Osteitis Pubis

[noavailablename]

I've just spent about 3 hours reading this thread. I have had OP for just over a year. Like most here, i find it extremely depressing as it is such a foggy injury and there is very little consensus or even expertise in the medical world.
I am in the UK and have recently given up my job to go full time in Ironman Triathlon. I've had the injury for a year. I have tried conservative treatment (resting, physio and strengthening), cortisone injections and, most recently, acupuncture. Cortisone was the most successful but i feel it masked the pain and didn't fix the problem - OP returned after 3 months of relatively pain-free training.
I find it very hard to formulate a plan. Surgery seems invasive and dangerous. Prolotherapy sounded like the answer (having read the Topol et al studies) but it seems people are very sceptical here. Gary Miritis and Pat Allen sound very good but they are on the other side of the world. Why is there no consensus? Why is information so hard to get hold of? And why can't anyone in the healthcare system get hold of me and tell me the right thing to do?
Having read the thread, i am going to try to contact Alison Rose as she is here in the UK. Who knows if this is right?!

[Flash]

Hey mate

Sounds like you just need someone to talk to about this issue. Yeah it is frustrating I have had on going issues with it for almost 6 years now. Not sure how far away you are from Leeds where Alison Rose is from but from what I here she is the person to contact within the UK. Best to try her first before trying your luck in Australia.

From memory there were a couple of soccer and Gaelic footy players who had success with her so it would be right to go and see her given your location. Also from what I remember is you will need to perserver. I think at least 2 months seeing her once a week would be ideal but in saying this I have not had treatment with her.

All the best

Flash.

[noavailablename]

Thanks. It's not so much needing someone to talk to as just finding it infuriating that the solution is so hard to find and specialists so few and far between.

Anyway, I have booked 2 appointments with Alison Rose. 23rd/24th Jan. 2 x 3 hours as she recommends. I will let everyone know how I get on. If it doesn't look like doing the trick, Garry Miritis will be the next port of call. She does sound very good though.

[Dale81]

Hi all, New to this thread but have been reading for a few days now all the comments and recommendations.
I too was diagnosed with O/P three and a half years ago. I am from Melbourne and was seeing David Young who is supposedly the guru of this horrible condition. I even went to perth to see the West Coast Eagles doctor for a dead end result.
I Still get all these pains and basically everything everyone has spoken about on here,

I tried physio. I tried quarter-zone injections, I had a phemeral hernia operation successfull, I had monthly injections of pamidrinate which is a givin to people with bone disease. No help. None of it.

What was this alternative therapy in Melbourne that was being thrown around on here a while ago??

Any suggestions for an alternative treatment would be great. Would love to play sport or be able to walk the dog in no pain.

[Hamptonhouse]

Dale81

You may wish to try Dr Wheatgrass Superbalm as an alternative treatment. I am a sports trainier and this is my choice of treatment for this condition.
You will see there is a number of post in this forum about superbalm from myself, flash and Dr Chris Reynolds.
If you would like to try superbalm I can send you some sachets. You can e-mail me your details or SMS to 0429 171 171
All the best
Malcolm

[mcice]

I started reading this thread last night, and it stuck with me all day today. Here is my story:

I'm a professional Ice Skater from Canada. I was working a contract for a company in the States when I started feeling some lower abdominal/groin pain. I went to the on site medical facility thinking I had a sport hernia or some sort of groin pull. They diagnosed me with a groin pull, gave me some anti-inflammatory and a heating pad (pretty standard). I skated through the pain, seeing as the contract was a couple of weeks from completion.

After waiting for a month for my groin pull to heal at home, I got fed up and went to my physiotherapist where he diagnosed me with "suspected OP". I then contacted the company that I worked for in regards to their misdiagnosis and some medical treatment. That was 8 months ago, and I still haven't been able to get back on the ice pain free.

They've agreed to pay for all of my medical expenses, but seeing as I signed off contract complete aren't able to pay me any wages at this time. I'm starting to think that I should be seeking legal action against them for not properly diagnosing me, and recommending my stopping skating. I need a firm diagnosis if I am to build a case. MRI's came back unremarkable, same as the X-RAY. Should I consider a bone scan?

I've just received my first injection of cortisone to the pubic symphysis yesterday and I have my fingers crossed that with a little more time off and some restrengthening I could be back to %100.

Any tips and suggestions are greatly appreciated, hope you're all well.

[Dale81]

I started reading this thread last night, and it stuck with me all day today. Here is my story:

I'm a professional Ice Skater from Canada. I was working a contract for a company in the States when I started feeling some lower abdominal/groin pain. I went to the on site medical facility thinking I had a sport hernia or some sort of groin pull. They diagnosed me with a groin pull, gave me some anti-inflammatory and a heating pad (pretty standard). I skated through the pain, seeing as the contract was a couple of weeks from completion.

After waiting for a month for my groin pull to heal at home, I got fed up and went to my physiotherapist where he diagnosed me with "suspected OP". I then contacted the company that I worked for in regards to their misdiagnosis and some medical treatment. That was 8 months ago, and I still haven't been able to get back on the ice pain free.

