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Calvin
USA
46 Posts |
 Posted - 09/10/2008 : 10:17:18
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Just kidding, maybe some women can share some advice as well.
I'm a full time lurker. I've posted in the past about some issues, but lately things have been going well with my aches and pains, but this one has gotten to me.
I am experiencing testicular pain. I had a vasectomy 3 years ago and had posted about the pain I was having afterwards - radiating from the groin to the testicles, pretty much all around the pelvic area. Within 3 months, the pain was completely gone and I was back to feeling fine.
I have used the forum and Sarno's books and recordings and believe in TMS 100%. This has helped me combat back spasms, tendon pains, body aches, etc. I've also used psychotherapy in conjucture with TMS to work through depression and panic attacks with great success.
Well, the testicular pain is getting to me. Its been going on around 3 months now. I've gone back to the urologist, who checked and found some minor inflammation, but nothing outstanding. As a precaution, he ordered a round of tests, blood and urine, both of which have come back negative. The reassurance hasn't helped. I went back to him a month later and an ultrasound was done - I started to fear this may be a result of the vasectomy done 3 years before. The ultrasound showed the inflammation of the epididymis, he prescribed some antibiotics (even though no infection was proven).
A third visit a month later resulted in the doc saying that a part of the epididymis may have to be removed. I shrunk in my chair and my whole psyche went numb, just the thought of any surgery in that area set me off in a cycle of anxiety and obsessive thoughts. I started researching the internet about the procedure, post vasectomy pain years later, testicle removal - I obsessed and researched until my mind was frozen in terror. Pain killers were prescribed and I took them to help sleep.
It came to a climax this weekend when I came across a posting by someone who claims to have had a vasectomy and wound up developing gangrene and had his entire scrotum removed. I couldn't stop shaking - reading Sarno, listening to his tapes, trying to calm myself down - nothing helped at all. I finally just lost it and went to the local ER, begging them to do something about this awful testicular pain. I know - KNOW - the pain was more like a 2 or 3 (if that), but my anxiety sent it to a 10. I knew what was going on, but felt powerless to stop it. Once I was admitted, the ER doc started checking things out, I was crying saying how much I regret the vasectomy, why did I butcher myself like this - he did his poking and prodding and squeezing and asked if this hurt, did that hurt, I said no to everything. Then he said, "I don't think this is vasectomy related - we're going to sedate you and do an ultrasound and cat scan". Once the sedation kicked in (pain medication and and some anti-anxiety meds), the pain level dropped dramatically to a 1, maybe even a discomfort.
I was awake during the ultrasound and the tech was showing me everything they were doing and assured me that everything was fine, the epididymis was ok, no inflammation, the testicle was great, blood flow through the area was fine. After a few hours of testing, the doc discharged me and said that things looked pretty good, they will do a thorough analysis in a few days, come back and get the results. Otherwise, just take some more pain meds to calm down. I couldn't believe how relieved I was and there was just a mild discomfort once I got home.
Well, I got the results and brought them back to the urologist and told him what the ER doc said, that things looked ok. The urologist coldly said, "how does he know...I'm seeing inflammation and if this continues, we should remove the epididymis". I was feeling SO DAMN GOOD these last few days, then he tells me this, and now I'm feeling sick again.
I'm wracking my brain trying to figure out why this one issue is sticking with me. I know that a vasectomy is a very safe procedure, have been to the sites that attempt to disprove the scary stories, but still - this one gets to me.
I'm up for some advice here...why is this one particular ache bothering the hell out of me? I've talked with a few guys that have told me they get the same thing and it usually goes away. Mine actually has gone away for a bit during these last 3 months, there have been a few weeks of feeling ok, but something always brings it back. Just when I think I'm going ok, I wind up watching an episode of House, MD and think I may have some rare occurance that only a specialist can find. |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 11:27:00
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Testicular pain can definitely be related to TMS. I experienced testicular pain as one of my first TMS manifestations. At that time, my urologist attributed it to chronic nonbacterial prostatitis after my ultrasound was negative. What he failed to realize was that a close friend of mine had recently been diagnosed with testicular cancer and I was, for the first time in my life, dealing with thoughts of my own vulnerability and mortality at the young age of 23. CP/CPPS is just another TMS equivalent that I recognized only in retrospect almost a year later after my own bout with back pain.
