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Testicular pain. (A serious medical post)

roberts

Monkey
Apr 24, 2005
100
0
I have a major problem that has me off the bike. Whenever I ride (or even sit in the wrong position), I feel like I have been kicked in the nuts. THe duration can last hours.

I have been to the doctor and it's related to blood-flow through my veins in the area. Surgery possibly can help, but in the interim, the doctor told me to take tylenol for pain (little help).

Has anyone had this problem?
Any suggestions to alleviate problem?
Anyone had the surgery? Did it work?

Thank you.
 

BC VAN

Monkey
May 4, 2005
624
0
i had a teammate on Barracuda a long time ago have this, but it must have been more serious, he had a emergency surgery to fix the issue the blood flow was actually cut off andf he had extreme pain.
the surgery helped him.

i would get a 2nd opinion if i was you.
 

coma13

Turbo Monkey
Feb 14, 2006
1,082
0
Have you experimented with different saddles or saddle angles at all? I would definitely do this before jumping in and having surgery.
 

LaytonDH

Monkey
Dec 19, 2003
183
0
UT
Get in to see a urologist instead of a GP. I think what BC VAN is talking about is a testicular torsion, where it twists on it's blood supply and cuts off the circulation. That requires immediate surgery to save the testicle. You might have a varicocele, which is varicose veins around the testicle. When sitting on a bike, they can swell and cause pressure. That's not so hard to fix, but a urologist will know more than an FP or internist.
 

MMike

A fowl peckerwood.
Sep 5, 2001
18,207
105
just sittin' here drinkin' scotch
I actually had something similar about 10 years ago....it bothered me for several years, and was completely unrelated to cycling. Nads would just hurt for no reason.

I was unable to wear boxer/brief-cycling shorts type underwear.

I saw a couple of doctors about it. Tylenol was actually a HUGE help. I had to figure that one out on my own.

The weird thing was that the pain was on the left for the first year or so, then it moved to the right. Never both at once. But it was no laughing matter. It hurt like hell...

But for me, Tylenol and wearing only boxers seemed to help. And as the doc predicted, I sorta "grew out of it". It hasn't bothered me now for quite a while.

Good luck
 

roberts

Monkey
Apr 24, 2005
100
0
Thank you for the responses.

According to the doctor, it is likely the varicose vein problem. I am awaiting a CT scan result. Different seats, etc. absolutely does not help. I have even ridden standing up and the motion causes pain.

Also, like a previous poster said, the pain is on the left and only rarely moves to the right.

Re. The varicose vein problem being easily fixed: Any further information?

Thanks.
 

manhattanprjkt83

Rusty Trombone
Jul 10, 2003
9,644
1,214
Nilbog
I had torsion one time and need surgery it is very painful, almost lost one. I would go to the doctor asap just to be safe...This is most likely not a saddle issue.
 

blt2ride

Turbo Monkey
May 25, 2005
2,333
0
Chatsworth
LaytonDH said:
Get in to see a urologist instead of a GP. I think what BC VAN is talking about is a testicular torsion, where it twists on it's blood supply and cuts off the circulation. That requires immediate surgery to save the testicle. You might have a varicocele, which is varicose veins around the testicle. When sitting on a bike, they can swell and cause pressure. That's not so hard to fix, but a urologist will know more than an FP or internist.
I had a torsion when I was about 14 years old; I sacked myself while sliding down a handrail on a skateboard. The initial hit hurt like crazy, but the real pain started about an hour or so later when I was skating home. The pain was truly unbearable—to this day it still remains the most painful thing I ever had to deal with.

After several hours at the hospital, a specialist finally came in to see me. Prior to the specialist, several doctors saw me, and couldn’t diagnose what the problem was; they asked a lot of questions, but had no answers.

The specialist immediately knew what was wrong. However, he said that it shouldn’t have anything to do with my mishap on the handrail. The doctor was making plans for emergency surgery. Meanwhile, the pain just went away. Up until that point I was curled up in a ball--unable to move or walk. When the doctor came back in I was walking around the room…the pain had completely disappeared.

The doctor said that it is possible for everything to “straighten” out on its own, but not very common. You defeinetly want to make sure you get a second opinion. One thing about a torsion, the pain is so severe it is impossible to ignore. Hopefully, the pain will go away like it did for me…
 

manhattanprjkt83

Rusty Trombone
Jul 10, 2003
9,644
1,214
Nilbog
blt2ride said:
I had a torsion when I was about 14 years old; I sacked myself while sliding down a handrail on a skateboard. The initial hit hurt like crazy, but the real pain started about an hour or so later when I was skating home. The pain was truly unbearable—to this day it still remains the most painful thing I ever had to deal with.

After several hours at the hospital, a specialist finally came in to see me. Prior to the specialist, several doctors saw me, and couldn’t diagnose what the problem was; they asked a lot of questions, but had no answers.

