been incapacitated, but bad enough that I've been concerned for my long term health. This book has been a godsend. For now I understand what causes, and how to treat my pelvic pain. That is a huge revelation.

About a year ago, I went to a urologist, who, after performing some tests, stated my problem was simply stress. However, he provided no information on how to TREAT my current symptoms. This book has filled that void, and now I have sense of hope for the future. And that is very important. Time will tell if how much symptoms will improve. I've already had some abatement of my symptoms just since reading the book.

I have to disagree with one reviewer who feels this book is merely an advertisement for their week long program in Northern California. It's really just in the chapter on Trigger Point Release that the authors bang that drum, and it's for good reason: These are techniques that, as far as I can tell, DO require supervision for safety and best results.

My only criticism of the book lies in the area of presentation. Dr. Wise and Dr. Anderson are not writers, and it shows. The book desperately needs a competent editor - it is littered with typos and grammatical mistakes (there's a even a grammatical mistake on the cover!), and some sentences are downright clunky. I found the chapter on Paradoxical Relaxation particularly awkward.

But don't throw out the baby with the bath water. All in all this is a huge achievement in the research and treatment of assorted pelvic pain conditions.

June 21, 2011 addendum: I no longer have any pelvic pain. It went away pretty quickly after reading the book. I also recommend as supplementary material, a program by Dr. Howard Schubiner called Unlearn Your Pain - a month long program about mindbody syndrome aka TMS - which is an extension of what is taught in this book.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Life-Changing Read for Those with Pelvic Pain, May 28, 2007

By 

Turn Within (Mississippi) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Headache in the Pelvis: A New Understanding and Treatment for Prostatitis and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes, 4th Edition (Paperback)

To all those suffering with CPPS/Prostatitis: You must give yourself the gift of reading this book. It is the scripture of the new paradigm for treating chronic pelvic pain. Most importantly, it was written by someone who had actually suffered for years with pelvic pain and, by using the techniques introduced in the book, freed himself from chronic pain. For an author to be able to say to a reader, "I have been where you are", creates overwhelming trust and compassion that is felt throughout this book.
I write this review with the utmost confidence because I, too, suffered with pelvic pain for several years, and was misdiagnosed with "prostatitis" over and over again, as many men have been for years. When I read this book, I just knew it was the truth, because it spoke so fully to every aspect of my condition, both physically, mentally, and emotionally. I committed myself to doing the protocol described in the book, and attended one of the monthly clinics that the authors run. In short, all of my pelvic pain symptoms have completed abated after following the protocol, and in many ways I feel that my overall health is even better than before my pain started, as so much of the protocol taught in the book possesses benefits far beyond healing pelvic pain.
The truth taught in a Headache in the Pelvis has now become scientifically validated -- two recent studies using the AHIP protocol have been published in the JOURNAL UROLOGY and show symptom improvement results in patients like no other studies in the field. AHIP has also recently been featured in an article in Best Life magazine, written by an experienced journalist who found amazing relief from his pelvic pain by using the techniques found in AHIP.
In years to come I know the field of urology will look back on this book as the most groundbreaking treatise on how to help patients find relief from all of the pelvic pain conditions. If I could buy this book for every pelvic pain sufferer out there I would because I know intimately how it can change one's life.

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS SAVED MY LIFE!, March 13, 2008

By 

A. Borrego - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Headache in the Pelvis: A New Understanding and Treatment for Prostatitis and Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndromes, 4th Edition (Paperback)

I have suffered from chronic pelvic pain since I was eighteen, which was fourteen years ago. I developed the pain through over-stretching. Initially I thought that it had been a tear or sprain. Who knows, it might have been. Physical therapy helped me up to a point, but I could not get rid of the inflammation or sever burning. I was in pain constantly regardless of what I was doing: sitting or standing. It got to the point that my legs atrophied and I was forced to sit in a chair constantly: it hurt worse standing than sitting. Every physician I went to could not help me. Urologist didn't understand what was going on and every physical therapist told me that there was no connection between my pelvic floor and the other areas I was feeling pain. They would usually blow me off and tell me that I needed to go see a psychologist. I did! Even a psychiatrist! Even my brother who is a physician could not help me. I had searched the web for help and I came across a lot of stuff. I found a place in China that will directly inject your prostate with antibiotics. There is the Chicago clinic. I even started taking all of these weird supplements. Nothing helped. My whole life was destroyed by this problem. Anyone who has suffered from this or knows someone who suffers from this will testify. I wouldn't wish this on my enemy. Because of this injury my whole life stopped. I still live at home. I haven't graduated college. When my ex-fiancé got married I wanted to give up. Luckily, I found this book just like many of you have who are reading this right now. I did a google search and found this book right here on this site. After reading the book I started to get better. My whole life was here! I enrolled in the clinic. At first I was hesitant, but I had nothing to lose. After fourteen years of hell, by the third day I was pain free. It lasted for a couple hours, actually through the night. It was amazing. This is actually an easy fix. It's like have a constantly flexed muscle that needs to relax: that's it. The process can be long but it is simple. There is nothing complicated. You learn how to manually stretch your floor and on top of that you learn how to relax. There are no medications, no injections it's not that complicated! The treatment is simple and completely effective. I met people there who had had surgery on their genitals! It is very sad that even today medical industry is clueless about this. I went to the clinic about two months ago. Today I am lifting weights, playing basketball, having sex regularly and even, although not recommended, doing sit-ups all in the same day! No joke. If anyone out there has questions about me or the clinic write me. I'll help you! Thank you Dr. Wise, Tim and Sarah!