That being said, your case is a bit different as you refer to epididymitis and other findings on ultrasound that are NOT consistent with TMS. I would follow through with all your exams/studies/appointments as recommended by your urologist until he reassures you that there is no organic cause to explain your symptoms. Then it would be safe to take the TMS route. Good luck!
Best,
MK |
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Calvin
USA
46 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 14:00:20
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quote:
That being said, your case is a bit different as you refer to epididymitis and other findings on ultrasound that are NOT consistent with TMS. I would follow through with all your exams/studies/appointments as recommended by your urologist until he reassures you that there is no organic cause to explain your symptoms. Then it would be safe to take the TMS route. Good luck!
Actually, Dr. Sopher discusses epididymitis in The Divided Mind, page 364.
My urologist, IMO, is taking a WAG at what is wrong, which disturbs me. I just returned from my family doctor who stated that removal of the epididymis is something not to be treated lightly, so I'm off to another urologist for a 2nd opinion. |
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hkp
47 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 14:26:40
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Have you checked out A Headache in the Pelvis by Dr. Wise? I’m posting the link to the long string about that book. Many people find it inconsistent about TMS theory, and I did have issues with it, but I found it really did have some good and helpful (and consistent) info. In any case, the bottom line message is the same: there is nothing seriously wrong with you. There is a major emotional tie-in to pelvic pain and muscle tightness. Dr. Wise also states clearly that desperate patients take desperate action (surgery) and that most of the time, it doesn't help.
http://www.tmshelp.com/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3981&SearchTerms=Headache,in,the,Pelvis
I've also heard and read some stories about pelvic pain that made my heart race. Let yourself come down. Just because it happened to someone once, doesn't mean it is happening to YOU.
Good luck!
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armchairlinguist
USA
1397 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 14:26:43
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Calvin,
It sounds like you are doing the medical route wisely, so no comments there. I just want to highlight a few things that stood out to me from your story.
quote:
I shrunk in my chair and my whole psyche went numb, just the thought of any surgery in that area set me off in a cycle of anxiety and obsessive thoughts....I obsessed and researched until my mind was frozen in terror.
I couldn't stop shaking...nothing helped at all....I know - KNOW - the pain was more like a 2 or 3 (if that), but my anxiety sent it to a 10....I was crying saying how much I regret the vasectomy, why did I butcher myself like this...Once the sedation kicked in (pain medication and and some anti-anxiety meds), the pain level dropped dramatically to a 1, maybe even a discomfort.
...I couldn't believe how relieved I was and there was just a mild discomfort once I got home.
...I was feeling SO DAMN GOOD these last few days, then he tells me this, and now I'm feeling sick again.
Note the placebo/nocebo effect (doctor says you are sick, you feel sick, doctor says you are well, you feel well). Both of these correlations suggest mind-generated symptoms.
Note also the effect of anxiety (self-generated nocebo). Your pain goes up and down with your emotional state, which again suggests mind-generated pain.
And it sounds like you may have this symptom, in particular (rather than others) because it is an area where it can engage your emotions deeply (see bolded section of quote). You might not have so much emotional reaction to back spasms, but this area of your body is deeply tied up with identity and power, as it is in all of us.
What's going on in your life right now? Anything that could have triggered this? Even something small, or an acculumation of small stuff?
--
What were you expecting? |
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hkp
47 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 14:35:13
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Oh, and of course, I'm not a doctor, so I think it makes great sense to see a second urologist and follow reasonable medical recomendations in case this is not TMS. (Always have to get that disclaimer in.)
and did you ever see this post from another board:
http://www.chronicprostatitis.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3277
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Calvin
USA
46 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 15:13:37
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quote:
And it sounds like you may have this symptom, in particular (rather than others) because it is an area where it can engage your emotions deeply (see bolded section of quote). You might not have so much emotional reaction to back spasms, but this area of your body is deeply tied up with identity and power, as it is in all of us.
That makes sense. I've always prided myself on working through a variety of pains - I've had two root canals in one week, I've even had dental work done sans novacaine. I've worked through a broken toe. I once had the tendons in the top of my hands cut accidently, had microsurgery the following day and was back to work.
