Question
Last August, I began a weight training program at home, using free weights and a simple bench. Shortly after, I began urinating excessively and experiencing some prostate pain. Full medical checkup including digital prostate exam and ultrasound revealed no inflammation or infection, and a precautionary round of antibiotics had no effect.
I suspected that poor padding on the weight bench might be a factor; I added some padding and the effects lessened. A recent bout of the flu has kept me from weight training for about 2 weeks and the excessive urination is significantly lessened.
Could my weight training routine be causing spinal misalignment and could that be the cause of my frequent urination? If so, what are my options if I wish to continue weight training? I don't use a weight training belt... would that help?
Thanks.

Answer
Dear Jeff,

I don't think your problem is due to a single spinal misalignment, but rather a compression/irritation of the sacral or lumbar plexus of nerves. This can be influenced by misalignment problems, but is usually the result of inflamation. The excessive pressure caused by the lack of padding on the bench can be enough to cause a localized inflammatory response where the nerve roots can become irritated. Conversely, if you have any disk degeneration you are more likely to have a measure of nerve compression which can easily affect the bladder with frequent urination, or control problems such as leaking or the inability to control the bladder at all.

If this were a serious case, such as the lack of bladder or bowel control, it would be referred to as Cauda Equina Syndrome, and this is considered a medical emergency requiring surgical decompression of the area to alleviate the symptoms and irritation/compression of the nerve plexus.  

I would suggest that you monitor your symptoms in relation to your activity levels while weight training to try to pinpoint the offending activities.  You may also want to reduce the amount of weight being lifted and opt for a more vigorous number of repetitions and sets which will still tax the muscle fibers sufficiently while reducing the overall load to the spinal structures.  I would also suggest that you schedule a chiropractic evaluation of the spine and inform the chiropractic physician of all your previous symptoms and tests. If the problem gets any worse at all then an MRI should be performed to evaluate the disk, the nerve roots, and the sacral and lumbar plexus as well as the cord diameter of the spinal cord.

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net