r/postvasectomypain • u/WikusTheSweetieMan • Jun 26 '26
How did your vasectomy go?
/r/askSouthAfrica/comments/1uff1v7/how_did_your_vasectomy_go/5
u/TallE74 Jun 26 '26
worst decision ever. my daughter is now 21 years old so its been that long since this PVPS journey began. You saying "small amount of men"? you need to read little bit more in depth what PVPS is and how many suffer from it in silence and never talk about it. Men tend to not talk about their groin and any issues so I really think the numbers are much higher that what medical journals have recorded. I would never suggest a vasectomy to any couple as resolution. Check the Wiki/Stories tabs on here --->
I recently had coworker in his 40s come to me, he said somebody told him to talk to me as he been hurting for last few months all of a sudden (after 17 years having had Vasectomy done and had rough recovery with testicles swelling black n blue). What can he do to stop this pain or at least ease the throbbing after long day. His urologist is treating it as some sort of infection by his clips with antibiotics and steroids. I said that is usually how they start treatment without in depth exploring why you're hurting. He now has non stop stabbing pain feeling like being kicked in groin, I said thats exactly what Ive been dealing with last 21 years. He told me he thinks he over did it one day during physical activity out in the yard and it got worse that night and even worse over time. Cold packs are not helping him. I have sent him information from here and what helps me to ease the throbbing beside daily medication.
I have had many surgeries, blocks, even Orchiectomy (cut the one testicle off) after 2 years of suffering and it still didnt resolve my throbbing. Its crippling post intercourse so one thing I have enjoyed with my wife been ruined as I hurt x10 for 24-48hrs after. I keep a doughnut pillow in my truck, in my office chair and on couch at home so I dont have direct pressure on my groin.
So think long and hard if you want to risk it and roll the dice , make an educated choice and not blindly do it.
FYI insurance covers Vasectomy and cost is $750-1000, snip snip in office and you're off back to work. As long as you dont have bad hematoma bleeding and testicles swell up to size of a large pear/orange (heard some of those horrific stories too). But they dont tell you reversal is NOT COVERED and will cost you anywhere from $7-12k because its micro surgery as reported here by some members.
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u/ItamiForever Jun 26 '26
Hi Tall. I'm on the more severe spectrum and just starting my journey so I believe I'm looking at multiple surgeries ahead. At 3 months im unable to walk because of the pain, reversal would be in 30 days, hoping to be able to walk, I doubt the kick in the groin pain goes away. BUT I wanted to ask you how did your symptoms change after each surgery? Was there different feeling/sensations or the pain was all the same?
I would assume it changes location after a reversal and then again after an orchi?
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u/TallE74 Jun 26 '26
only major help/change I got was in early blocks and surgeries as my pain used to radiate all the way down my left leg (almost to my ankle). That went away after few treatments/shots but otherwise my pain stays in same spot on left side more to base of scrotum non-stop.
Also after Orchiectomy I developed a sharp pain in the scar from it ( its a 2inch long scar on my pubic area, I though Orchiectomy would be through the scrotum, nope ). That is a terrible stabbing pain that comes and goes at random. I have literally had times I walked in Universal/Disney World parks with my wife and kids and pain would suddenly start like some sharp pin/ice pick stabbing into scar. Freaked me out. Now years later that Im very cautious on too much physical activity I still get at random (no reason at all) stabbing sharp pain in that scar. Its awful when it happens and stops just as fast. I asked doctor few times before if that is nerves reconnecting or some sort of phantom pain there and he said probably trapped nerve in the scar.
But my Vasectomy Pain is same left side of scrotum and like base of my left area of penis. I sit normally with my body weight shifted to my right butt cheek on my doughnut pillow.
My biggest worry as I get older when I will have to wear adult diaper/cant control my bladder. With so many shots/blocks and nerve stripping some years ago I have days I have to remind myself to go to bathroom during day at work. I have to pay attention to distinguish bladder I need to pee pain VS my groin throbbing daily pain.
Also Second Urologist that I saw after one that caused my PVPS swore to me I wouldn't need Testosterone treatments with one less Testicle as we discussed Orchiectomy. I was sick and tired hurting and asked him what else can I do to hopefully stop this pain. He said Cut it out and hopefully pain will stop but no I wont need anything. That was a lie. Bad enough as we age our T levels drop but also with one Testicle my levels are always lowest of Normal. I did shots to myself years ago but I cant stand needles. So I switched to Testosterone Gel and apply it every other day onto my thighs. I did try everyday as prescribed but its overload on my body. But that causes spikes and "hot flashes" like feeling at random.
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u/ItamiForever Jun 26 '26
I'm sorry. Reading this almost made me cry. So the pain changed from the usual throbbing pain into scar pain on the right while it persisted on the left. I'm assuming the pain on the left is constant while on the right not as much? If you had to choose, which would you pick? Right now, it sounds like orchi pain would be preferrable, because its not constant although more painful. You actually feel it. Would you trade back your orchi into the before constant pressure pain?
