Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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.

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!

Well I respect the author and this book, it does not represent all men with Prostatitis. I have battled this disease for a long time now, and was told the answer lay in this book, or with the Stanford Protocol, advocated on the chronicprostatitis forum, which I initially believed. This can be dangerous, as I bought into this myth, without looking at other options. It turns out it was mycoplasma genitalium and treatable with antibiotics. I almost spent 8k to go to Stanford, not to mention the thousands I already spent on PT, etc. I am glad I kept investigating on my own. My advice, read the book, but don't forget to look at all avenues and causes.

It is definitely not a self-help book, quite a lot of information though. So how to treat yourself though moment - to moment paradoxical relaxation? Unfortunately ,you will not find the answer in the book.

I had pelvic pain for about a year. Came to know about this book in May 2007.
After reading the book, i clearly understood the problem which two urologists could not understand. Just by trying the stretches i had 20% improvement. Found a PT in my home town to treat trigger points in the style explained in book but she could not locate most of my trigger points.

Finally was convinced enough from the book and other people online that
the treatment protocol offered by the authors of this book would help me, i went to attend the clinic 10 days ago and i feel i got rid of 50% of my pain . People tend to under estimate the power of relaxation and just focus on Physical Therapy. But you need to try both of them for permanent cure in my opinion. Check http://www.pelvicpainhelp.com for further details.

I ordered another copy today to present to my primary physician so that she can advise her future patients right way.

An excellent resource for anyone who suffers with pain due to Pelvic Floor Disfunction. I found this book to be very informative. It is written in layman's terms so you don't have to be a medical professional to understand it. PFD is a syndrome that effects millions of people worldwide, many of whom are at their wits end as to what to do to find relief. This book will help them understand what they have and what they can do to help themselves. I would highly recommend it to anyone with PFD as well as their spouses,partners or caregivers.

This expanded edition is superb! Although mainly aimed at a male audience suffering chronic prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain syndrome, this edition includes information relevant to females as well. In summary, this 4th edition adds 63 pages to the 3rd edition. It expands the illustrated discussion of trigger point release. It discusses developments in the home treatment and self-trigger point release program. There are more stories of patients who have undergone the Stanford Protocol. There is a discussion of neurogenic inflammation of the bladder, anxiety, inflammation and interstitial cystitis. There is discussion of other conditions of mucosal inflammation paralleling inflammation of the bladder, the healing of the bladder, the usefulness of cystoscopy. The book contains more illustrations of the location of trigger points and offers a comprehensive illustrated discussion of female pelvic floor physical therapy including locations of female pelvic pain related trigger points, discusses pregnancy and pelvic pain. Lastly, this edition investigates the relationship between emotions and pelvic pain, and other related topics.

Sadly, Amazon has "lost" all the glowing comments and 5-star reviews given to the last edition due to a glitch in Amazon's system. I've copied some of the comments on the last edition of this book for your information. Highly recommended!

A Godsend!, March 8, 2007
By Raven J. Hagewood "theerave" (Houston, TX United States) -(REAL NAME)
Their description of this very private pain was DEAD ON. Their analogy of the pain and the cause is DEAD ON. These authors understand my symptoms and one of the authors has suffered them at least as long as I have. If you have Prostititis you would probably travel miles just to hear or read about someone who can simply describe what you are GOING THROUGH!! My doctor didn`t know what it was or what treatment were effective either and I was just given meds to take daily just because. And he was the GOOD GOOD Doctor! One Urologist charged me $500 to tell me that he could not afford to treat me. So far this has been the only ray of hope for me and the pain is leaving. Hey guys it even explains why you have been curled up in fetal position in your bed crying totally uninteresting in going outside, smiling, talking, moving and cursing sex in agony or masturbating furiously for a moment of release or cursing the idea of life because a demon as been eating at your privates 24/7 365 secretly for a decade. Why does stress and depression seem to make your symptoms worse? Why have you been withdrawing? It is all here and WOMEN ARE WELCOME HERE. You are discussed also. This is no way to live. The self hatred is not yours you are ill. Listen to what these 2 have to say to you.

An extraordinary book that really helps !!, January 6, 2007
By Frequent Reader "Frequent Reader" (Northeast, USA)
A Headache in the Pelvis which describes the new treatment for pelvic pain developed at Stanford University is the best book anybody could read who is suffering from pelvic pain. I have read all the editions and just finished the 4th edition which includes treatment for women as well as men. Wise and Anderson are the pioneers in this treatment. I can't praise this book enough!!!

Women need this advice too, November 16, 2006
By E. Edgerton (Syracuse, NY) - (REAL NAME)
Just a quick comment: It is too bad that this book focuses primarily on males. Female pelvic floor problems are also described and occasionally dealt with, but it would be nice if future editions of this book contained diagrams or chapters geared toward women. Women suffering with these problems really need to know about these techniques too.