They've agreed to pay for all of my medical expenses, but seeing as I signed off contract complete aren't able to pay me any wages at this time. I'm starting to think that I should be seeking legal action against them for not properly diagnosing me, and recommending my stopping skating. I need a firm diagnosis if I am to build a case. MRI's came back unremarkable, same as the X-RAY. Should I consider a bone scan?

I've just received my first injection of cortisone to the pubic symphysis yesterday and I have my fingers crossed that with a little more time off and some restrengthening I could be back to %100.

Any tips and suggestions are greatly appreciated, hope you're all well.

Hi there,

I had three injections of quarterzone and even had a drug they give to people with cancer. Its supposed to repair the bone but all it did was react with my body and give me a horrible time over three injections. It was called Pamisol, ( Pamidrinate).

I had a massage from a guy last week that claims to be the osteitis pubis guru I suppose. With no disrespect to him, he is a great guy. But he made it ten times worse and all my pains that I have on and off all came back in one hit. Horrible last few days. I am heading back to see him today to see what the next step is.

I cant give any advice because I still have not seen anybody that can help me. I have seen the best doctors in this country regarding sports injuries and nobody can help me.

I dont think we know enough about this condition.

I hope for your sake quarterzone injections work. Good Luck.

If you have any luck would love to hear back.

[Dale81]

Well I have had no success.

I put it out there that if anyone in the world thinks they can fix my so called Osteitis pubis then come forward.

I have had,

Bone scans,
Xrays,
Ultra sounds,
MRI Scans,
CT Scans,
Collonoscopy,
physio,
quarterzone injections,
Pamisol Pamidrinate injections,
anti inflamatory pills,
Ice,
No running, No sport for four years.

I still have Osteitis Pubis. I dare somebody to come forward and help me. PLEASE.

[IronMaiden]

Hi,

I have just sat here and read most of your comments.
I really do feel everyone's pain. Honestly do.
My pain has got more mental now than physical as I fell into depression with this injury.
We are not told enough, misdiagnosed and constantly on a waiting game.

My story.
I started noticing some discomfort in my lower abdomen while warming for my football over a months period in November 2011.
I was able to play and thought nothing of it other than a stitch. In january I played a full 90 minute match no problem. The next day went to play 5 aside and after a few minutes agony in that region. So so painful like someone tearing my abs out.

Went to get this diagnosed and ended up at the best place and in the hands of very good Physio and doctors.
At first they thought a hernia and sent me for tests

I have tried everything here:
X-ray (slight instability)
MRI's (shows slight inflammation better second time)
Cortisone (masked it if anything made worse)
Physio non stop had done nothing
Massage has done nothing
Prolotherapy (doin this right now)

Well 6 months gone by not run or kicked a ball since.
The cortisone was a load of rubbish an the pain is exactly the same as in January.
Had my first prolotherapy the other day and was extremely painful I felt like my nuts were going to burst during this.

The thing is I have no pain at all in my adductors or legs it's just only on my lower abb at the bottom mostly right side. Some pain lower back right I have had for years also. Nothing in legs. Could they be missing something ?

Anyway, 2 more prolotherapy injections left with contined Physiotherapy to go tryin to keep hopes up but seems either people like making money from this injury or we don't know enough

Thanks for any replies

[Jazz UK]

Hi everybody,
I've just discovered this thread and forum, and would like to read any advice you guys can give me. I will also go through the whole thread as soon as I can, but would also like to hear how people are coping with OP right now or how anyone has recovered from it.

I'm 21/male/UK, and have been in constant pain for almost 3 months now (since April). I was exhausted the day before I felt the pain, but I didn't notice anything in the groin that day. The pain woke me up the next day. It felt like a really nasty sharp stab in the pubic bone area (just above where my penis starts - sorry for being graphic). However I ignored it and carried on with my day to day life. I'd go Cycling, walking (for a few miles) and sometimes martial arts training even when there was burning sensations in the pubic symphasis (I had no idea what it was at the time).

Discomfort of the pubic symphasis area does not really change if im lying or sitting. It is almost constantly burning at different levels at different times (seems to be random). It also seems to get worse (sometimes nasty sharp pains) if I hunch forward when sitting, and when I close my legs together or when I raise them. But then again, I'm not sure as the discomfort is constant, it is quite hard to tell. It is also really tender in the area, as I feel extremely uncomfortable when it is pressed on. The pain also seems to be more to the left of the pubic symphasis. I have also noticed sharp pains in the perineum area/buttocks (possibly the back of the pubic symphasis giving the sharp pains there?).

I have just been diagnosed with Osteitis Pubis about 3 weeks ago after examination and an xray which didn't detect anything relevant apparently. This was when I started to take it really easy, and also when I fell into depression. Especially in the past few days where I'll just be stuck in my bedroom only lying or sitting down. I have tried to stay strong for so long but I just feel so weak and helpless - I have been crying more and more as time goes by.

Just before I was diagnosed with OP, I was treated for an UTI! I was told I had nothing serious and was allowed to walk. I have just seen a physiotherapist, who has given me crutches which might help a little, and acupuncture which didn't improve the pain really. He also told me to rest and let it settle, which is the exact opposite of what I was told by the doctor that treated me for a UTI!

My quality of life is really poor right now, and I really don't know what else to do anymore. Sorry if this post sounds like I'm just moaning - I just want to end my suffering and live free from this horrible horrible pain. Thanks for any comments as they would mean a lot to me right now.