I like sex. A lot. The whole reason behind the vas was our family was complete, she disliked the pill and I hated condoms. The pain from the vas lasted about 3 months - once stopped, my libido took off again and we were back to being like teenagers.
Right now, the wife is completely ok with it (her drive has greatly diminished within the last year). It bothers me, though, because I'm just not turned on - that was something that was always important to me, some kind of pride issue I guess. |
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Sam908
70 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 15:26:15
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| About two years ago, I experienced severe testicular pain, went to the urologist, who examined me, had me undergo testicular ultrasound, and couldn't find anything wrong. He prescribed Advil. This continued on for about six months, then promptly disappeared. This was all before I learned about TMS; I'm sure that if I had known about Dr. Sarno's work at the time, it would have cleared up even sooner. |
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Calvin
USA
46 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 15:49:16
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quote:
Originally posted by hkp
Oh, and of course, I'm not a doctor, so I think it makes great sense to see a second urologist and follow reasonable medical recomendations in case this is not TMS. (Always have to get that disclaimer in.)
and did you ever see this post from another board:
http://www.chronicprostatitis.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=3277
No, I haven't - thats why I'm glad I come here. Thats some fantastic reading!
I do remember one time, while driving, the pain was increasing. Instead of adjusting, I decided to simply let it go as bad as I could deal with it - it eventually reached a threshold and stopped, then receeded. The next morning there was NO PAIN AT ALL. It returned, of course, because in the back of my mind was the worry, "what if the pain returned?" But that was the first time I faced down the pain. I have done this with my panic attacks, which have pretty much disappeared once I've been able to face them head on without fear. |
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Calvin
USA
46 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 15:54:47
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quote:
Originally posted by Sam908
About two years ago, I experienced severe testicular pain, went to the urologist, who examined me, had me undergo testicular ultrasound, and couldn't find anything wrong. He prescribed Advil. This continued on for about six months, then promptly disappeared. This was all before I learned about TMS; I'm sure that if I had known about Dr. Sarno's work at the time, it would have cleared up even sooner.
Sam, I came across this from Sarno's "Divided Mind" - TMS will often locate pain at the site of an old injury, such as a previous fracture, for example.
Makes me wonder, if I never had the vasectomy, would my mind keep associating that with the pain I'm experiencing now, as opposed to some other completely different diagnosis? It was quite easy to scare myself by reading internet horror stories of castration years later due to botched vasectomies. I mean, after all, this all started with a little ache...all it took was reading a few stories to condition me. |
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mk6283
USA
272 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 19:51:26
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True epididymitis is not TMS. If an ultrasound shows definite signs of inflammation (increase in size, blood flow, etc.), then that is not TMS. TMS does not cause such changes. Epididymitis is usually associated with infection. It is possible that epididymitis could be diagnosed clinically based on symptomatology alone and actually be due to TMS, but in the presence of findings on US that confirm epididymitis I would be very hard pressed to call that TMS (and I'm pretty sure Dr. Sopher would be too). Listen to your doctors and find out what really is going on first. Good luck!
Best,
MK |
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HellNY
130 Posts |
Posted - 09/10/2008 : 20:54:38
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If TMS can reduce or alter circulation, why cannot inflammation be a result? And isnt it interesting that the one medication that Dr. Sarno noted in his book that relieves TMS pain (albiet temporarily) ...is steroids? Yes he said that, and also said he didnt understand why. I forgot the page number but he mentions it.
When I read that it seemed to me that inflammation may be part of what happens with TMS consequent to the circulatory changes.
As far as I am concerned, if you posit circulatory changes, other biological changes are now on the table.
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hkp
47 Posts |
Posted - 09/12/2008 : 13:54:20
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Hell NY, I totally agree. I know inflammation is a subject of contention on this board, but TMS equivalents such as rashes and allergies involve inflammation. With regard to pelvic pain, the cyctoscopies of many women who are said to have IC show inflammation and ulceration, but TMS doctors agree that IC is TMS. Interestingly, I've read that some women with NO bladder pain or symptoms are found to have inflammation and ulceration, too (again, in Headache in the Pelvis).
Draw your own conclusions!
hkp
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