Post vasectomy pain question
Apr 22nd 2007adminPost vasectomy pain syndrome
From Brad:-
I am hoping you can help me. My situation seems different then all the other cases I have researched and read about. I had a Vasectomy September 2001. Clips were used. I was experiencing discomfort after the procedure. I went to see my Urologist after a couple of weeks of continued discomfort. He dismissed it as a simple infection. I was given a prescription for a round of antibiotic. I completed the round of medication within the time frame given. No relief. I decided to give it more time and did not go back to see the Urologist. My Symptoms were a sharp pain, like a needle was run from my testicle up into my abdomen. At times this was very sharp and I would just need to let the pain pass after a minute it would fade away. The sharp pain went away after the first few months. I was left with a slight discomfort in my testicular / groan area. The discomfort was like having a bad case of “Blue Balls” (getting very aroused but not being able to have any release or ejaculation). The only thing that gave relief to the discomfort was ejaculating. After having sex the discomfort would go away for 2 to 3 days. Then the discomfort would return. I could handle the discomfort during the day, but at night it would keep me up. When I went to sleep, I would be able to sleep generally until 3:00am. Then like clock work, I would wake up every 15 to 30 minutes. The rest of the night is spent looking at the clock every 15 to 30 minutes as I would fall in and out of sleep, until I needed to get up for work.I spoke with my Family Doctor and he recommended I see an Urologist he knew. I meet with this Doctor and was told I should see a Physiologist, because he could tell I was very emotionally affected by the discomfort. His conclusion, it is in my head. He did not provide any medical help. I did see a Physiologist for a few sessions. He had experience working with patients that suffered from chronic pain and its effects on mental well being.
This helped me deal with the anxiety I felt on the 2nd or 3rd day, after last having sex. I knew the discomfort and sleepless nights were about to start again. This anxiety of the up coming discomfort placed a great deal of stress on my marriage as well. Getting with the Physiologist, help me mentally deal with the cycle of discomfort and allowing it to control my happiness.
A friend referred me to a new Urologist he had used. My friend was experiencing pain during sex or after, the exact opposite of mine. He prescribed a twice a day for 2 weeks of soaking in warm water for 30 minutes. I did this to the letter with no results. I meet with him a second time and he referred me to a colleague that specializes in the Practice of Anesthesiology and Chronic Pain Management. He had had success with some types of post Vasectomy related pain before. My case did not fit his experience. I was prescribed LYRICA Pregabalin. This did not provide any relief.
I had started taking over the counter sleeping pills. I would take one a week on average. They would help me sleep a little better (I would still wake up in the middle of the night, but not as often) on day 3 and some times day 4, after last having had sex. After 4th day, it did not matter if I took a sleeping pill or not, I would not be able to sleep. The discomfort would peak on day 4 and no matter how long I went with out ejaculating, it would not get any better or worse, just a constant dull pain.
I asked my Family Doctor to prescribe a sleeping pill that did not have the residual effect the over the counter pills did. The over the counter pills would make me feel groggy for the first part of the next morning. He prescribed Lunestra. These worked much better, but again after day 4 (since last ejaculation), they did little to help me sleep through the night. I never took more than one a week.
Chronic pain after a vasectomy can be variable in nature. In this case, it seems that most of the conservative methods to deal with the pain have been tried. In the small percentage of patients who do continue to experience chronic pain after a vasectomy and have failed most of the conservative options, surgical treatment is recommended. In order to confirm that the pain is truly from the testicle/epididymis and not radiating from another area of the body, a spermatic cord anesthetic (block) should be used as an initial diagnostic test. A spermatic cord block will anesthetize all of the nerves from the testicle and the epididymis. This should temporarily relieve the pain/discomfort which is diagnostic.
If the test confirms that the pain is radiating from the testicle/epididymis, three surgical options exist. A vasectomy reversal would re-connect the cut ends of the vas deferens and restore patency to the reproductive system. This has been shown to completely improve pain in approximately 69% of patients. Another option is to perform an epididymectomy, remove of the epididymis. This has been shown to improve pain in 87.5% of patients with this condition.
The final option is to denervate the spermatic cord, remove the nerves that innervate the testicle and epididymis. This has been shown to be successful in approximately 76% of patients with this condition. Each of these procedures is associated with its own unique side-effect profile. A discussion with an urologist is important to understand which procedure would be most beneficial in each individual patient.
James186282 on 18 May 2007 at 11:48 pm #
I’m in the same boat and I should note I am NOT a doctor.
One other option that has a high percentage of working is Orchiectomy. Removal of the testes. Do a Google search of Orchialgia+orchiectomy and you will see a number of medical articles related to this. Of course this is the very last step as it will make you sterile and in need of hormone replacement for life. If the pain is bad enough its an option you may want to consider.
mark on 05 Jun 2007 at 1:30 am #
I had a vasectomy about 3 months ago and my right testicle hurts if feels like someone is thumping it. It is also sensitive to touch.
Max on 22 Sep 2007 at 2:01 am #
I am in the same boat. I had a vasectomy almost 2 months ago and I am having a pain in the left testicle. It also hurts up into the abdomen. Thinking about going back to the urologist for answers.
bill wallen on 14 Jan 2008 at 7:04 am #
I had a vasectomy and have had pain for
about 4 months.
How can I find out if I had an open or closed
operation 20 years ago? (There are no records)
I remember an excision and possibly cautery
but Planned parenthood cannot tell me if
they cauterized both sides or not.
My pain started when I went 4 weeks without
ejaculation to raise my energy level.
How many times a week would be proper to
ejaculate? I currently am at 2 with sex
about 8 times.
Would using herbal sexual stimulants be
unadvised? Maca, Muira Pauma, Tribulus
help my erection and energy.
troy on 12 Oct 2008 at 12:53 am #
I had the surgery done in may of this year. I started off fine but about a month and a half later mt right testicle was hot to the touch and hurting and swollen. I was told I had epididymitis and given an antibiotic. It got better but now the left side was a bit swollen and both are alot more sensitive to the touch and seem sore.
manuel on 07 Dec 2008 at 3:46 am #
I had a vasectomy 4 years ago, and I am still dealing with these same problems. After about 3 months after the surgery I started experiencing problems back in fourth from my right testicle to my left. After a whole year of different medicine the pain finally went away. Three years later it came all right back. Just to let you guys know, the pain is never going to go away. Everybody I know thats had the surgery feels the same way. Good luck.
angus on 15 Jan 2010 at 2:03 pm #
what is the time frame after having a vasectomy that the tubes will recanalize.
i had my vasectomy 5yrs. ago.
Daryl on 13 Jun 2010 at 5:44 am #
I had a vasectomy about 6 months ago. At first everything was fine, my recovery took a bit longer then usual but nothing out of the ordinary. I am able to retain an erection and enjoy sex – even with the problem below.
About a month ago I noticed that I feel a small, very slight discomfort in my abdomen when I become aroused. Its a very similar feeling to when I would masturbate too many times and have some discomfort. The feeling diminishes quickly after ejaculation.