Is varicocele a painful lump or squidgy?

varicocele - can it feel like a painful lump? Am aged 51 & just slightly overweight (& we are very ...er...active!) found a hard small pea size lump inside right testicle last week and the Doctor made a quick hospital appointment with Urology today. since 5 days it's grown a teeny bit and hurts to squeeze it. No pain or other symptoms. So today the news was great. Nothing sinister but I can't help thinking...my urine sample was put straight in disposal as the nurse didn't need it. The doctor could not find the lump although it's pretty obvious and quickly gave up. I had a quick ultrasound. I was in there less than 8 minutes and that includes removing the clothing. The docs words were " it's a thing called a varicocele and unless you want more children it won't be a problem. It won't grow but it will hurt. Wear tight underwear to support your undercarriage " then shook hands and out before i could ask anything. Since looking it up, shouldn't it feel like stringy rather than a hard nut? I obviously don't want it to be anything other than it is but I'm confused and a bit nervous now.

A varicocele is an enlarged vein. Hence, the worm-like comparisons. I suppose it could be hard if it has hardened and it could also be soft and squishy. I was of the impression that they can grow, which is why they have a grading scale to determine how large they are - I, II, and III. Hahah, it shows how much I know. For your own reference, you could do your own Google image search and look up YouTube videos by just typing "varicocele."

I'm a bit disconcerted by your description of the doctor's prognosis - "it won't grow, but it will hurt." I'd ask what options (along with the risks and chances for complications) are available to sort this out. It just sounds unacceptable to walk away from it. Then, again, here in the U.S. and I'm assuming you're either in the U.K., Australia, or Canada; if a doctor did that, I'd just "fire" him or her and go to the next specialist ('cause we sure as hell pay through the nose for health care).

In cases where the doctor doesn't take time to explain things to you, your other option is to call and leave a message with your questions. Either the doctor or the nurse should call you back. If they don't call in 2-3 days, I'd call again and again and again. Don't be afraid to be annoying and tedious about it. It's your health.