It’s been quite sometime since I did a blog post or podcast. I’ve had many people contacting me asking me when the next will be, and since it’s been on hold for so long, I thought I owe bit of an explanation.

A few months back I had an old illness return. I wrote about it before on here, called Inflammatory Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CPPS), also known as chronic non-bacterial prostatitis type IIIA (CP), but I believe less proper explanation, as it has little, to nothing, to do with the prostate per se.

Chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome (CP/CPPS) is characterized by pelvic or perineal pain, which can radiate to other areas, i.e. the testicals, groin, etc., lasting longer than 3 months, and can be extremely painful. Think Migraine in the crouch!

I first came down with this 9 years ago, and it has been under control for the past few years, but I had a severe flare up a few months ago. Back then it was the result of anxiety autoimmune response.

It is believed the culprit this time was deep squats with heavy weights, coupled with internalizing stress as the number once factor. It is extremely painful, debilitating and depressing to deal with. You basically want to go live in your closet.

CPPS is put in the autoimmune category, as it is the body’s inflammatory response to something that isn’t really happing. Including prostate inflammation (leukospermia or white blood cells in prostate). However, the cultures for bacteria are negative. So, the body is attacking something that isn’t there.

It is very common in men, roughly 10% of men after 40 struggle with reoccurring pelvic pain, though very few speak about it. Men have pride and stigma attached to talking about such things. However, my pride around this is long gone. And if this post can help anyone, or let them know they are not alone, then my job is done. Former Australian Deputy Prime Minister John Anderson quit his job due to CPPS in the mid 2000s, U.S. President John F. Kennedy had it, and actor John Cleese as well. “Men need to talk about these things,” Mr Anderson said in an interview, and I wish more men did speak about it.

There is no cure, but the main treatments with success are distressing through paradoxical relaxation therapy, as well as manual physical therapy to release the myofascial connective tissue muscular trigger points, causing the pain. I personally, as well, do acupuncture and Chinese herbs. But it takes time. So I am back in therapy for this, and slowly it is improving.

On top of this, and what probably compounded the issues, was the news that my beloved companion and best friend of nine years, my dog Lemon, came down with osteosarcoma (terminal bone cancer). Anyone who knows me knows how much this dog means to me. As a result, my life has been revolving around taking care of her, and insuring her quality of life is good. Until it is too far along. This is no small feat, as Lemon requires help walking now, and she is 210lbs (95kg).

As a result of all of this, I haven’t been training, blogging or podcasting. Just recently I have been feeling well enough to return to training, but tends to only be one day a week, due to the palliative care of my dog.

I am determined to beat this illness, again, and as for my dog… nature will take it’s course. Once everything is stabilized I will be returning full-time to everything, including the blog and Podcast. I had some amazing discussions arranged to take place, and hopefully once this is behind me, those conversations will still be there.

One of the most important things I have learned through this process is, who your friends are. When things get tough in your life, many around you will scatter and ghost out. And those you wouldn’t expect are there for support. To those who have been there and continue to stick around… I am eternally grateful.

This isn’t a “martial arts” or Kyokushin focused post and I apologize, but I do rely on my mental training of Kyokushin, and specifically perseverance, to get through this. I thank everyone for their patience, as well as those who contacted me. I will be back! But for now… 

Osu!