Tight scrotum diagnosis and MS pump placement

[drummerx]

Hello guys - I had a AMS 700 LGX w/MS pump implanted 3/16/26 via infrapubic. I called my surgeon’s office 7 days post-op asking about the pump rubbing hard against my thigh. It's probably a common problem. Feels like a lego in my scrotum. I made an appointment and he looked at the pump and said not to touch it for 2 weeks. Also, no heat or cold. Said to place a strip of gauze between my scrotum and my thigh. So I complied. At 25 days post-op I called his office to see if I could start pulling the pump down. Again, I made an appointment and went in. He examined me and said the pump was riding against the right side of my scrotum and the pump bulb was pointing back toward my body instead of down. He also explained that he had made a pouch for the pump and added a couple of stitches to hold the pump down. He told me I had a tight scrotum which I answered with “Huh?? Never been told that before!!! There is still quite a bit of swelling in my scrotum so he said to try to get my index finger under the bulb with my thumb on top of the pump and try to twist the pump until then pump is pointing downward. I've been doing this for a couple of days and not sure I am making any progress. Just reaching out and seeing if anyone else has had this problem. Thanks for your time.

[LGXDownunder]

Hi drummerx, and welcome to the bionic brotherhood. I didn't have the same problem but no one else has replied yet. I do have the same implant configuration, and I'm of similar age and medical background. So I'll share my own experience in case it gives you any comfort. Around the same time as you post op everything still felt a bit foreign but I was slowly getting used to it. I can relate to the analogy of a Lego brick. The MS pump looks and feels like a tiny hand grenade. Feeling that and the tubing mildly freaked me out at times. Initially my pump was very stiff to operate but it softened up the more I used it. I now really like the ribbed tactile feel as it's less likely to slip from your grip. We all have the same bits but there is a lot variation in shape, size etc. I was (blessed?) with a relatively large and loose scrotum, but it can tighten up when I'm both erect and aroused. In which case the pump can retreat to where it's sometimes pointing almost sideways/backwards and awkward to deflate, especially after prolonged PIV sex. Early on my pump placement was OK but not perfect. I had agreed with my surgeon to put it in my right ball sac as I'm right handed. It wasn't quite pointing down, but over time with use it has become more or less vertical. Pulling/twisting the pump down is common medical advice, but if you have swelling I think it could be challenging until that improves. Keep trying, you are probably making small amounts of incremental progress. The good news is that swelling eventually goes away and should make manipulating your pump easier. Also assuming the pouch stitches are dissolvable/absorbable, once they go it should also improve things.

[1sfman]

Hi drummerex, welcome to the Brotherhood.

I have the MS pump but CX cylinders. The pump is on my right side and placed in a dartos pouch but wasn't stitched in as yours was. The only oddity was the pump initially had the deflate button facing forward, but quickly turned 180 degrees facing my backside, so I deflate with my index finger on the valve button and my thumb supporting the valve body on the other side.

I'm a little puzzled by what you were told to do. Scar tissue quickly starts forming and because of that my surgeon advised I "massage" the pump every time I urinated. I could feel tissue trying to form around the pump, so I really worked at "massaging" the pump as it was somewhat attaching to my right nut. It wasn't very comfortable doing that, but I certainly wanted the pump to be free. I was advised to start that on the day after surgery. Additionally, I was instructed to start pulling down on the pump on the second day after surgery. I too had the infrapubic procedure.

My pump sits with the bulb "pointing" down, and has since day one. Perhaps if your pump is sitting somewhat longitudinally left to right that might explain your rub with your thigh. I experienced some swelling for several weeks in my scrotum and was advised to ice for an extended period, which I did for approx. 6 weeks.

I'm 13 1/2 weeks post-op now and it's going very well.

All the best to you in your recovery.

[drummerx]

Thanks 1sfman and LGXDownunder for your replies and encouragement. I hope you both continue to have successful recoveries. I have revision surgery scheduled in 2 days to reposition the pump. Surgeon said it needed to be moved and I agreed. The pump has settled about half way down the right side of my scrotum. This has also caused the tubing to be bunched up in the area beside my penis. I was also told to pull down on the pump as soon as possible after the surgery, which I did. Oh well.