Epididymitis - views/thoughts?

See I just dont know how u guys cope with this for so long. Just six weeks ive had it and I dont know whats gonna happen now. Had to take the last 4 weeks off work as anything other than lying on my back on the sofa makes it hurt. Now work are getting occupational health involved and it looks like im gonna have to go hobbling back to work like this. Just starting to panic now....

Hey guys, Sportfan here, I have had alternating testicle pain that goes left and right in the scrotum for 5 months now, initially was on cipro and ibuprofen but did nothing to rid of the pain. Also had a large left varicocele which got repaired surgery but that didn't end the "alternating" pain that goes on in the scrotum. This has been ongoing and real depressing/annoying, can share the feelings or symptoms as many of you here. Am following up with the doc next week for appointment, does ANYONE know what this pain is or caused by?? It's alternating pain...on the testicles...and switches sides throughout the day! Is it prostatitis or anything? Please offer insight

I don't think it "alternates," Sportfan. It sounds more like it's bilateral. Meaning, you have it, whatever it is, on both sides. I also have a problem that affects both sides. Part of that might be epididymitis and part of it might be something else. For f**k's sake, I have what looks like a retractile testicle and the urologists want to tell me this is "epididymitis."

I also thought I had prostatitis, which is even worse to have. For that, you have to get your prostate and prostate fluids checked, as it can take a long time on antibiotics to get rid of it (2 months, 3 months, and so on). However, you should also be experiencing other symptoms, such as frequent urination, difficulty urinating, burning or tingling feeling when urinating, straining to urinate, painful ejaculations, pain in the perineal area (the area between your balls and your arse), pelvic pain, lower back pain, and maybe even prostatic pain. If all you are experiencing is bilaterial testicular or intrascrotal pain, then it's probably not prostatitis. You have to discuss it with your doctor, of course.

I am counting the days to see the next urologist to try to confirm what I have (11 more days). After that, I still kept my UCLA Urology appointment for later this month. If, after all this search, I end up in the same spot, I may consider the surgery to remove the epididymes (i.e., both). That retractile testicle thing and low hanging testicle have to get straightened out, though. If they have to do a bilateral orchiopexy or tear out cremasteric muscles in order to get that accomplished, then so be it.

I can't f***ing stand this pain and discomfort. It is akin to torture and is literally driving me crazy.

Oh, and I noticed my last two replies came out as "Guest." To one of the posters above, I've also missed the equivalent of 3 weeks more or less due to this illness. My workplace has been able to accomodate me with a deskjob, but it also pays less since being out on the field and driving automatically earns one more money (gasoline reimbursement is good).

It's not as if I can even drive long distances, though. After about 15 minutes of sitting, my right testicle rides up and gives me an abdominal cramp while my left testicle continues to hang lower and lower until it is in a full horizontal position behind and below the right testicle.

I've managed to obtain work restrictions, but I have to keep updating them through my doctor's office as they are for timespans. I am literally hobbling and waddling at work.

I vacillate between wanting to get surgery to end up once and for all, and then back to being sceptical about the results of that surgery. I've read too many bad case scenarios and even the doctors realise they cannot offer any guarantees I won't wake up in the same shape or worse. However, I just don't see how my balls will go back to their old positions within the scrotum if not for surgery. Hell, there may not even BE a surgery to take care of this and they could just as well say, "There's nothing I can do for you. You will have to live with this."

That prospect scares the sh!t outta me because I don't think I can live like this, as it has affected every possible aspect of my life, right down to sitting, sleeping, walking, showering, and dressing. The doctors seemed pleased to tell me it wasn't cancer and now I wish it was cancer.

JCA, WELSH GUY here... What have the doctors said to do next?
It's ridiculous that they expect you just to carry on.
I don't think they know want to do ,in this day and age you would think that they would have a easy solution .
This is a NIGHTMARE I know I've suffered with it for too long.
What do they say when you tell them that you cannot stand this pain anymore?

Well, I haven't seen anyone since scrapping everything and going with a new GP. She understands or at least realises there is something obviously wrong, which has been ignored by the previous doctors for too long. She's the one who has written me the new referrals for UCLA Clark Urology and UC Irvine Medical Urology, as well as getting me a CT and MRI scans.

I haven't completely explored my alternatives because I am waiting to see these new university urologists. I am sure she will welcome any input other than what she already knows. I'm just trying not to wear out her patience with constant complaining. She offered an alternative to surgery under the general term "pain management."

I don't know what that would include, but I will explore pretty much anything to rid myself of the discomfort. However, ignoring the discomfort is one thing. I don't want to ignore my testicles getting twisted and bent outta shape in the meantime. Ultimately, I want that straightened out. It's not just physical pain, but psychological, as well.

