Varicoceles questions
Posted , 3 users are following.
A recent MRI showed I have moderate and bilateral varicoceles. Now wondering how much impact these have on the 2 years of testicle pain and discomfort I have had.
My thinking is if varicoceles are removed,the epididymis would no longer be inflamed? And maybe relieve the nerve pain due to swelling?
Can varicoceles cause circulation problems in the leg (shin area)?
Can varicoceles cause chronic constipation?
What has your experience been like and which surgery type did you have?
I am unable to sit very long nor do a lot of physical activity. Currently seeing a PT and pain management specialist and will have epididymis removed along with nerve block as next step, but now wondering if varioceles could be primary issue causing secondary issues, or is it totally independent?.
1 like, 4 replies
Howard31850 gg78506
Posted
I think it depends on how long you have had the pain and how severe it is. There are many possible causes of chronic scrotal pain and all of the ones you mentioned have the potential to cause all the problems you mention too.
But if it goes on long enough the nerves bundles in the spermatic cord become so inflamed that the pain becomes chronic even if the original cause of the pain is fixed like fixing the varicoceles or removing the epididymis.
For people like us the only solution then is to deaden the nerves in the spermatic cord via a microsurgical denervation. There is no pint in worrying about the original cause anymore.
I was scheduled for one last June but my Botox injection that I had in April has really helped a lot so I cancelled it. Give this a try if they will agree. It is the same as the cord block injection you had but just uses Botox.
We5t gg78506
Posted
Hi gg78506, I am booked in to have a varicocele embolisation, hoping this will solve my testicle, leg and foot pain. Urologist reckons cord denervation will not work, as I didn't respond that well to the nerve block, so we are hoping the varicoceles are the cause. What are you doing about yours?
gg78506
Posted
I see go back in October to discuss the MRI findings and come up with plan. Was on track to have both denervation and epididymectomy if 3 months of pelvic pain PT and pain management specialist did not help,...which it did not. Every ultrasound I have had in last 2+ years, did not catch the moderate level varioceles, until I had MRI, so this may change current treatment plan. To date every diagnosis and medication from a handful of drs, has not helped, so finally relieved to learn of the varioceles and see there are ways to resolve! Had to drive 2 states away to find dr that actually understands all of this.
I hoping to maybe resolve the varioceles first and go from there, thinking this may be primary cause that is impacting other parts in the region (blood, tissue, nerves, epididymitis ), or maybe all three will be done at once?? D
It has been so long, I almost forget what life was like before all this. It has been a heck of a journey!
We5t gg78506
Posted
Hi gg78506, Thank you for your reply, your opening post sounds like I wrote it myself, I have exactly the same problem as you; and also think the varicoceles must be the cause to my pain and discomfort. The difference is, is that I have had my pain for 12 long years; and still I am having to fight to find a doctor who can help me. This doctor I have found gave me a CT scan to look for trapped nerves, it was originally meant to be a MRI; but he say CT scans can see more. He also says the ultrasound scans can see more than MRI when it comes to the testes; he has now agreed to perform varicocele embolisation; but he's not 100% sure it will even work. The doc says my varicoceles are small 1.8mm to 2.5mm in size, so this may not be the problem, so I am having second thoughts on whether to have it done or not. I have heard that varicocele embolisation can make the pain worst, even the small seal/plugs they use can move and migrate further along the veins and can cause all sorts of other problems; its all very risky if you ask me. My pain has got worst since I had contrast dye injected into my veins for the CT scan, seems to have put more pressure on my arteries, more swelling, I'm getting to the stage where I cant wear any clothing jeans/trousers because it hurts to much.