Still Having Pain

[bigdude1 (imported)]

I've been seeing a eurologist now for close to six months by request of my PCP (Primary Care Physician). One of main reasons for seeing him has been testicular pain primarily in my left testicle. The last time I saw him was about two months ago. At that time he put me on a mild SSRI that he told me helps many men with testicular pain. He told me to take them for two months and then we can see what happens.

I went ahead and did as instructed even though I've been on another much, much stronger SSRI for several years now. Just as I expected nothing changed. Last night's pain was severe enough that it kept me awake which says quite a bit as I have a high pain threshhold.

I see my eurologist again this coming Tuesday. I'm trying to decide what to say to him to convince him meds won't work. If meds did work I would think my meds, primarily Lupron, which shut down my testicles would have the pain less, not worse like it's getting.

Since I'm on meds which specifically cause chemical castration (which has done wonders for me) I would sure be open to a surgical soloution.

If anyone has any words of wisdom or suggestions on how to discuss with my eurologists please let me know!

[Sweetpickle (imported)]

As a second hand observation, just keep complaining about the pain and how it interfers

with your life. Let him decide you need castrating.

[bigdude1 (imported)]

I got up in the middle of the night last night to go pee. As I stepped up to the toilet I reached down & grabbed my package & pulled up a little to get everything free. When I did I accidentally put pressure on just the wrong spot. I'm not saying it hurt bad or sent shooting pains out (which it did) but I about pee'd in my hand!

I don't know what's going on. My scrotal sonogram came back negative. I just want something done. I really don't want some temporary patch job like a nerve block because they wear off & from what I've heard eventually they quit working.

What I'm thinking of doing is going to Google images to see if I can find a good pic of a testicle and it's attachments & that way I can point to the exact spot where I'm having the pain. Any other suggestions?

Thanks!!!

[raymar2020 (imported)]

You didn't explain the cause of the pain you are having. Was is injury related, or you just developed a pain ? Doctors as a whole are very uncooperative about simply removing a testicle. They seem to have a real issue with it , even if it is obvious that there is an issue with them. Have you explored possible spinal issues? If the pain is localized, then an ultrasound is probably a good idea. Testicle injuries tend to develop calcium deposits, and those can become cancerous. There are also several types of infections, that once into the testicle are very very difficult to cure.

You need to be quite adamant with the urologist that the pain is making daily life unpleasant, and press him for more action than a "pain" medicine.

As for nerve blocks, they work for some, but do need to be re-done every month or so. Isolating the source of the pain would be a good start. Ask him to give you lidocaine injections, in that testicle as he would if he were going to remove it. If the pain stops instantly , then you could benefit from having it removed. If not, then you must look to other sources for pain relief.

As for showing him on a photo where the pain is, good idea! Any guidance you can give them helps to hasten a cure.

Sadly , in spite of the fact that at least half the world's population has testicles, they really do not know all that much about them. Orchialgia(chronic testicle pain) is one of the least understood health issues men have. It is not glamourous or profitable to work on a condition that only affects a small portion of the population, and the most frequent cure for is removal. Be diligent with the urologist, and force him to look further , than the standard answer to "just get used to the pain". If he won't , then find another urologist.

Ray

[bigdude1 (imported)]

I'M PI**ED!!! I have never been blown off so bad by a doctor in all of my life! I went to my urologist today for my testicle pain appointment. The nurse called me back to the exam room, asked a couple of routine questions, and then told me the doctor would be right in. About 2 minutes later the doctor comes in & asks how the pains doing. I tell him no change & the meds he gave me did nothing for me. The doctor tells me that he wants to double the strength of the meds he gave me that did nothing. I informed the doctor that I checked out the med he gave me & found out it was a SSRI (Google it) & that I've been taking a SSRI that's much stronger for several years now. That didn't matter to him. Then he says "Oh yea, I better examine you." I drop my drawers & he grabs my testicles and asks does it hurt here? I say no. He grabs in another spot and I say "OUCH!" He says OK & tells me to take the meds for another three months and if that does nothing then he'll send me to a pain specialist for a nerve block. Finally he says "OK?" and boom, out the door he goes! All in under five minutes, probably closer to three!

I got out of there, went & got a bit to eat & calm down. Next I called my PCP (Primary Care Physician) & spoke to her nurse, explained to her what had happened, then asked her to refer me to a different urologist at a different clinic. She told me she would speak with my PCP and that should not be a problem.

Just curious... How bad have other people here been blown off by doctors they've seen?

Thanks!

[Wolf-Pup (imported)]

I've never had a problem standing up for myself with doctors. I've gone so far as to write out questions/issues and take it with me. Make sure you get ALL your records from this first Urologist before you see the 2nd one. You don't want to have to repeat steps if you don't have to. Make sure you take a list of concerns with you to reference when you see him/her.

Some think women doctors are more compassionate/receptive...while I have had good results with either male or female doctors, it could be a consideration for you.

The best thing you can do is be prepared before your appointment. Educate yourself to ask the right question (and potential followups).

[bigdude1 (imported)]

I've never had a problem standing up for myself with doctors. I've gone so far as to write out questions/issues and take it with me. Make sure you get ALL your records from this first Urologist before you see the 2nd one. You don't want to have to repeat steps if you don't have to. Make sure you take a list of concerns with you to reference when you see him/her.

Some think women doctors are more compassionate/receptive...while I have had good results with either male or female doctors, it could be a consideration for you.

The best thing you can do is be prepared before your appointment. Educate yourself to ask the right question (and potential followups).

Thanks for the reply! I will make sure to get the records transferred. I liked your point you made about women doctors. My current PCP is female and in the past I've had really great care from women doctors. I don't know how it is elsewhere but where I live female urologists are a rare commoditty. As far as going in prepared I was today and I think when I questioned him on his choice of meds he took offense to it. Please don't call me racist here but I have to wonder if the fact this urologist is from the Middle East (Syria) has anything to do with the way he addressed my problems today.

[bigdude1 (imported)]

I almost forgot to mention that my PCP jumped right on getting me another referral. Tomorrow (Friday) I go see a different urologist. This guy is a little bit younger as he's only been out of residency a little less then 3 years now. I'm getting everything ready right now & putting them in one of my kids pocket folders they use for school. I'm even including a pic I found on the web showing exactly where the pain is. I'll let you know tomorrow night how it went!

[eunuch2001 (imported)]

Hope all goes well with the new urologist.

[raymar2020 (imported)]

Urologists like to think they are Gods of some sort. When they can't answer your questions, they simply tell you to buck up. Stupid really , but thats just the nature of them. Good luck with the new referral