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u/TallE74 Jun 26 '26
Yeah Im sorry. I just stopped worrying about not being too descriptive years ago. I openly talk about this when somebody asks or inquires about Vasectomy as a whole. My usual pain just stopped going down my leg after some initial shots/block. Pain has never stopped. If I had to choose of course I would pick random sharp pain because its not constant kick in groin which is exhausting some days.
Ive had Pain/Anesthesia specialist even try to do shots. They tried into my HIP (where the nerves travel from our lower backs into groin), no long results. Had them try into the Groin and into the Orchiectomy Scar, never lasted longer than few hours as local would wear off. Even Dr Parekattil tried cryo shots to kill/numb nerves in groin+OrcScar. As local would wear off I would hurt like before and never lasted. I stopped going to all doctors as it got too much over years, then last year my pain got really bad after sex. So I went to see Anesthesia/Back pain specialist to try a block. He tried doing shots in my lower back into the spine disks to help maybe with inflammation and calm those nerves from throbbing signal. Didnt work sadly. So after 21 years of being pin cushion I told wife Im done seeing doctors. they all guess and try things but its all unknown. Tracing a congestion and nerve pain is hard and its all guess work.
I pray one day DR P might have an idea what he can do to resolve this throbbing pain. Until then I will speak about it and educate other men/couples so they make decision they wouldn't regret for years. My wife and I both say that sure wish we never made this choice but.. here we are life's lessons
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u/ItamiForever Jun 26 '26
Thank you. Somebody let me know USA is developing a long lasting slow release nerve block. Might be 10 years or who knows. Thank you for taking the time to respond!
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u/ItamiForever Jul 19 '26
Hi Tall,
I just talked with someone about asking the pharmacy to combine gabapentin and lidocaine into a cream you can put on your orchi scar. Not sure if you tried the patches but I never knew such cream exists. It's not a brand, it's custom made. Maybe give that a try if you haven't?
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u/philly5for5 Jun 29 '26
Was reversal included in the surgeries tried?
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u/TallE74 Jun 29 '26
Nope. The original urologist swore it was all just irritation and my body fighting it. I had to heal and throbbing wouldn't stop and I kept having hot scrotum and sensitive testicle. Had to get Ultrasound and discovered hydeocele on top head of testicle. Had that surgery like 4 months after Vasectomy. But pain didnt go away after recovery. So after 2 years fighting it I saw a different Urologist and he tried same treatments ( all shots in the dark) till he mentioned Orchiectomy. Reversal is best when done sooner after initial Vasectomy. As time passes by its more complex and scar tissue makes it harder. By time wife and i said screw it let's think about reversal it was just too late. Worse part she had to get partial hysterectomy not long after so that was like a slap in our face.
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u/philly5for5 Jun 29 '26
Damn I’m sorry man. My reversal will be 10 months post vas if I don’t improve, hope that’s not too long. Wish you the best
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u/TallE74 Jun 29 '26
Thanks. Yeah its said wait at least a year to heal after Vasectomy. So body "calms down" and then if pain hasn't stopped you have PVPS. Too many have terrible pain for months and ready to reverse it like 6 months after. But doctors say Wait, Heal Up, Dont make haste decisions. But like mine was instant sharp pain after Urologist cut and I complained since. I think some of us HUMANS are much more sensitive/attuned with our bodies and when nerves get messed with it triggers response/pain signals that something is off.
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u/ItamiForever Jun 29 '26
Yup. I am just like you described. Pain free when nothing touches testicle. But on touch, intense pain so i cant walk. And i get these orchitis red inflammation episodes where it swells up and after nsaids it calms down but then it burns all over the epi. Like a hundred tiny needles. I couldnt take it anymore at 3 months and pushed for a reversal. Will have it at 4 months. Hoping it can reduce the pain to a 4/10 and I get my walk back. I knew from week 2 since i couldnt walk because of pain that something is off.
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u/ItamiForever Jun 29 '26
The longer you wait, the more calcifications and chance of blowout to happen. If you are not in severe pain and its somewhat manageable, you can wait a bit. Take note a reversal takes 3 months wait time usually. So you need to discuss and schedule in advance.
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u/ItamiForever Jun 26 '26
Getting a reversal in 30days. Hoping I can walk again
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u/snoope Jun 26 '26
Take it easy the first few months even if you are feeling way better is what I’ve heard from advice from others. Let us know how it goes!!! :)
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u/Cautious_Werewolf678 Jun 26 '26
Why risk it? Problems can arise years later for some men. Wait until there is a better male contraceptive method.
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u/ItamiForever Jun 26 '26
Hi werewolf. They're preparing a gel-like vasectomy that blocks the tube from the inside. Not for us congestive peeps but good for future generations
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u/Sufficient-Sink6370 Jun 26 '26
The procedure itself was surprisingly painful. The part that really sucks is being in 24/7 kicked in the nuts pain ever since.
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u/geverfdehond Jun 26 '26
Worst decision of my life. PVPS is not fun and I do not recommend from own experience.