Prostatitis and exam pain

[forage4it]

I was diagnosed with prostatitis and given a 3 week course of antibiotics. I was still experiencing symptoms after 3 weeks so the antibiotics were extended another 10 days.

I contacted my doctor on the last day of antibiotics to see what to do as mild symptoms were still present. An exam was scheduled the same day. A urine test didn't show any bacteria and the digital rectal exam didn't show anything unusual, other than an enlarged prostate (which was already known).

During the exam the doctor insisted that the digital rectal exam would be painful, yet it was not painful. He therefore concluded that I didn't have prostatitis. I'm puzzled because the initial exam (done at an urgent care facility) was also not painful, yet that physician thought I had prostatitis (backed by the urine test).

Here's my question: Is the exam ALWAYS painful with prostatitis?

I'm still having mild symptoms and find it hard to believe this is the "new normal" since onset of symptoms was so sudden.