Prostate Archives

Newbie looking for prostatitis advice

I've been reading this board awhile, and have been
impressed with a lot of what Dr. Stoll has to say, so
here's my first post/question. Sorry for the length.

I'm a 36 year old male, normally healthy, but a little over
a month ago, after a prolonged period of INTENSE
stress in my life (I've always had generalized anxiety
issues), I began to get a burning pain after urinating
and an intermittent burning in my urethra during the
day. I went to the doc, of course, and while waiting to
see if my urine sample came back positive for infection,
he gave me Cipro for two days.

Naively, I just took it, even though, as it turns out, I had
no infection. A day after taking the Cipro, I began having
occasional sharp pains in my lower left groin. When I
stopped the two-day treatment, the pain abated after a
couple days, but was replaced by a burning sensation
that I felt intermittently throughout my left groin and
pelvis, like my skin was mildly burning.

Also, my urinary burning symptoms persisted, so I went
to ANOTHER doc (never liked the first one) and he
performed my first prostate exam! (fun - not!). He
noticed no inflammation, nor was the prostate tender,
yet, because of my other symtpoms he diagnosed me
with prostatits and gave me a two-week supply of Cipro.

Within a couple days of resuming the Cipro, my groin
pain began again, and I noticed a swollen lymph node
(slightly) in my left groin which I hadn't noticed before.
The other symptoms weren't being helped much by the
Cipro, and I was concerned about these pelvic pains,
so I returned to the doctor.

He checked the lymph node and said it didn't seem very
swollen and didn't concern him - he also told me not to
worry much about the pelvic pain, that it didn't seem like
anything serious. He told me to continue on the Cipro
another week and then get back to him. Some help!

So, I began doing a little research on Cipro, and found
that it can cause all sorts of adverse reactions. I had no
idea how powerful an antibiotic it was. I stopped taking
it after reading numerous articles that convinced me
that the only reason I should ever take such a powerful
antibiotic is if I have a proven infection, which was never
proven in my case of prostatitis nor checked for, as far
as I know.

So, it's been almost two weeks since I stopped the
drug. I've begun trying to approach the problem on a
stress level, as I'm convinced a stress overload caused
the problem and am hoping a reduction in that stress
will cure it. The urethral burning has diminshed, but the
pelvic and groin pains continue and have even spread.
I'm now feeling occasional sharp pains in the left groin,
right groin, sometimes left and right hip and in the
lower abdomen and sides (not all at once, just
occasionally, and rarely in two places at the same time)

Okay, now I'm FINALLy leading up to my question. Still
with me? Good..:-)

After reading about prostatitis and chronic pelvic pain, I
realize that groin pain can be a part of this condition.
However, I've also read that Cipro can cause problems
with tendons as well as neuropathy and swollen lymph
nodes, and I'm wondering if that might be another
possible cause of the pain, as well as the occasional
feelings of burning beneath the skin in those areas and
down my legs.

I'm trying to decide whether to go back to another doctor
and find out once and for all whether my problems are
caused by bacterial infection or not. They've only ever
done 1-day urine tests on me, all of which came back
negative with no white blood cells. They have never
checked the prostate for an infection. I don't even know
what sort of test is done to do that.

I've never had a fever or any other symptoms besides
the occasional burning after urinating, occasional
urethral and rectal burning, and (the worst problem) the
recurring, intermittent sharp pains in my right and left
groin and occasionally lower back, abdomen and
sides.

I know I need to de-stress, and am doing well at that,
but the pains are stressors, as well, so it's a tough hill
to climb. Any advice? If it's suggested I return to another
doctor, what sort of test should I ask for to check for
prostate infection? Any thoughts on my correlation
between my symptoms and Cipro, or do my symptoms
just sound like classic prostatitis?

Thanks, and sorry for the novel. :-)

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