Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy as an Adjunctive Treatment for Epididymitis
Antibiotics remain the first line of treatment for Epididymitis. But you may recover faster if the treatment includes pelvic floor physical therapy because it proves to help ease symptoms of epididymitis and boost immunity. Before we continue with how pelvic floor therapists can help relieve your painful symptoms, let us discuss first what causes it and what are the risk factors.
Epididymitis occurs when the epididymis, a long, coiled tube behind each testicle, becomes inflamed. Sexually transmitted infections often cause this condition, but many other types of bacteria can also cause it.
Epididymitis can affect anyone, but it is most common among men ages 14 to 35. Each year, the United States experiences approximately 600,000 cases of epididymitis.
There are two types of epididymitis. The first is acute epididymitis which lasts up to six weeks. Usually, the testes are also inflamed with acute epididymitis. It is also called epididymo-orchitis because it is difficult to distinguish whether the epididymis, the testes, or both are inflamed. This is why epididymo-orchitis is a commonly used term.
Another type of epididymitis is chronic epididymitis, which lasts for more than six weeks. Affected patients may feel discomfort in their crotch, epididymis, or testicles. This may be the result of granulomatous reactions, which can cause cysts or calcifications.
Identify whether it’s epididymitis
Although epididymitis may start with just a few mild symptoms, if left untreated, the symptoms can become more severe.
Epididymitis may cause the following symptoms:
- a gradual or sudden ache in either of your testicles (balls)
- a build-up of fluid (hydrocele) around your testicle
- a feeling of tenderness, warmth, and swelling around the rest of your testicle (scrotum)
Symptoms may also include difficulty in peeing or a white, yellow, or green discharge from the tip of the penis, depending on the cause.
Epididymitis has several causes
Common causes of epididymitis are two sexually transmitted infections: gonorrhea and chlamydia. However, the causes can sometimes be by E. coli bacteria or the same bacteria that causes tuberculosis in rare cases. Urinary tract infection has also been implicated in the condition, although UTIs are less common in men. These causes are considered non-sexually transmitted.
At-Risk for epididymitis
Epididymitis may be more likely to develop if you:
- are uncircumcised people
- have unprotected sexual activity
- suffer from urinary tract structural problems
- take heart medications called amiodarone
- are using a catheter
- recently injured the groin
- recently undergone urinary tract surgery
- have a blocked bladder caused by an enlarged prostate
- suffer from tuberculosis (TB).
Treatment for epididymitis
The treatment of epididymitis involves treating underlying infections and easing symptoms. In treating underlying infections, the most common prescription is antibiotics. Taking it as prescribed will make you feel better in a matter of days. However, no matter how well you feel, take the entire course of antibiotics to ensure the bacteria is treated.
Aside from antibiotics, physical therapy can help ease symptoms. Physical therapists use clinical therapy, workouts, and physical activities in treating epididymitis. It can help boost immunity and enhance faster recovery. Pelvic floor exercises help to relax the pelvic floor and prevent pain, burning, or tightening feelings in the testicular area because of the blood flow blockage.
But know that exercises for epididymitis have limits. Getting guidance from a physical therapist ensures that you are doing the exercises for epididymitis correctly.
If you are looking for a trusted physical therapy clinic, look no further than PELVIS.NYC. We have successfully treated epididymitis and have helped ease all its symptoms. We focus on their health as if it were our own so we provide the best treatment plan. Visit www.pelvis.nyc for a free 15-minute teleconsultation to better assess your problem.
When to seek help?
In the event of epididymitis symptoms, consult your doctor immediately. If your doctor confirms that the infection is from an STD, tell your recent sexual partners so that they can be examined and treated.