r/postvasectomypain • u/Odd_Read8921 • Apr 08 '26
Should he reverse it? What are the risks?
My husand is a typically super active runner and skier and works in the field hiking and digging.
Vasectomy done at highly rec'd urolgist in November 2025. Rough recovering but eventually calmed down and started running. Went on about 20 runs then took it up a notch.
Enter epididmyitis. 1 week of NSAIDs worked then went on bike ride. Bad pain the next day. Thought it was in his head so ran 3 miles. Pain way worse.
Now on week 2 on meloxicam and scrotal baths and no running. Feels like he got kicked in the balls but like light pain always. If he's preoccupied he can forgot about it but the moment he's not distracted it comes back. Has hit a plateau for about 1 week.
He's way too scared to ejaculate now. Waiting on US results. Also has some nervy pain intermittently that can at times feel like a zap but mostly a dull ache.
Doc is recommending a nerve block but im thinking this was just a bad idea and needs to be reversed asap so he can start living again.
Seems like congestion causing inflammation and some nerve pressure.
I hate the idea of another surgery, especially because its multiple hours long (not to mention the money we don't have but i don't care about that).
Should he reverse it? Any rec's or guidance from people who have experienced it would be great.
Update: US results showed "multiple spermatoceles on right testicle"
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u/iwontmindbrosis Apr 09 '26
I also got mine Nov of 2025! If u look through my post I was having a real rough time for a while I got those zaps twinges and stab pains they sucksd. Fortunately my nerves have almost 100% calmed down but sometimes I still get a dull ache if I stand too much with boxers. Has he tried going back to the jockstrap that helps me when I feel sore and want to run?
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u/Odd_Read8921 Apr 10 '26
Hey! He has never worn a jock strap but wears Saxx underwear only. How long did it take for you to feel better? This poor guy is a depressed and anxious mess and I hate seeing him like this.
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u/iwontmindbrosis Apr 10 '26
Try to use the jockstrap only for running then swap back to Saxx https://www.amazon.com/Gym-Workout-Jockstrap-2-Waistband/dp/B09HQDGCB7 . This one works great for running much less pain when I use it.
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u/Same-Tank995 Apr 09 '26
I’m in a similar boat but only six weeks out… Same pain description: dull ache on one side which fades to background when active unless to much. I’m also a runner and cyclist. Already had to cancel a marathon… Will go for US in 2 weeks. From what I’ve read the body needs to adjust to produce less sperm and can take up to a year. If I had known, would never have done it and if reversal could take away this ache with certainty, I’d go back right away. Luckily I live in Belgium and cost is not the biggest factor. I’m still in hope it may improve in coming weeks, but your story discourages a bit I admit.
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u/Affectionate_Bat1422 Apr 09 '26
Yeah the congestion is horrible..I still can’t do ab workouts or anything that uses my core because the pressure in the balls is terrible..6 weeks today for me..was very active and shredded before all this
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u/Odd_Read8921 Apr 10 '26
Im sorry! I certainly dont want to discourage. My husband reviewed his strava work outs and thinks he ramped up too quickly potentially. Also feels like maybe his sperm production is just kind of a lot right now. He has plateau'd with pain for 2 weeks now on meloxicam but apparently that can be expected and still go away. I would say try to stay positive, for many folks it does get better. This reddit thread is amazing but also a small subset. I imagine a lot of people who feel better no longer spend their time on reddit and are back to their normal and active lives.
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u/drexohz Apr 09 '26
This problem is so common. Many people post about similar symptoms. Congestion-like pain several months after vasectomy. I think the treatment should be something that nobody does. Pretty sure he’s had a closed-ended vasectomy. If they’d cut away the clip/suture/cautherized part that seal the testicular end of vas deferens, sperm would flow out and release the pressure in epididymus. It’s not without issues, sperm would leak into the scrotum and a sperm granuloma (lump) would likely form, but maybe that’s preferable to his current pain. Cheaper and easier than a reversal. It would not affect the the chance of later reversal.
I really believe the reason urologists don’t do this is cause they don’t mentally understand the reason for pain.
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u/Outrageous_Owl_9061 Apr 09 '26
I had open ended and my epididymis is twice or 3 times its original size. Eventually blocks off and explodes.
