What router? I hope you're not talking about your home router. The port-forwarding setting must be just between you and your VPN.
PIA's port-forwarding looks clunky at best...
Anyway for troubleshooting take a look at
https://forum.tixati.com/support/7011
Most of the "port check" websites should work for a start, but you'd not know if you're actually pinging urself or some1 else with those. PIA also restricts forwarding in some countries. Lastly don't forget to bind Tixati to the VPN network interface so it can never escape.
Yes the process is tedious.