Mystery Pain of 6 Years

[Paolo]

I've been through the same thing, only could never get anyone to go as far as trying to do anything with the nerves. Eventually you adapt and learn to tune out all but the worst of it.

[phantom (imported)]

I had the same problem. Pain in my testicals for about 5 years. I finally had them removed, but I still have the pain. It is not as intense, and much more manageable. What I have found is that I have a lower back problem and whenever it becomes a problem it causes pain in my testicals, even though they are gone. I would suggest seeing a chiropractor. Trust me it will not make it worse, and it just might help.

[mrt (imported)]

Here is a link to a site thats specific to Orchialgia. This is intended for people dealing with chronic Testicular pain. A couple of us created this because the only place we could find that deals with this was the Eunuch Archive and we felt there was a need for a place that specific to medical issues of chronic Testicular Pain and would not scare people off with the Fetish side of things (Like the story section etc)

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/Orchialgia

I ask that everyone please respect that this is a single topic forum - Thanks!

They have a file called the "Orchialgia Playbook" which talks about diagnosis and treatments that a good doctor would probably prescribe. There are MANY options other then surgery and I DO encourage you to explore these in detail.

Re: your Doctor. Great! You ARE talking to the right guy. A pain doctor is the one most likely to know what Orchialgia is. Its not that common and I've spoken to many men who had doctors that were seeing their first patient with this. After your GP this is the person you want to work with. You might need a Urologist later but the Pain Doctor needs to be first.

I suggest you join the Orchialgia forum and download all the files in the library area and have a long sit down and read everything. Bring that (or a copy) to your pain doctor and go over the options. He she maybe already knows about all these but? Some may say "Oh! Good idea" and include some that they don't normally provide. *And you may wish to opt out of some (I said NOPE to opiates - for example) and map out a plan for dealing with it.

Nerve block injections serve several purposes. One is that they often work pretty well. If they can find the right drug and place to inject you will be nicely pain free and more then a few men go in monthly to have this done and lead perfectly normal lives. A few find that breaking the pain cycle "cures" them 100% so, damping it down gives you a chance at a quick and total cure. If nothing else the shots narrow down whats wrong as its possible that this is not really the testicles that are causing pain but a nerve up higher (Spine etc) that needs to be fixed and THAT is very important to know if you at the end of your rope and pondering any kind of surgery.

It depends of course how much pain your in and how your able to deal with it. I ended up having surgery but it wasn't a snap decision. And I did try almost everything else once or more before I opted for that. Age of course made part of the decision easier. I'm past wanting to father bio kids and well... As I said you have to also factor in how much this screws up your day. If you awake all night with pain regularly? Its more important then if you get a twinge once in a blue moon.

BTW don't agonize over them finding the cause. Your Testicles are very complex and have LOTs of nerves that cause the worst pain (With the possible exception of your eyes)

"IF" this all ends up with you looking into surgery DO reread the material from the Orchialgia forum library. I think the best advice is this. Talk this out with a therapist. There is serious potential baggage with having your testes removed. Ponder it fully and don't rush into this. If you do decide to opt for surgery you want to be going in 100% and not wondering "Maybe I should have tried XYZ before this?" Or waking up after surgery thinking "OH SHIT! What have I done!" Ask the surgeon to do one side (Testicle / cord) at a time. This is a good fail safe to insure that the pain really is in the testicle(s) not some refered pain from elsewhere. And since the cord is often part of or THE pain insist on an inguinal orchiectomy and have them cut up as high as possible thus removing as much cord as they can. Numbing the cord and testes before they remove them is a good idea as some modern papers state that this eliminates future Phantom Pain (As with any other Amputation) If it gets rid of the pain you can go in for the other side assured your doing the right thing.

BTW I am not a fan of the other testicular surgeries that are supposed to eliminate pain. From the people I've talked to this seems like a really poor option and so far as I've heard doesn't seem to work.

Good luck & hang in there ! - MrT

[nullorchis (imported)]

Have you tried accupuncture? For a long time I have had chronic pain in the tissues outside of my testicles. Sexual activity increases the pain to the point where interest in sex dissipates. The pain in my case is apparently the result of acute orchitis that I had in both testicles. Following elimination of the infection and enormous swelling in both testes they suffered permanent damage; they atrophied, got hard, and are infertile and have diminished testosterone production. (Yea, at least one good thing came of it). Oddly both testes themselves are numb and feel no pain; as long as soft tissue in the scrotum and outside of the testes is avoided the testes themselves can be squeezed real hard and they sense no pain. Sensations and pain are a mystery.

If my pain were more intense I suppose I would seek accupuncture readily.

Permanent use of pain relief drugs is not a viable option for me.

The pain would really have to be consistent and intense before I submitted to surgery. If any surgery is going to be done down there it will be to completely remove the little buggers (my lifelong desire).

I have always wanted to try accupuncture to at least mask the pain but I haven't been able to talk myself into it.

[SharakoLunarWolf (imported)]

Thanks guys. It will help allot. I tried that other injection and it didn't work. the doctors have pretty much went back to suggesting meds that are too expensive and acupuncture. The point is the ankle for nut pain and I am not really into the acupuncture thing. I am going to be talking with a friend down south who may take my nuts off, but I go to the doctors on monday, and I will let them know that I will be considering having them removed and ask for an EKG. a nurse friend of mine suggested to get that. so it is kinda down to the line. I will read through the Orchi group, but I am already a part of it.

Thanks again for all the help. I will keep updates here or any one can PM or IM me. I am almost always usually on.

[Richard_Less (imported)]

Have you tried accupuncture?... ...

I have always wanted to try accupuncture to at least mask the pain but I haven't been able to talk myself into it.

I have done accupuncture as treatment when I had bell's palsey in the right side of my face. It looked like I had had a stroke and I couldn't shut or blink that eye. I tried some heavy duty pain killers but they did nothing to help with the constant pain (24/7 muscle cramp) in my neck (literally) and flash migranes.

I didn't start the therapy right away but it did help - it at least lessened the pain to more of a nuisance level than agonizing, but it was a bit short lived between sessions as first. I kinda wish I had started it earlier though - I often wonder if it would have helped speed up recovery.

I would recommend giving it a try for a few sessions at least from a reputable practitioner - your doctor should be able to recommend someone. It can be costly but worth it if it works for you. I found it has cost about the same as registered massage therapy and physio. My health plan also provided $300/yr towards it (which was used up pretty fast as I was going 2-3 times per week for the first few weeks. Only need it a few months.

[nullorchis (imported)]

Many people spend more money maintaining and repairing their transportation vehicle than on body maintenance. Money looses its value when it comes to pain and quality of life.

And the insurance companies know this which is why their internal slogan is:

"Your Money, or Your Life".

[SharakoLunarWolf (imported)]

Well The doctors are still not listening. I have gotten a refural to the urologest I saw last to ask him to remove my balls again and if not. they get removed by a bander on the 19th. I have to do something. this pain is just ruining my life. I have to so something about it.

[raymar2020 (imported)]

be very cautious about taking matters into your own hands. I know, (cause I have been there), it is very frustrating dealing with doctors, but you need not risk your life, there will come a resolution.

Raymar

[mrt (imported)]

If the nerve blocks were done right and you didn't get pain relief taking your testicles is a bad idea. It probably won't solve the problem. I think you should seek a second (or 3rd) opinion.

Get nerve blocks that are done to the cords and testes and have this done while your "out"

If you wake up and the pain is still there you need to look at things like trapped spinal nerves etc. Its no good to have yourself castrated if it doesn't solve the pain.

Good luck!