Severe Testicular Pain

[Kangan (imported)]

The pain is not in my leg, just between the leg and groin.. the crease if you know what I mean. The nerve block meds have worked... problem is they upset my stomach and I dont want to be on meds for the rest of my life to control pain.... its a crazy thought... Im scared that the rest of my life will involve taking meds for pain...

I think I first posted about this in 2006 so have been living with this for a long time.... if the urologist can not tell me what is causing the pain and cant tell me what can be done other than for me taking meds, I really dont know what to do.. It would be simple if he says what it is and says it involves surgery OR if he says what it is and refuses surgery; in that case I will take matters into my own hads...

I just had a groin anatomy lesson from Dr. Kimmel last week.

There are three nerves feeding the genitals. One goes to the penis. the other two come off the spinal cord at a different place and divide - one goes to the right testis and the other to the left. It sounds like you have a problem with these nerves. Perhaps you have a pinched disc in the spinal column that is affecting these nerves? I'm not a doctor so go find a real doctor and ask the question.

[raymar2020 (imported)]

Zac,

I have had the type of pain that you describe for nearly 35 years. Over time it got worse. The pain seemed to radiate from the cord thur the testicle, and even cause me to feel nauseous at times. Some days it was so bad, that I would actually end up in the fetal position.

After trying everything short of opiates, as a method to eliminate the pain, I saw a new urologist. She has made a study of testicular pain, and was very helpful. We reviewed my past treatments, and she looked into my face, and said she could see how badly I was in pain.

We discussed removal, and the ramifications of doing that. I have been on Hormone replacement therapy for years anyway, so there would be little change in my lifestyle. We did the left one (worst of the two) on October 7th, and that day I had less pain than ever before. We have now scheduled to remove the right one on November 7th.

Since my testicles were very small and usually in the inguinal canals, it really will make very little difference to my physical appearance. I chose not to do implants, since I never really had hanging balls anyway. There is also a fair amount of negative reports about the success of implants, but they are available if you desire.

There are several groups on Yahoo about orchialgia, and orchiectomy, check them out. Mt T who posts here has been moderating one for some time, and has an excellent guide to deal with doctors in the file section of that group.

I'd also be happy to chat with you about my own experience, if you'd like. You may private message me with an IM address that you use.

Raymar

[Zac (imported)]

I REALLY dont know what to do.... its getting me down.

[mrt (imported)]

Well if this is for real (I have to ask - I looked at you public profile) I think its simple. You have an issue. You want it resolved. There are doctors who are expert is a variety of things but your probably not going to find one who knows it all. If you really don't have Orchialgia please be honest and don't try to pass that off to a doctor. It makes it 5 times harder for a guy who really has it.

If this was new I would start by talking to me GP. He/She can do the basic checks and refer you to who they think is best suited to take the next step.

Its "probably" a pain doctor. These are the ones with the pills, shots, shocks, etc that will try to calm down the pain so you can function. Raymar and I both agree we didn't want to dabble with opiates. You have to be able to function and if the meds side effects are worse then the solution?

Re your comment about needing to be on "drugs" for the rest of you life. I don't know how old you are but trust me. If you want to stay healthy you have a really good chance of needing to be on SOME drug as you age. Maybe Blood Pressure, Cholesterol, Mental issues I dunno. But thats not a good reason to avoid treatment (In my opinion)

If the drug effects your quality of life? Thats different. Maybe talk to the doctor and find out if you should be taking the meds with food (or not) or take aspirin 30 minutes before you take the drug or?!? I dunno. But DO ask.

The surgical solution is not one to take lightly. If you opt for anything short of an orchiectomy the odds of it working are not super good. If you do have an Orchiectomy you will need to consider things like lifetime of Hormone Replacement as well as taking Calcium and maybe other stuff to stay feeling the way you are now. Raymar and I had similar cirumstances. Chronic pain for decades, already on HRT. Testicles that were atrophied and missing up the inguinal canals most of the time. It might not have been as hard for us to make that choice as others.

p.s. Implants are ok! Mine anyway.... I actually feel better about my choice because I was able to get healthy sized implants put in to replace my screwed up testes.

[Zac (imported)]

Okay - heres the deal.... yes I want to be castrated and have found someone who will do it for me. As for the pain - yes its real and stared around the time I got mumps. I had my T levels checked and my sperm count and everything seemed okay. The pain continued and I stared on anrdocur and for whatever reason the pain went.. I stayed on it for aroun 18 months and came off it. Once I came off it, within a few months the pain was back. I eventually went to the doctors and explained all of this and he gave me some anitbiotics which I was on for 6 weeks solid.... it had no affect. Around this time I was going to India and thought... I'll get shot of my balls whilst I'm over there but decided against it as I want to find out what the problem is before doing anything. I got back to the UK and went back to the doctors at which time he prescribed all the other meds including neuro blockers. Taking all these meds had messed my stomach do hence not wanting to continue down the meds route if not totally necessary.... I think all of this may help but things into content but I can assure you as I type... my nuts are ULTRA sensitive and I have pain in the left hand side of my groin.... Going to the hospital to see a urologist tomorrow.

