Erectile function recovery chances with only one nerve spared

Hello Andy (Andy B24 (0fd3b74d9df746328d8c97bd6c7c12df)) 

A bit of a tricky one this - and i don't want to put you off and as you are aware i still have my prostate.

Off the Community I do attend various meetings and a few months ago I was chatting to a surgeon and his own words were

"I can't give any guarantees before I operate as you don't know what you will find until you get in there - and once in you can't ask the patient questions so you have to try your best. There are lots of nerves around and through the prostate but basically there are 2 larger bundles that control the erectile function and the urinary function - we try to save them!"

I know this isn't going to help - but it's "from the horse's mouth".

Good luck with the surgery, do let us know how you get on.

Best wishes - Brian.

Hi my husband had bilateral nerve sparing in February of this year and he has had no erectile improvement. This has been devastating for us as a couple and my husband is struggling to come to terms with this. This wonderful group has helped us so much since my first post back in February. I don’t think surgeons know what nerve sparing will be achieved and even if a full nerve spare is achieved there is no guarantee of ANY recovery.  We weren’t taken through an MDT and now living with decision regret (even tho we weren’t given any other options). Being prepared will help you, my husband says nothing could have prepared him for this. I wish you all the best for your surgery next week x

Hi All

My husband had RT and HT and has ED even a year and a half plus  after finishing HT. We were referred back to urology and he chose to try a pump - with no success. He can’t take the medication because of other health problems. Nobody warned us about this before treatment. He has found it very hard to psychologically come to terms with this.i have told him that for me it’s me important to have him still here!

We are the same Worriedwife 

we are having a rough time with the medics as our councillor had suggested the pump for penile health as he has to sit to pee and finds it awkward . Sk it was round the houses as our gp contacted his oncologist and he said not my problem go to urology . So email to urology and urologist does agree with using it for penile health so the alternative is buying it ourselves . But it’s a lot of money if it doesn’t work . He’s already on the waiting list for ED so you think they would have agreed to supply.

any information would be appreciated 

Hello Joham, I think you live in Scotland where nhs /Nice rules may differ from England? NICE guidelines in England are that men left with ED after treatment for prostate cancer must be provided with help on the NHS. This help consists of pumps or viagra type medication, injections into the penis or pessaries onto the penis. My husband can’t have the medications as they are contradicted. He opted for the pump which was supplied on the NHS. The retail cost was stated as about £200. I know some men here have found that it works for them. For us, it was failure which made my husband even more upset.