Pain Observation and Choices

I've noticed that my pain has transitioned over the last year since my reversal. At first, it was a knifing pain that hit intermittently. There would also be this racking pain I'd get on my left side which would also occur with the same randomness. Both pains lasted for short periods of time, like less than a few seconds at a time, although the racking pain would last a bit longer.

Now, I've got daily, long-lasting pain. The levels of pain are random. Sometimes it hurts like crazy (level 7-8) for a long time while other times it stays about a level 3-4 on a 1-10 pain scale, with 10 being the worst pain imaginable.

The racking pain is almost constant and can be very painful at times. It is a different racking pain than I had in the beginning though. This is more of a mechanical pain. What I mean by that is, it feels like something is pushing down into my scrotum causing the pain. Before, I would just have the sensation and it seemed more nerve related.

I still feel like I've got something pushing down, like a hernia or something like that. Interestingly, when I take ibuprofen, an anti-inflammatory, the pain seems to subside. I'm not sure why.

The nerve pain on my right side remain fairly dormant these days. I can push on my right groin with my hand and it hurts. But unless I bend over the wrong way or lift something I shouldn't, the pain seems to be only a bothersome twinge, at most. Of course, now that I've said this, it'll probably come back with a raging vengeance.

I believe I'd like to evaluate this racking pain on my left side with a urologist. Maybe have a sonogram to see what the deal is. Perhaps a CT scan or MRI.

In the meantime, I keep wearing an athletic supporter almost every day. That seems to help a bit. I hate the fact my boys and stuff are cramped together down there, but it seems like that helps with the pain. It's like, if they hang too loose for too long, some kind of stretching takes place that my body doesn't want to deal with.

I hope to get back on the treadmill again tomorrow. I have a job interview tomorrow and so I don't want to push my luck beforehand. I would like to be able to sit upright during the interview.

On a side note, I've also been reading a lot about a neurolysis procedure where they basically kill the nerve(s) in the groin that send the pain signals to your brain. A doctor in Florida reports an 86% satisfaction rate for his targeted robotic procedure. I'm still considering a "clean-up" surgery to get rid of any extra scar tissue as well. I wouldn't say I'm completely sold on doing anything else, but I can't imagine living the rest of my life in this kind of condition.

So, Lord willing, I'll get better or have a the right surgery to make it better. I pray for God's direction on what I should do.

I'm Getting Worried

This morning I woke up with a pain that I haven't had for quite a long time. The last time I had this pain was after my vasectomy reversal when I felt this hard cord like thing coming into my right testicle. Well, the hard cord thing isn't there now, well sort of, there is something firm there. I'm just not sure what. Anyway, I'm having a lot of referred pain throughout my entire right inguinal/groin area, even down into my right thigh.

This has me worried. It reminds me of congestive pain, like maybe my reversal is failing. However, I've tried very hard to put that idea out of my mind. The last thing I want to think about is my reversal failing. I've heard other guys talk about it and it isn't pretty. Not to mention you have to have another reversal and since I had nerve pain after my first reversal, I'm not too keen on the idea of having to risk another surgery. So, I just pray that it is something else. Just some kind of nerve pain is all.

Meanwhile, I've taken a hot bath and some tylenol. I've also taken it very easy today. Nothing too strenuous, just sitting around while I did homeschool with the kids. Luckily, I don't have a "real" job which would probably only exacerbate my symptoms. I suppose I should continue to thank God that I don't have a job.

I'm not sure if this has anything to do with anything. But I am no longer sitting at the computer. I've got is set up so I stand now. However, I just noticed that I lean forward when I type. I've noticed that leaning forward (like to look into a mirror up close) makes my nerves hurt more. It seems that any undue pressure on my core, even simple leaning, tends to make them angry. Maybe I'll go back to sitting down again. See if that changes anything. It's just hard to know what is causing your symptoms, you know what I mean? This makes post vasectomy pain syndrome very frustrating. But then I guess syndromes aren't meant to be cute and cuddly, otherwise they wouldn't be labeled as syndromes.