I look at myself in the mirror or feel it in the shower and it looks f***ing freaky. In a way, some of the pain may be in my mind just from looking at how messed up my testicles look. I even think they're slowly shrinking in size! I've been reading the results from my ultrasounds and the estimated sizes keep getting slightly smaller and smaller... It scares the living wits outta me and it doesn't allow me to sleep at all.

Currently, I am just waiting and waiting. Again, I'm also afraid that if I insist I will wear out whatever patience these new doctors may extend to me. Honestly, the reason docs don't have an easy solution is because there is no money in treating this disease. It's not diabetes, it's not cancer, it's not cardiovascular, it's not related to suicide, and it's not related to the other six leading causes of death here in the U.S.

Here in the U.S., doctors won't move to do a thing unless you throw ridiculous amounts of money in front of them. As soon as they see what kind of insurance company I have, they refuse to give me all my options because they know they will not get what they want to charge (they usually mark up all their treatments by 10 times). A MRI may cost $400, but they will charge $4000. My insurance will only want to pay $2000.

To top it all off, I'm having sexual dysfunction now, starting with releasing less ejaculate and getting painful erections. This sh!t is never ending!

JCA , I know what you are going through mate.
Because mine has now become Chronic it is VERY difficult to treat.
If the Doctors treated people correctly in the first place it would have not come to this.the longer they leave it the worse it becomes and even more difficult .
Do you have any swelling? I have slight swelling to my left ball.
I hope you get sorted real soon.
As I've said it's now over 2 years for me .

Hello This is my first post and I'm so glad i've come across this forum. I'm 23yrs old and experienced pain in my testicle for a good few years (only way i can describe is it feels like taken a good kick to them, tends to last a day then goes) Normally take a pain killer and give my testicle a massage in the bath. On Tue 25/3 the pain come. Done the usual but didn't go. Slept on it and the pain had gone but there's a heavy feeling. More of a dull ache than a pain in my testicle now. I gave it a few days to see if it would clear up itself and hasn't! On Sun 30/3 I decided to go to my local walk in centre. The doctor had a look and a feel and took a urine sample and couldn't find any abnormalities. Said it could be Epididymitis and prescribed me with 7 day course of "Trimethoprim" which I started Monday. Today I am not feeling any different and I am starting to worry? :(

You should def come to India, seriously. MRI costs like $60 max in most diagnostic centres. No insurance sh*t here.

BlueTalyor, I was taking Trimethoprim did not work for me sad to say.
Have you had a feel each side of your Testicle this is where my pain was coming from.
On a really bad day I notice the balls are slightly swollen.
I've had this for over 2 years now and even though I am taking Gabapenting for chronic pain I can still feel the pain.
My doctor has told me to try Gabapentin for 3 months then slowly come off it .
I was hoping the Gabapentin would have killed all the pain but this is not the case.
How long have you been feeling like this?
Welsh guy .

Thank you for your reply.
It all started last Tuesday felt like I had taken a kick in the jewels. Woke up the Wednesday morning all pain gone but like a dull aching feeling around the area. Just an un-comfy feeling. A heavy feeling. Seems to be more my left testicle than my right (or around that area) there is no pain when touching, but the aching feeling seems to be coming from around the back of my testicle or my groin behind it. I have a great deal of anxiety too as I've read somewhere online that it can make you infertile :( :(

BlueTaylor , WelshGuy here.. My pain started in my left ball I could feel a swollen tube at the back of it.
Sometimes antibiotics work but not always especially if it's become chronic like mine has.
You might find it better to wear tight briefs for support they are better than boxer shorts.
I had a ultrasound on my balls and there was cysts there but they said this is normal and should not cause any pain.
Any questions feel free to ask mate...Cheers WelshGuy.

Just had a bath and feel and nothing feels swollen just a little tender. How old are you WelshGuy? Just more of a heavy dull aching feeling. Hope there's light at the end of the tunnel and all my worries go away :( been given a week on these tablets and then back to the docs if no improvement

BlueTaylor, Welshguy here,I'm in my early 50's ..having a warm bath does help.
I hope that you are one of the lucky ones because if it's treated early you got more chance of getting rid of it.
I just don't know what I'm gonna do next every day in pain ain't fun.
I understand that you can get this at any age.
I was given all the antibiotics going for a long period of time but some times there is not a infection there only inflammation .
When I was taking the antibiotics it did not feel so bad don't know if this was in my mind or a fact but after a few days of stopping the antibiotics the pain was worse.
Keep on to your Dr .are you in the uk?

Thanks for the replies WelshGuy. Sorry to hear about the pain you are having. Hopefully 1 day you will wake up and it all be gone. Am I alright to masturbate or have intercourse with this problem?