Hello,
Why dont you have them try the block. Its the only why to know for sure if you can have the surgery. How can the doctor say its something else if you at lease try the block. Who know it may work and than you know you can have the same surgery as me. Not sure what surgery you are talking about that your doc say may leave you with more pain??
Hi Howard, Yes, I have seen three urologists here in the UK, and they have all said the same thing, not to operate. They said its most probably my epididymis at fault, especially as I have a cyst on it (but its small). They have said that history shows a high failure rate, so they don't perform the operation now, not unless there is overwhelming evidence that would give a good clinical reason to do so.
They told me the operation often leaves the patient in worst pain, I have even said to them that I am willing to take the chance, but they still say no. They have said my cyst needs to be larger than 2mm in size for them to remove the epididiymis, how silly does that sound. They even told me that Microsurgical Cord Denervation can leave the patient in worst pain, this is why it was very good to hear about Michaels success.
Hi Michael, My urologists here in the UK said that removing the epididiymis rarely works, that history shows a high failure rate, so they don't perform this operation now, unless there is clear medical evidence of the problem.
Its so upsetting just to be left in pain, where no one wants to help. The UK NHS system is not working for me at all, its such a horrible experience.
Good day my friends..
I know how you are feeling about no help. It was like that for me for 15 year. So many doctors and no help. Medicine caught up with the problem after 15 years with a young 33 year old doctor who saved my life with a cure.
My question is, why will they not do the block for you?? There is not much to the procedure. I had other medical problems in my life time. I had a few doctors miss diagnose my heart problems. I would be dead if it wasn't for another doctor to find out the correct problem. Removing the epididlymis is not the same as the denervation of the spermatic cord
I have talk to many people in the UK with the same problem and up set with the medical system.
I wonder if there is any chance you can contract Dr. Patel and send him your records. He may help you out. It never hurts to ask. Plus mention my name.
So many different stories from so many urologists and we as patients are stuck in the middle. Yesterday I spoke with another uro who has many papers on scrotal pain and he said he thinks my problem is chronic epididimytis and he could either remove it surgically or do the MSCD procedure. He said both are "easy" procedures and either one will fix my problem. I think I am going for the MSCD.
Hi Michael, and thanks. :) Yes they will do the nerve block, I'm seeing the pain management team at the end of this month for that. Then I'm seeing a specialist to talk about the MSCD procedure at the end of July, lets hope its all good news.
Awesome. Please keep me updated. I will pray for you to be heal in Jesus name. If you are on another blog please share my info.
Contract me anytime for anything.
Talk to you soon, Michael
Let me know how you get on Howard. :)
I believe my epididymis is not working correctly, damaged, broken (even the cyst could be playing its role). When I stop and think about my symptoms, everything seems to point towards the epididymis, because if I don't have sex for say 4 days, I get the horrendous ache/pain and swelling. Then after sex I will still have the horrendous ache/pain for an hour or so, but this soon goes...
However! If on a good day where the right testicle pain is just a mild ache, and I go and put on a pair of trousers or jeans, and go to sit down, the ache can soon start within seconds, then it turns into pain. The ache then goes down my right leg and into my foot, this can then cause me to limp as it gets very painful, I also feel shooting pains down my leg and foot.
Do you get this Howard?
Yes - my symptoms are very similar to yours. I've been reading and thinking about this a lot. There are many possible sources for our scrotal nerve pain. We cannot be certain where the pain is coming from. But we can be certain of 2 things: The nerve pain starts some where below the spermatic cord in the epididimys/testicle/scrotum and ends in our brains. So we can either refuse to "receive" the nerve message in our brains by taking Percoset and other drugs that dull our perception of the nerve pain (and the rest of the world) or we can stop the message from being sent in the first place by cutting the nerve "line" in the spermatic cord with an MSCD procedure. Then it really does not matter how the nerve pain is being created because the signal will never be sent to the brain or elsewhere in our body like our back and leg. So that is what I will do probably in the Fall when my doctor gets back from summer vacation. I live in Canada and it takes time to get fit in. But you should get the test nerve blocks with Lidocaine. I did it and it helped a lot for a day or two and I am certain it will help you too so you will be a good candidate for the MSCD.
The stimulus is somewhere, and mine is most certainly in the right testicle. The pain always starts in the testicle at the head and tale of the epididymis, its extremely tender to touch. It feels like the epididymis tube is swelling with sperm, which is swelling against the cyst or nerve. After sex the pain can often subside, feels like the tube has become empty, but then there has been incidences after sex where I have been in excruciating pain, sex can also make the pain worst.
Yes - you described my problem exactly. Also when I am in a lot of stress I get scrotal pain too. I think under stress the scrotum contracts and pulls up and that aggravates the nerves. I have little doubt you will respond well to a cord block and then the MSCD. You must insist on it or maybe you can a doctor in Europe if not the UK who will do it,
Hello Howard,
Your explanation was spot on. Wish you all the best. Please keep us updated. Michael
To make matters more complicated, I have also noticed after a bowel movement I can often get a ache in the right testicle, leg and foot, this would indicate a hernia, but they say my ultrasound scan does not show a hernia. On examination they say my right side abdomen is tender, its been tender ever since the testicle pain started. I guess this is why they say the pain may not be coming from my testicle, why they don't want to remove the epididymis.
I have also noticed, when I was a heavier build (250lb) the ache/pain was not as bad, now my weight is 170lb the pain is worst, and I believe its the lack of fat cells that surround my organs/nerves. Fat cells must work like bubble-wrap and protect nerves and organs, but now I've dropped the weight and weigh less my organs and nerves come into contact more often, and are easily stimulated... I could obviously be wrong.
Thank you Michael and for your important advice. I pray for you too. Howard
You need be careful with hernias - I've had them over the years (inguinal ones) from pushing too much due to constipation and from sports. Be sure you don't ever get constipated. Having said that, the nerves around the bowel region are all connected to the groin and testicular region and prostate region so it could be that pooping will aggravate the scrotal nerve pain. Again this a reason to do the MSCD. I also have had the problem you describe and still do if I do not take a laxative like Benefiber or colace or metamucil.
With denervation is there numbness or lack of sensitivity? Obviously need some nerves or feeling to prevent or know if there is an injury. Or does everything just feel normal?
Good Day,
After the surgery everthing feels normal. Its that when I am having sex I am not as sensitive. Not because of the surgery but I think damage from the pain in the nerves. There is a up side on that for your partner. But besides that everything works like it should. Plus you can were anything, sit, ride bike!!!!!! ect.
Hi Howard, I'm now learning towards varicoceles, the more I do each day brings on the heavy ache which soon turns to pain. I have also noticed on some occasions when getting an erection I end up in horrible heavy aching in my testicle and down my leg, this then effects me standing, sitting and walking.
If my problem is caused by varicoceles, can the MSCD operation work, if so? how does the operation stop the pain?
UPDATE! My ilioinguinal nerve block did not work, I'm so annoyed.
Where do I go now?
Hello, I have a question. Is the Ilioinguinal nerve the same as the spermatic cord nerve? I google it and it seems it is different. If it is different than why the nerve block on the Ilioinguinal nerve. My block was on the spermatic cord, both sides.