MY HISTORY
Andrew Leonhart
Hi Scott,
Back in 1985 shortly after my daughter was born I had a vasectomy. The
doctor was the best family doctor we have ever had. He did the left side
without any problem. But when he tried to do the right side he had trouble
getting the vas. Several times during the operation he had to stop because
of the pain I was having. It felt as if someone were kicking me.
Three month afterward I had swelling in both testicles & epididymis.
Throughout the years I have had pain off and on. Usually just
uncomfortable. A couple ibuprofen would take care of it. Sometimes a
doctors visit and some antibiotics.
Last year a couple days after a very heavy workout I had intense pain in my
scrotum. It went away and came back the next time I lifted heavy. After
that it never went away again. I had much pain and swelling especially in
the right side.
The doctors tried a long course of antibiotics (cipro, etc.). Finally they
did a vasovasostomy (vasectomy reversal). The doctor said that there was a
lot of built-up pressure in the right testicle and it was filled with thick
green fluid. He drained that fluid during the surgery. I felt much better
until the swelling started again. I don't believe that the thick green
fluid could flow through the vas. Finally the doctors removed my right
testicle. I felt GREAT for two months. I walked miles every day and VERY
GRADUALLY started working out at the gym again. 24 hours after very first
moderately heavy workout I was in pain again. The pain started on the left
side but soon spread to the right side as well. Now the only symptom is
the pain. There is no swelling and only moderate tenderness in the left
epididymis.
The doctors have said there is nothing more they can do. I must learn to
live with the pain. They sent me to the pain clinic to help me deal with
the pain. At the pain clinic Friday two doctors and a medical student
talked to me in a conference room for 15-20 minutes ($200). Then they gave
me four shots to deaden the nerves leading to the scrotum ($100+ per shot).
Total bill=$610. Total effect=zero. Nothing was numb. The doctor
usually administers the shots while the patient is on a low-level x-ray
machine so the doctor can identify the exact spots to inject. Perhaps he
missed the nerves. I would challenge anyone to live with this pain. Some
days I can't walk a dozen steps without feeling like someone is kicking me.
Believe me, that will stop a guy in his tracks.
At 12:45 AM 3/29/97 -0500, you wrote:
>Sorry to hear about your problems. Can you repeat your history for me so
>that I may be able to help you. I am new to the forum. Thanks.
Andrew E. Leonhart
Mabee Library
MidAmerica Nazarene College
2030 E. College Way
Olathe, KS 66062
Scott Press
Andrew,
The pain that you are expriencing may be purely neurological or may
be related to sub clinical inguinal hernias. Has anyone ever checked you
for a hernia. This can cause similar pain to the type that you are
experiencing. Given that you have had an orchiectomy, unless you are
having phantom pain in the remnant of the spermatic cord, this is the only
other possible cause for your pain. Given that it seems to come on only
when lifting heavy objects leads me a think hernia is most likely.
Scott