Helpful Information, November 9, 2006
By G. Arcuri - (REAL NAME)
This book has assisted me in understanding some of the cause of my discomfort. I found the book a little difficult to follow, but after a few times reading the same thing it made sense.

A Worth Read and an Uplifter, July 13, 2006
By buddah_sack "buddah_sack" (california)
Friends, I suffered from Prostadynia over 10 years ago ( 24 age) and it lasted for two years. The pain was mostly in my right teste and it was very bothersome. I went to a few urologists and they ran the gamet of many different tests on me. In the end, I was told that i had no infection and that it was non-bacterial prostititus. One even told me I had a cyst on the right testicle. Alot of medical talk with no answers. Eventually I started to heal my self using exercise, biking, and just relaxation. I made the effort to heal my self through my own ways and experimentation Mind you my pain use to be so bad that I would be in tears sometimes. But i made myself get through it. This last year, I went through a bunch of bad stuff in my life and the pain came back slightly but enough to bother me. I was so upset and knew i had to relax. However, this time around, my life problems were so different and I felt that I did not have the right tools to deal with my pain. Enter this book. About a week ago, I picked up this book. All i have to say is WOW! MAny times while reading it, I shake my head and go "yup" i know that feeling. It's been about a week now, I have noticed about a 50% cut in my groin pain. The exercises help ALOT and so do the relaxation methods. Breathing, accepting the tension, allowing your body to communicate with you...these are very crucial in getting better. Look, if your going to drop money on Doctors to keep examining you or are contemplating suregery. Give this book a chance.
I found this book to be very useful and great. There is hope. Trust me. This book helped me again and if anything is a good read.

A ray of hope, June 8, 2006
By Zelda (Los Angeles, California USA)
Finally, a book that gives a ray of hope to pelvic pain sufferers.
Thank you Dr. Wise

This book is the first step on the journey to healing pelvic pain, June 3, 2006
By John Bartok "JohnB" (CA)
Drs. Wise and Anderson's "A Headache in The Pelvis" is a remarkable book outlining a pioneering new treatment for a number of widespread forms of pelvic pain. These conditions, which the authors refer to as a "headache in the pelvis", have often been routinely misdiagnosed and ineffectively treated, and have affected millions of men and women from all corners of this good globe. This is a book that describes a method to treat this condition for which the authors have published far better results than conventional treatments. The protocol of "A Headache in the Pelvis" was developed by these Stanford researchers, one of whom suffered from pelvic pain for many years and this method came out of his search to finally help himself. It is very unusual for those in the healing profession to offer a treatment that comes from the ancient injunction for the physician to heal thyself. And this is what makes the book so compelling. The book describes this method in an easy to understand and well outlined format suitable for the least sophisticated reader. It is organized with easily referenced sections that take the reader, step by step, through the origins of the condition, the history of other treatments and finally to details of the treatment. If the journey of healing pelvic pain is a thousand miles long, and begins with a single step, then buying this book is clearly the first.

This is a great book, May 31, 2006
By voltaire
This is a remarkable book. The guys who wrote this book are pioneers in offering any real help for the problem of pelvic pain. Their results speak for themselves. I think most people who suffer from chronic pelvic pain will find this book to be the first thing that makes any sense. Bravo for this book.

Mind/body medicine at its best, May 30, 2006
By C. B. Simmons (Emeryville, CA United States)(REAL NAME)
This is an inspiring book. As a psychiatrist and physician educator interested in the body/mind connection, I have been looking for clinical applications of meditation and awareness training in the field of medicine. Despite very sophisticated studies proving the benefits of meditation and relaxation exercises, very few clinicians seem to be writing about their direct work with patients. This book is an inspiring example of how these new principles can be used for treating chronic pelvic pain syndromes. The success rate reported in the medical literature of these Stanford researchers is very exciting. I was very appreciative of the author's personal disclosure. As healers and clinicians heal themselves, they bring a special sensitivity to their work. These authors' sensitivity and respect for the deep suffering in their clients' lives pervades the book, and makes it unique among mind-body medicine books. I enthusiastically recommend this book for caring clinicians as well as people in pain looking for relief from their suffering.

Interesting concepts. Mix of traditional orthopedic and psych. Research evidence is missing but the approaches seem reasonable by explanation. Steve P Physical Therapist

What a beautifully written book. "A Headache in the Pelvis" is friendly and easy to read -- and what a compassionate message the two authors convey. Spasms in the pelvic muscles cause excruciating pain that is often misdiagnosed. In addition, the pain is in places that make it embarrassing to talk about-- the pain is often likened to "a golf ball in the rectum." This book describes the simple, gentle and direct method developed at Stanford University to help people become pain free. With the help of "A Headache in the Pelvis," my mother-in-law was able to reclaim her life! This is a wonderful book.