Testicle Pain - Orchiectomy

Hi. I had one removed in April. I recovered really quickly and everything felt normal after a couple weeks. I then had chemo in May and started weight training mid-June to break the fatigue cycle after chemo. My body is responding well to the weight training. I don't have any other symptoms of low testosterone.  I'm 47.  Sounds like any mild symptoms you might suffer due to slightly lower testosterone would be insignificant compared to what you're experiencing now.

Hi Teahupo, I'm also 47 years old, and thank you for your reply.

It's good to know you are weight training and that you don't have many bad side effects. 

I guess I'm freaking out about losing a testicle, the not knowing what it will be like after surgery.

I had subinguinal varicocelectomy surgery six weeks ago where they cut and tie off the veins, but I'm still in the same pain as before, now the surgeon has booked me to have a Orchiectomy.

The surgeon said during the surgery he found the surface of my testicle was inflamed, also found a cyst, he reckons cutting the cord high up and removing the testicle will give me a better chance of it working; cut and remove everything he said.

What is worrying me a little is, the surgery may not work to relieve the pain, also I have read that Orchiectomy surgery can even give you permanent pain, something to do with the nerves; is that correct? 

I'm in the UK and having this done on the NHS.

Hi. I can only speak about my experience. I didn't go for a prosthetic replacement, so I only have the one remaining natural one. My surgeon was pretty much talking me out of the prosthetic to avoid possible complications.  Everything felt completely normal after two weeks for me.  I would really hope that it would solve your pain problem. It sounds like you've really been through a tough time.

Hi mate, It's a living hell, you just wouldn't believe it, my right testicle is destroying me.

I'm currently waiting for the appointment letter for the Orchiectomy, to say I am scared is an understatement. I'm scared in how I will look with just one testicle, plus will my plumbing still work?

I dont fancy a prosthetic testicle either, the thought of something else hanging in the sack ready to cause me pain is a big no no.

I'm into fitness and like to look after myself, I don't smoke or drink, so I'm worried about my body shape if my testosterone drops, I dont fancy gaining loads of weight. 

Is weight gain a problem when losing one or both testicles? 

I mate I’ve been suffering with a painful testicle for 5 years after being misdiagnosed with cancer in the other one. I would say think very carefully before having the orchidectomy. There are other options like removal of epidydimis, spermatic cord block, nerve embolisation. I am awaiting surgery for resection of my cremaster muscle due to a chronic tightness which has caused me pain. I’m hopeful this will help me. You need to figure out if the pain is nerve damage or if there is an underlying problem. It may be worth going private to see what options you have. Not sure where u live but I would suggest speaking to Hertfordshire pain consultants as they specialise in testicular pain, have a look on their website. Good luck.

thanks

Paul

Hi Paul,  What surgery have you had done, did you have a orchidectomy?

I've had two nerve blocks but they didn't work, the surgeon said removing the epididymis rarely works as cutting it away from the testicle ends up causing more pain.

He tells me the surface of my testicle is inflamed and removal has a better chance of it working as everything is cut and removed, I just hope he's correct. 

Hi mate,

I had orchidectomy of my right testicle which was misdiagnosed as cancer, unrelated to my pain in my left testicle which continues today. My pain only seems to happen when the testicle rides up and contracts so I’m waiting to have my cremaster muscle cut so it can be permanently relaxed/hanging loose. Thats the idea but I’m not expecting miracles. Was supposed to have it done in April but its been postponed due to corona virus, paying private as well and still cant get it done. I’ve suffered for 5 years now and spoken to so many people about this problem. One guy I spoke to I was in contact with for a while had an orchidectomy after pain from vasectomy and it didn’t resolve the problem, it only moved to the other side. The only cure for him was vasectomy reversal. I would be very careful about orchidectomy, it is the very last option and a lot of urologists advise against it. In my experience the NHS seem to use the easiest and quickest approach without proper care for the patient. By the way if you do go for orchidectomy I wouldn’t bother with a prosthetic. I had one at first but it became inflamed and i had to have further surgery to have it removed. Then 3 days later I was called in to be told i never had cancer in the first place! Wasn’t a great month put it that way! Haha.

thanks

Paul

Damn that must have been awful for you, so you already had pain in your left testicle and had the right testicle removed because they misdiagnosed cancer, really sorry to hear that. 

Do you have any varicoceles in your left testicle, left side is more common to suffer from varicoceles which can cause pain. I have varicoceles on both sides and get ache and pain on both sides, but my right testicle is far worst so this is why they performed varicocele surgery and a spermatic cord block. 

I hear what you say about orchidectomy being the last resort, but I have been in this pain for 14 years now, and I have begged and begged the NHS to remove the right testicle for the past 10 years, but they have always said no. 

However, since my varicocele surgery six weeks ago they seem to have changed their minds, the surgeon actually popped my testicle out from the sack and had it in his hand, this is when he saw that my testicle was inflamed; so this must explained why I am in pain all the time.

The pain I feel is at the top and bottom of the testicle, seems to be the epididymis, extremely tender to touch, I also have a cyst right on the head of the epididymis, so I guess they reckon its best to cut and remove everything. I am in two minds on whether to have it done, but I am so desperate for the pain to stop... I would do anything. 

The weird thing is, I do get pain free moments now and again, when I lay down the pain goes, this is why they thought it was the varicoceles.

If I push up on my testicle this is when the pain usually starts, it's a trigger point.

Do you get any pain in your right testicle from the orchiectomy, may I ask you have you gained any weight or lost muscle etc? 

Also, has your left testicle gotten bigger since the right one was removed, has it got more painful? 

Hi Teahupo, I was meant to ask you, has your other testicle got bigger since the removal? 

Not noticeabley yet, but I am keeping a close eye on it as others have said there's did. I don't have any of the after effects that you list in your latest post.  Right now there's no noticeable change in my physique or energy compared to before the op. In fact I am a bit more muscular now due to the weight training and not being able to swim due to the pool being closed.