Unexplained "pain" in penis diagnosed as prostatitis but maybe not?
Posted , 6 users are following.
Writing for husband, 70+, active tennis player, etc. but after a routine prostate exam an annoying "tickling" (for lack of any better word) happened unabated on the tip of the penis which was, apparently, beyond irritating. It worsened over the days and all manner of medications were given from high dose ibuprofen, Alfusozin, Prednisolone , Gabapentin and finally Phenazopyridine. Nothing touched this "pain". A cystoscopy revealed all was well inside the prostate (he has previously had a TURP). There was no sleep to be had and he has been actually driven to distraction. The urologist did ask about the condition of his back and, yes, he does have back problems so now they are thinking that possibly these "sensations" are actually coming from nerves in his back. Now awaiting a back MRI and not sure if it will actually reveal anything or if there is any remedy but some kind of drug has to help numb this. Any ideas?
0 likes, 9 replies
compiler robin17381
Posted
Yeast Infections？
roy80577 robin17381
Posted
Those symptoms could be caused by lots of things affecting the prostate.
It could be a bacterial infection. My urethral symptoms are eased by d-mannose. Its a simple sugar than stops e.coli from adhering to the urinary tract.
it will not cure a prostate infection but it can help manage some symptoms, particularly those involving the urethra.
Not sure where in the world you are. In Europe d-mannose is sold in healthfood shops. In some countries like Spain it is sold frequently in pharmacys/drug stores where it is commonly sold for the prevention of cystitis in females.
robin17381 roy80577
Posted
Thank you--we're in the U.S. but, unfortunately, there are no infections present. All of those tests have been carried out with no signs of anything. They are tending to thinking it's a nerve situation and that it might be coming from the spine. Don't know if that's just because there is nothing else to blame it on in the prostate area or if it truly could be because he does have a troublesome back. Waiting for an MRI which might not even show anything.
roy80577 robin17381
Posted
You may not have signs of infection, That does not mean no low grade chronic infection is there.
Chronic Bacterial Prostatitis does not always show with urine leukocyte tests. It also often will not show up with urine culture. Typically it requires either expressed prostatic fluid culture or semen culture to find and identify the bug. I spent months having doctors and urologists run the wrong and easier tests, and when they found nothing tell me it was in my head etc. Then I found a consultant in London. He did semen culture and found heavy growth of E. coli. The antibiotics took away all symptoms - unfortunately I could not tolerate floroquinalone antibiotics for the full course and never got it fully cleared.
Although D-mannose does not cure, it greatly helps me in my symptoms, particularly urethral symptoms, by keeping the urethra flushed out of E. coli. If I miss a day or two of D-mannose the urethra becomes irritated and get frequency and ache in penis.
It is worth a try.
cali-mike1970 robin17381
Posted
It seems odd that a prostate exam would start it though. I would advise a T3 MRI to see if any inflammation is seen on that. Perhaps a pudental nerve block with a pain medicine doctor to see if it is pudendal nerve related.
robin17381 cali-mike1970
Posted
Well a spine MRI is scheduled next week and it is a state-of-the-art brand new facility so I am assuming the equipment will be as sharp as is possible but it is of the spine to see if the pain is originating there since his back is painful. Yes, it's all odd.
compiler robin17381
Posted
If a doctor diagnose the penis pain is due to the back problem, please let us know.
jim78009 robin17381
Posted
Hey Robin,
Sorry to hear this. I suffered from the same sounding condition for 2 years and am now symptom free for the last 4. I was diagnosed with prostatitis and after years of weekly appointments and a prognosis of just having to live with it, which I didn’t want to, I searched relentlessly for a cure. Beta blockers made me dizzy and faint non-stop and the pain stayed regardless. I ended up going down a rabbit hole on the internet search every possible forum and article until I found a one off clinical study paper on mast cells. Long story short, back nerves cause mast cells near prostate to inflame causing them to release histamines leading to more inflammation and it is like cycle. So after years of medicine and thousands spent at the urologist, I simply took 2 benadryl every night and went to pt to get my lower back right. It sounds so simple but it fixed it quickly. I started to eventually sleep the entire night without needing to pee every 2 hours from the pain. The inflammation went away and I got my life back. Pain gone. Eventually I didn’t need there benadryl anymore. If this helps just one person to conquer this condition I feel it was worth sharing.
robin17381 jim78009
Posted
Thank you. I will pass on the Benadryl info. We were counting on the back MRI and x-rays to reveal nerves which were being compressed in the back but there was nothing definitive. There are discs that are popping out and some scoliosis and, in general, lower back soreness but nothing they could link to the penis. Still, they are going to try back injections and chiropractic, if for no other reason, to ease the back pain and maybe, just maybe the penis "pain" will diminish. He is absolutely beside himself because it is so difficult to chronicle. There does not seem to be a pattern specifically but I have noticed that it does seem to be worse at night and, maybe, after sitting for too long which may give credence to the nerve explanation. He has wracked his brain for some reason and he seems to think that maybe something went wrong during the TURP he had several years ago but I would think the urologist would know that and it was OK afterwards and just started occurring the last several months. His urologist is really excellent but he is fresh out of explanations.