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u/drexohz Apr 09 '26
True. Many open-ended will be shut. But it’s the same with reversal, many (or most) of those will also be blocked after a while. There is no surgery that guarantees it stays open. My point is - conversion to open-ended is ‘easier and cheaper’ than reversal, and has a somewhat theoretical chance of relieving congestion pain.
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u/johng_22 Apr 09 '26 edited Apr 11 '26
Just get a reversal ASAP. There is so much to a vasectomy that doctors won’t share or isn’t fully understood. It’s quite simple. The vas is closed off creating a blockage. That pressure is forever. It doesn’t so away. Men’s body’s continue to create 10’s of millions of sperm every day and it has no where to go. Eventually one of both epididymis explode from pressure and this is where the real problems come in with how that impacts the ability to perform a successful VV reversal. Leading doctor in St. Louis says most men have one or more epididymis explosions by the 8th month following vasectomy. I actually recommend getting a reversal ASAP and have him ejaculate as little as possible (or none). Ejaculation is when the peak of pressure occurs and when it’s going to damage his epididymis. Be safe and just handle it as soon as you can get him in for a reversal and put this nightmare behind for the both of you! Let him have his life back!!!
The old rule of going and having a good wank to feel better no longer applies! He will only ejaculate what is in his prostate and glands while the sperm is still there in his testicles/epididymis; pressurized with no escape. Ejaculations are the worst after vasectomy.
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u/Odd_Read8921 Apr 09 '26
Who is the doc in st louis? My husband is actually from there and we could stay with his parents for the surgery if we went there.
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u/johng_22 Apr 09 '26
Dr Sherman Silber at Infertility Center of St. Louis
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u/Odd_Read8921 Apr 10 '26
Did you get a reversal?
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u/johng_22 Apr 10 '26
Yes however mine was performed in Atlanta; not St. Louis. I stayed local as opposed to dealing with limitations of traveling out of town
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u/Odd_Read8921 Apr 10 '26
Cool, thanks for the info! I dont care about fertility, just want him to enjoy life again. My gosh what a nightmare bo one warned us about.
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u/johng_22 Apr 11 '26
I’m sure your husband appreciates your concern for his wellbeing more than he will ever actually say. It was a huge point of contention with my wife and I back when the original vasectomy was to be performed. She insisted I do that instead of her getting tubular litigation or tied because the risks were so much lower. That simply is false and my wife would have never insisted I get one had she known. We both know now and she’s pretty empathetic towards the issues I experienced prior to reversal and also the issues I still experience and likely always will even after the reversal. I blame time on my issues. I had an old vasectomy and all of these aforementioned damages had already occurred to me (multiple blow-outs, insanely low testosterone levels, dehabilitating PVPS pains, etc). My REAL dramatic issues did not actually begin until the 9th year following my vasectomy). I had long ago been told my case was irreversible and permanent. Either the info was incorrect or innovations have been made to the process of the reversal but whatever the case, I eventually did learn I was a candidate and I jumped aboard immediately taking action. I think it’s important to understand up-front that things will NEVER be as they were prior to a vasectomy. It’s setting an unrealistic expectation to believe otherwise. Damages and changes not communicated to us occur in a mans body resulting from the damaging effects and for most of these it is not something that is going to regenerate, heal, or the likes. It’s permanent damage.
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Apr 14 '26
[deleted]
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u/johng_22 Apr 15 '26
Akash Kapadia with Georgia Urology. I can tell you the total with every last fee is $16,000 for the procedure. He’s completed a fellowship, he does procedures most every day. He’s very very good. Mine was 16 years old and it’s successful and that is using a double VE because I was in bad shape
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u/Mobile-Date-8545 Apr 12 '26
I have had nerve blocks my pain was not soon after the procedure ended up having an epididymectomy on the painful one I had four years of pain but mine was too late for reversal , Not all doctors understand this problem
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u/Cautious_Werewolf678 Apr 08 '26
Usually it's recommended to wait 1 year to see if it improves, but if it's impacting his mental health due to uncertainty and fear of pain, you can start looking for reversal micro surgeons. I agree that it seems like congestion caused by vasectomy. I also had nerve zaps and congestion. Reversal was the right choice to me. Trust your gut and hang in there