The specialist immediately knew what was wrong. However, he said that it shouldn’t have anything to do with my mishap on the handrail. The doctor was making plans for emergency surgery. Meanwhile, the pain just went away. Up until that point I was curled up in a ball--unable to move or walk. When the doctor came back in I was walking around the room…the pain had completely disappeared.

The doctor said that it is possible for everything to “straighten” out on its own, but not very common. You defeinetly want to make sure you get a second opinion. One thing about a torsion, the pain is so severe it is impossible to ignore. Hopefully, the pain will go away like it did for me…
I had the same experience as you! You described it perfectly, it is aweful. When women tell me I'll never have to go through child birth i tell them my story and they always stop talking...

The unfortunate part was mine didnt "just go away" sucks...
 

LaytonDH

Monkey
Dec 19, 2003
183
0
UT
roberts said:
Thank you for the responses.

Re. The varicose vein problem being easily fixed: Any further information?

Thanks.
The pain from a varicocele usually is on the left. There is a relatively easy outpatient surgery to repair it. It's caused by one of the valves that prevents backflow through the veins draining the area being incompetant. They bypass that and it's fixed. Any urologist will have a lot of experience fixing it. You would probably be back on the bike in 5-7days.
 

preppie

Monkey
Aug 30, 2002
379
0
Europe
It's also possible that the pain is caused by a slipped disc or even a hernia.
I have a hernia and when I sit in an uncomfortable position for too long,
I get testicular pain, sometimes it's the right one sometimes the left.
 

sixsixtysix

Monkey
Mar 6, 2005
152
0
Hell
preppie said:
It's also possible that the pain is caused by a slipped disc or even a hernia.
I have a hernia and when I sit in an uncomfortable position for to long,
I get testicular pain, sometimes it's the right one sometimes the left.
Yeah, same here. I am on hernia #2. The first one was up high just below where your belt would be, and there was a noticible "bulge". I had the Mesh/Clamp repair surgury done. Was very very slow moving for several weeks and had discomfort in the area for almost 8 months after. Now 2 years later, hernia #2 is a very low "sports" hernia (no bulge) on the same side. I noticed it because of pain in my left testicle. It seriously felt like someone kicked me in the nuts, except it would last for days at a time. I thought something was seriously wrong.:confused:

Went to my doctor and he found the hernia. It was actually very hard for him to find as it was so low down, literally in my groin and there was no "bulge" like traditional hernia's. He said it can cause the testicle to hang which in turn "pulls" on the veins and other things that are connected. Those get inflamed from the strain and cause the pain. He didn't feel it needed surgury yet, so the solution, no wearing loose boxers, switch to boxer briefs with some support. Also when it acts up I just pop a few ibuprofen which helps minimize the inflamation.

While I am not a doctor, as a "non medical" test I would seriously suggest either wearing tighty whities for a few days or go get yourself a jock strap (not joking) and wear it under your boxers. Take some ibuprofen twice a day and see if there is a noticible difference in the pain within a couple days. If there is, there is a very good chance you have a hernia.

As for the riding part, since thats what this is really about:D
If the support method actual does seem to help, go out and buy yourself some lycra under shorts, like the X-Armor ones and wear them under your baggy riding shorts or pants. They will keep your goods from bouncing all over the saddle which could aggrevate the symptoms. I have had to do this and it has helped tremendously, although I can actually feel a "weakness" on my left side where the hernia is, I no longer feel like I got kicked in the nuts after I ride.

I totally feel for ya, it is extremely freaky when you start having issues "down there". If your doctor is even the slightest bit unsure about what it is or gives you an answer you are not comfortable with, go to another doctor and get a second opinion. Sprains, Bruises and Breaks are one thing to deal with, organs and other internal things are not, especially when it messes with your :agree:

Good luck and healing vibes!
 

Polandspring88

Superman
Mar 31, 2004
3,066
7
Broomfield, CO
manhattanprjkt83 said:
I had the same experience as you! You described it perfectly, it is aweful. When women tell me I'll never have to go through child birth i tell them my story and they always stop talking...

The unfortunate part was mine didnt "just go away" sucks...
Same thing happened to a friend of mine. He twisted it somehow and it swelled up to the size of an orange. For a while he couldn't even walk, he had to be pushed around in a wheelchair. One surgery, and testicle later, and he is ok.

Another friend had to have his bean bag drained...apparently he had injured it and there was fluid build up.
 

DirtyMike

Turbo Fluffer
Aug 8, 2005
14,437
1,017
My own world inside my head
I felt pain like what your describing, left side, ended up being a Cist. Had removed, hurt for about three weeks of general soreness, been great ever since, dont lewt the idea of surgery there scare you, first week after is terrible, but youll be in much better shape in teh long run. Best hopes for this trouble.....