Still though, I wish someone would make a break through. Like most people in this situation, I hate living in a nebulous world where the slightest little thing can set the pain off.

Post Vasectomy Pain Looks for a Job

There are many who have their vasectomy and resultant pain, who work. I returned to work after my vasectomy after about five days. But I had some vacation coming and thought a longer break would be beneficial. It wasn't until six months later that I developed epididymitis from my vasectomy. However, I have been without a job now since 2009, not because of pain, but rather it was a decision my wife and I decided upon before PVPS became such a big deal in our lives.

Anyway, I can honestly say how blessed I was that I did not have to work after I had my reversal surgery. As I've posted before, I was in no real condition to work even 6 months after my reversal, because of the pain. However, I feel it's time for me to get back in the saddle again. But what kind of a job.

Well, one that doesn't require a lot of straining for sure. Also, one that doesn't involve a lot of sitting. Like I said before, teaching would be ideal, given my current physical shape. But I'm in health care, living in an isolated part of the US. There aren't a lot of those kind of jobs around.

But, I have a call into a local hospital to see what is up. The director is supposed to call me back in a few minutes, so I thought I'd blog real quick, since there isn't much else to do right now. The kids started back to school today, my wife is working full time and I'm left at home. Yep, I think work would be a good thing. I'm hoping this conversation will go a certain way, but I get the feeling it may just be about working per diem or part time.

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Just finished talking with the director from the hospital. He just wanted to give me the low-down on how things worked in the hospital. No opportunity yet, but he said he'd be in touch. That's like breaking up with your girlfriend and telling her you still want to be friends.That's okay though. I think I may want to go into business for myself in some way. Maybe do some outpt. diagnostic testing or counseling. I don't know yet. Still an idea in progress.

Well, time to get off my butt before my nerves start hurting. Think I'll go for a walk and see if inspiration strikes.

Vasectomy Reversal is No Day at the Beach

Yesterday was really like a day at the beach for two reasons. 1) I didn't have any pain to speak of and, 2) we were really at a beach. The day started out pretty good. I did have a full feeling on the left side of my scrotum which never really materialized into anything. Around lunch time I started to get these little intermittent headaches above my right eyebrow. I took some tylenol for it.

So the lack of pain, probably had something to do with the tylenol I took. Hey, I'm okay with that after the last week or so of more intense sensations and pain. Today is Sunday and we're about to go to church. Luckily, their chairs are nice and comfy which helps quite a bit. Although yesterday was a relatively good day for me regarding my post vasectomy reversal pains and symptoms, my reversal has been anything but a day at the beach.

I read on the forum where someone had a vasectomy reversal about one year ago and they didn't really feel any better. Another person replied with some facts. Apparently vasectomy reversals are about 75% effective in PVPS men. That leaves 25% of us in the other category. My one year vasectomy reversal anniversary comes up in December. I am hopeful that I'll be able to report better progress from my reversal at 1 year than this other gentleman.

Pain After Vasectomy Reversal

I wanted to take the time to reiterate the difference between post vasectomy pain syndrome and post vasectomy reversal pain syndrome. Basically, the symptoms are not different. The actual physiological causes are probably not different. It's the primary surgery which causes the pain that is different. In my case, I only had epididymitis after my vasectomy. The actual pain didn't come along until after my reversal last December.

I say this because I say that I have PVPS in my postings. I don't really consider the pain I have any different than those who started off with pain after their vasectomy.

I guess the point is, anytime a doctor does surgery on your boys down there, you run the risk of pain. There are just a ton of nerves down there and so the surgeon has to be careful during the procedure. This is why many with pain are so hesitant to have further surgery down there. It's not because of the cost, although, that certainly plays a role. Instead, the idea of potentially further injuring your testicles is what keeps many from exploring surgical options. It is also difficult to predict success from surgery which also keeps sufferers from exploring the invasive solutions.

So do everyone a favor, including yourself. Just don't have the surgery in the first place. Condoms are kind of clumsy, but nobody ever got put on disability because of them.

Today, I have almost no pain. Just the rare "full" feeling on the right side. We'll see how the rest of the week goes.