[calmeilles (imported)]

Good luck Zac!

[AngrySailor302 (imported)]

I feel for you, I am in a similar condition, and the Navy is refusing to provide me the care that I need, all they want to do is dope me up and tell me to give my injuries time.

Testicular pain sucks

[nullorchis (imported)]

The doctor said I needed a months course of antibiotics because it too a while for the drugs to reach the infected area.

Zac,

There are a number of things that can cause testicle swelling and pain.

My testicles are small, hard, sterile and numb. Even so, the right one swelled up the size of a small lemon, was very heavy, and hurt terribly. It wasn't actually the testicle that hurt (even though it was very large) , it was the inflammed epididymus outside the testicle and surrounding tissue that hurt.

After doing a touchy feely diagnosis, and shining a bright light through the testicle my Dr. prescribed two weeks of antibiotics and aleve, followed by two more weeks of antibiotics and aleve, followed by two more weeks of aleve.

I wore a tight jock strap during the whole ordeal. This actually eliminated the pain. As soon as the jock came off, just to take a shower, my scrotum hurt to the point of nausea.

Finally, after a month of antibiotics and six weeks of aleve the swelling went down and the pain went away over a 2 day period.

As an end result of this ordeal my epididymus is a shrivvled mess, my testicle is smaller and harder than ever, and lumpy. (My left epididymus was surgically removed many years ago so no risk of it getting inflammed). Dr. said this inflammation could re-occur again at any time; nothing in particular to do to prevent it.

What caused all this? Hard to prove. Five months after starting Crestor to lower cholesterol I experienced full blown andropause symptoms. Lab tests confirmed that my testosterone level was down to 179. Five weeks after starting testosterone gel I get this infection. Crestor and Testim could be to blame, or they could have absolutely nothing to do with it. Doctors say andropause is not caused by Crestor and epididymus inflamation is not caused by Testim. But they only convey what they have seen in person and in test reports. I could be one of a few who has an adverse reaction to one drug, or the other, or both in combination.

My point: Your doctor may be right. Risky to out guess their diagnosis and prescription. If you wanted to do self-treatment why did you bother to go to a doctor in the first place? If you are in doubt with the doctor's diagnosis and treatment then go to another doctor and get a second opinion. Sometimes doctors can be too quick and make the wrong diagnosis and wrong treatment. It's good to ask for input form others, and hear the experiences of others, but don't necessarily base a course of action on the experiences of others, or from the treatment that others had. Stick with real med advice.

[Zac (imported)]

I went to the hospital today and had a urinary test, prostrate examination, had my stomach, groin and testes manipulated the latter was very uncomfortable. All of those were normal which is a very good thing indeed. I went to have an x ray of my stomach and kidneys the results of which I hope to get back quickly. Tomorrow I go back for a blood test, actually its a PSA test to check the prostrate. Saturday I'm back having an ultrasound on my testes which again is great as I now seem to be getting somewhere. The urologist (a lady) told me not to worry that everything was coming back negative because she sees load of guys with the same symptoms. We spoke about meds and stuff and I said that I was not prepared to be on meds long term and as quick as a flash she said 'great, I dont agree with it either'. We spoke about pain reflief and stuff if everything else came back negative but she reiterated that she would do all she could to help me. So before I jump to any conclusion, Im waiting for all the results and her recommendations - then I can start to have a sensible conversation with her.

[mrt (imported)]

Have you tried Antibiotics and or Nsaids?

I agree with you that using things like Opiates long term is not a sensible solution. I mean you have to function. If your doped up and addicted to pills its pretty hard to drive to work.

However I WOULD give things like Lyrica a try and for sure do at least a diagnostic numbing (injection therapy) to see if it stops the pain and maybe long term injections would be the solution?

I don't think much of Tens therapy but... If it works? Maybe worth at least trying.

BTW you mentioned the Mumps. That and Orchitis is a very likely reason for your Orchialgia. The mumps Virus can really screw up your testicles. If your Uro talks surgery the only two things I would try (just my opinion) are the nerve cutting or a Radical Orchiectomy. And maybe do one at a time to be SURE your on the right track. No sense in loosing both if it doesn't work.