Post-op day 10 – severe testicular pain, anyone experienced this?

[Nick74]

Hey guys,
I’m post-op day 10 and honestly struggling.
Most people seem to be doing much better by this point, but I’m still in significant pain. I have burning / stabbing pain localized near the lower side of the testicle, close to the spermatic cord area. Nights are the worst I can’t sleep even with Advil (I’ve taken up to 4).
Doctor mentioned fluids/seroma, but this doesn’t feel like typical soreness. It feels more nerve-related than inflammatory. No fever, no major redness, but the pain is intense and constant.

Has anyone experienced:
• nerve pain (genitofemoral / ilioinguinal)?
• seroma causing nerve compression?
• pain this severe after day 10?

If so:
• what helped?
• how long did it take to improve?
• did anything specific make a difference (meds, positioning, time, drainage, nerve meds)?
I’m not trying to panic just trying to understand if this is something others have gone through, because right now it doesn’t feel “normal recovery”.
Any insight appreciated.
Thanks brothers.

[richard_goes_bionic]

Hi Nick, does it feel the pain moves into your inguinal canal. I have the same problem but not servere but constant discomfort and slight pain, also depends on what I am wearing. I am 10 weeks post surgery and for me it seems the pump is taking up space and interferes with testicle. Also soreness around the outside of ballsack.

[GoodWood]

If it is inflammatory, consider taking a day or two to be really mindful about taking it easy. Get your feet up, less activity (less jostling around). Wear supportive briefs. Apply ice as much as possible. Continue the ibuprofen. Try to be deliberate about this in the hopes that whatever tissue is pissed off will calm down. Early on in my recovery I got what felt like a hot spot inside/low/rear part of my scrotum. Very tender, burning sensation. It went away after a few days of being really deliberate about rest and protecting it from more rubbing/knocking around.

If it is nerve pain related ask your doc about a brief trial of the medication gabapentin.

It’s more likely to be tissue inflammation than nerve pain.

Stay in contact with your doc.

[Nick74]

Hi Nick, does it feel the pain moves into your inguinal canal. I have the same problem but not servere but constant discomfort and slight pain, also depends on what I am wearing. I am 10 weeks post surgery and for me it seems the pump is taking up space and interferes with testicle. Also soreness around the outside of ballsack.

Hi Richard,
yes, the pain does radiate upward I feel it into the inguinal area and even the urethra at times. Sleeping flat on my back helped a lot. Every time I turned to either side, the pain got much worse.I’m day 10 post-op with fluid/swelling, so I suspect positioning or pressure on irritated nerves may be part of it. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[Nick74]

If it is inflammatory, consider taking a day or two to be really mindful about taking it easy. Get your feet up, less activity (less jostling around). Wear supportive briefs. Apply ice as much as possible. Continue the ibuprofen. Try to be deliberate about this in the hopes that whatever tissue is pissed off will calm down. Early on in my recovery I got what felt like a hot spot inside/low/rear part of my scrotum. Very tender, burning sensation. It went away after a few days of being really deliberate about rest and protecting it from more rubbing/knocking around.

If it is nerve pain related ask your doc about a brief trial of the medication gabapentin.

It’s more likely to be tissue inflammation than nerve pain.

Stay in contact with your doc.

Thanks, that actually helps a lot. What you describe sounds very similar to what I’m feeling a burning / hot-spot type pain. I probably pushed myself too much with walking, stairs, and daily activity.
I’m going to deliberately slow things down for a couple of days: more rest, supportive briefs, icing, and less movement. I’ll stay in touch with my doctor if it doesn’t calm down.I’ll also ask my doctor about that medication, brother I’ve heard the same suggestion from a few others as well.

[Kodixx]

Nick74, good advice from the brothers above, and I think you're doing the right thing. FWIW, I did almost 2 weeks of Oxy and was still in a lot of pain, so my Dr prescribed Gaba. My pain wasn't as specific as yours, but was spread all over. Time and healing seemed to do the trick.
Best wishes.

- Chuck

I’m going to deliberately slow things down for a couple of days: more rest, supportive briefs, icing, and less movement. I’ll stay in touch with my doctor if it doesn’t calm down.I’ll also ask my doctor about that medication, brother I’ve heard the same suggestion from a few others as well.

[richard_goes_bionic]

Nick its only 10 days with me its 10 weeks and still I feel soreness and skinn irritation. Is it one side mostly or both testicles.
First the swelling has to go down completely, I am quite sure the pump irritates your testicles. Often the nights are worse due to your uncontrolled movement to the side, one leg above the other and your balls are in a nice squeeze. I was nearly sitting in my bed the first weeks so I avoid side sleeping.
It is mentioned before but ice cannot be mentioned often enough. For me it was my savior and rest, rest, rest as much as possible. My problem now is the pump which wont open up and it is not possible to cycle.

[UpNorth]

Lot of big words getting thrown out there along with good advice.
I agree with GoodWood with the ice. I used heat pad and ice for a long time. Kept my feet up on a pillow while I slept on my back for a couple months. I recall I to the 3-4 week time of searching in the middle of the night about symptoms being normal.

Good luck

[Ephi82]

I found that the most post op pain was in my scrotum, at 10 days I was still being very careful about putting any pressure on it. It was three-four months before I wasn’t sore there at some point of the day.

Be patient,stay the course, it will get better!