Let’s Talk About Chronic Prostatitis

Everybody talks about the diagnosis and treatment of prostate enlargement and prostate cancer? Why doesn’t everybody talk about the diagnosis and treatment of chronic prostatitis?

Prostatitis is loosely and simplistically divided into acute and chronic classes. Acute prostatitis is very often young man’s bacterial infection; it is usually easily treated with antibiotics. Acute prostatitis can recur but does not necessarily transform into the chronic condition, with many men having a few episodes that then stop recurring.

Chronic prostatitis is characterized by frequent episodic or sustained pain potentially so severe that some victims become suicidal. The pain can affect a broad range of sites – perineum, penis, rectum, lower back, lower abdomen, legs – and it is usually associated with coexisting ailments: fatigue, inability to think clearly, and depression. Specific triggers may include such normal events as ejaculation, but are often hard to identify. Because of its debilitating effects, chronic prostatitis interferes with professional responsibilities and with personal relationships; it has been blamed for social isolation, divorce, and lack of employment.

Chronic prostatitis is often not a bacterial infection; while antibiotics are usually prescribed, they are often useless. Patients thus face other treatment options and some indeed respond to a variety of strategies, some better validated than others: Massage, trigger point release, intra-prostatic injections of antibiotics, herbal supplements, hypnosis, acupuncture, and anti-inflammatory medications. But when these treatments do not work, men with chronic prostatitis then become the sort of patient few doctors want to see: The one who complains but for whom there is no remedy. They become the patient whose problem is “all in his head.”

So is there any hope? In 2007, a prostatitis patient named David had lost hope after dutifully seeking cure for 8 years of severe symptoms. At the “end of my rope,” he asked to have his prostate removed. After extensive discussion about lack of scientific proof and all kinds of risk, he had a laparoscopic radical prostatectomy, a common treatment for prostate cancer, which immediately, completely, and durably eliminated his symptoms: It has been 3 years and he is completely asymptomatic and fully functional.

In response to the experience with David, the Krongrad Institute, which did his surgery, is conducting a clinical trial to quantify the effect of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy on the symptoms of chronic prostatitis.  The idea is to see if David was an exception or the rule. It is also to allow tomorrow’s patients to make informed decisions about the role of surgery.

Chronic prostatitis can last decades and destroy all semblance of normal life. It affects thousands of men and their families. We need to talk about chronic prostatitis. For more information, readers are encouraged to check out the Prostatitis Surgery web site and the Prostatitis Blog.

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Blurb about today’s Guest Blogger:

Arnon Krongrad, MD is a urologist who specializing in the use of laparoscopic surgery in the treatment of prostate cancer and severe, treatment-resistant chronic prostatitis.

Armin Brott

View posts by Armin Brott
Armin Brott is the proud father of three, a former U.S. Marine, a best-selling author, radio host, speaker, and one of the country’s leading experts on fatherhood. He writes frequently about fatherhood, families, and men's health. Read more about Armin or visit his website, mrdad.com. You can also connect via social media: Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest,  and Linkedin.

3 Comments

  1. Sebastian S.September 10, 2010

    A really helpful overview of this serious topic. I think that many of these thousends of Americans affected by it don’t know about the backgrounds of their ailments. The links postet at the end of the arcticle are very sevicable. I am also very interested in the outcomes of this clinical trial by Krongrad Institute.

  2. Florian HillemeirSeptember 10, 2010

    I think the question Arnon Krongrad asks at the beginning of his article is a very important one, since prostatitis is becoming a more and more frequent problem for boys and men, with roughly 15 per 1000 male persons comming down with it every year!
    For the acute prostatitis, being very often a young man’s infection, it would be interesting which prospects of prevention and information are considerable and where young men have to be careful, that they do not infect so easy?
    Regarding the chronic prostatitis it would be interesting to know what are the reasons for it when it’s not caused by bacterial infection?
    The bottom line is, that an awareness for prostatitis among boys and men has to be created, because it’s a more and more upcoming problem with sometimes severe and long lasting consequences!
    The case of David should encourage men suffering from prostatitis to inform about the latest methods of treatments!

  3. martin andreSeptember 21, 2010

    A very informative and enlightening subscription of the problems, not just to prostate cancer, but also chronic prostate problems. Interesting with the prostatectomy. Will be interesting to follow the development from the Krongard Institute

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