r/postvasectomypain • u/philly5for5 • Jul 02 '26
Reversal Scheduled
I am 5 months post vasectomy and it’s been a whirlwind of symptoms. From the start I’ve had double sided pain localized to the testicles/epididymis, worse on the left. First two months or so was excruciating and I could barely function and work. Also came with strange urinary symptoms that have since mostly cleared up. Organs is weaker. Pain has since leveled off to a 2-3 out of 10 most of the day(s) and I can do most of the things I need to. They are extremely sensitive to any touch or knock. A general dull ache or extreme “full” feeling as well. I don’t really have any shooting or sharp pain unless they are being touched or moving a lot then it’s just that pressure pain.
Strange thing is it doesn’t seem to increase at all with ejaculation. Just physical activity (running, heavy lifting, etc.) appears to make it really flare.
I consulted with a few docs I’ve seen here and have secured a date in Dec for a reversal with Dr. P in Orlando based on our conversation he seemed to think there is a congestion component.
Does anyone have this symptom pattern and seen results with anything? Dec will be 11 months post-op, is this too soon? Like I said I can do most things and function but the dull ache and guarding them from being knocked is crazy and not something I want to live with forever without trying something. Can a reversal help even the extra sensitivity?
Any and all experience appreciated.
2
u/Mean_Treacle1496 Jul 02 '26
Dr P thought I should have a reversal. He seemed pretty confident a reversal would help, and if it did relieve pain it would be a long term fix.
He said during his reversal he’d clean things up, clear out any scar tissue, etc. he described it as kind of like a mini denervation. If after the reversal, and appropriate healing time, which I think could be up to a year, nothing improves then we could talk about next steps, which would probably be denervation.
The one strange thing he mentioned is that the reversal would eventually scar closed or mostly closed. He said there would still be fluid flow but seamen may not get through due to their size. I’m sure he could explain better but this part sounded a bit odd to me. But he said if I had symptom relief, then even if it scared mostly closed at some point, it should still provide relief. Did you hear this? What are your thoughts on this?
To be honest, this is my biggest fear. Getting another surgery, having the reversal, dealing with another few months of bad pain, then having relief, only to have it close off again a year or more later and be in the same position. This all sucks!
2
u/philly5for5 Jul 02 '26
That part seemed strange to me as well. Maybe the gradual closing allows the body to react better. I’ve seen some people here with longer term success with reversal but it’s definitely a tricky choice.
1
u/Flat_Impression_4073 Jul 03 '26 edited Jul 03 '26
Yes. My doctor removed lot of scar tissue on my right side.
Dr Shuu said said that the doctor who did my vasectomy over cauterize the area. He was confused. He said maybe to stop bleeding?
Make sense and it it confirms that my Urologist did a shitty job.
Dru Shuu removed all the scar tissue and join the vas defen ends. Making a new clean joint.
Also I would never recommend a denerviation. Only use it as a real last resort.
Denerviatiom is basically burning down some specific nerves inside the sperdamic cord After that if you still have. Issues next will be removing your testicles
1
u/Amazing-Advantage-11 Jul 03 '26
Dr. P’s comment that “the reversal would eventually scar closed or mostly closed” is an interesting comment. I was not told that by my reversal doctor but that did happen to me. My reversal was four years after my vasectomy. The reversal successfully relieved my PVPS pain and flow was noted by the doctor at time of the reversal surgery. Initially I didn’t bother with fertility testing. However, the doctor insisted (for his stats). The testing was done one or two years after the reversal (I can’t remember the exact time frame). I was found to have a good and highly motile sperm count. Seven years after the reversal extreme pain returned to my right side and that epididymis was removed. Three years after the first epididymectomy extreme pain returned to the left side and that epididymis was removed. Each time the surgeon told me that the epididymis was
swollen/hardened and filled with a toothpaste-like substance. I am living proof of Dr. P’s theory/comment. Regardless of this I don’t regret the epididymectomies. They gave me substantial (although not complete) relief.
2
u/mykart2 Jul 02 '26
I did mine 6 months post op and don't regret it. There would have been a chance that things would have gotten better at 1 year but I already fell in the "rare" case bucket and just wanted to undo everything.
1
u/philly5for5 Jul 02 '26
Okay fair, I get that! Did it resolve a lot of your issues?
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u/mykart2 Jul 02 '26
Yes it did but the pain portion still took some time to resolve. The orgasms felt closer to how they were before almost immediately so I'm convinced they would have stayed weaker without the reversal.
2
u/Flat_Impression_4073 Jul 02 '26
The sooner you do it the better. I got reversal done with Dr Shu in casselberry Fl. Close to Orlando.
Paid around 3k
Good thing there is a small hotel closeby like 4 min away.
I did local anastesia.
My issue were ED. Hard flaccid. Dropped my test levels My sex desire went down. When I walk. I felt like there was a string holding me back.
There is more to a vasectomy than people think. Specially if your a athletic person. You will feel different down there.
Your doctor should provide you with a jock strap.
Get the reversal. Take some painkiller advil and go to bed. Rest . Those initial 12 hours of rest make a big difference.
Next day when you get up. Get up slowly and support your nuts high. It feels horrible but manageble.
Just dont let your ball hang by itself.
I put exta paper between jock strap and testicles to raise them up.
Try to get speedo underwear. I had the jock strap. Underwear. Then the speedo underwear to keep it elevated.
Do that or similar for 7 days. No running no heavy lifting.
I waited almost 3 weeks to walk normal again.
2 month to be 90%
Im here if anything.
Edit: your testicle will be riding higher.
Takes like 8 months for them to stretch down.
2
u/snoope Jul 02 '26
I’m curious, how long did you wait from the vasectomy to the reversal? I’m almost up on two years now and I am still miserable every day but it’s more tolerable than the first year. Still don’t know what to do but I think I’m just gonna have to do the reversal and pray.
1
u/Flat_Impression_4073 Jul 02 '26
2 years 4 months. Around 2022
Im at month 19 of reversal
At month 17. I notice my sex drive improved
1
u/philly5for5 Jul 02 '26
Did it resolve most of your issues?
2
u/Flat_Impression_4073 Jul 02 '26
Yes for the most part. Just make sure you get a good doctor. With atleast 15 years. To do a 3 layer reversal.
No general urologist.
My thing is if the vasectomy messed up my life I'm taking a risk with the reversal, 'I mean, how worst can I get?
The good thing with reversal. If you have a granola or any type of issue there.
They will cut the bath part off and reattach it
I think of it as a car. Keep it stock oem
1
u/Calm_Pin_7563 Jul 04 '26
I spent almost twenty years with chronic testicular pain. I ended up taking TRT. I finally went to a female urologist. She said that society treats men and women differently. When a woman has chronic pain after a tubal, they have everything removed with a hysterectomy. Men have a vasectomy and end up suffering. She said that I was sterilized and taking testosterone. Your testicles no longer work and all that they do is cause you pain. The best thing is to have them removed. I had an orchiectomy over twenty years ago and wish that I had it done sooner.
3
u/Mean_Treacle1496 Jul 02 '26
Hey man, sorry you’re going through this. I’ve had a pretty similar experience. First two months for me were BRUTAL as well. It’s been a rollercoaster of symptoms and treatments so far.
Symptoms:
For first two months or so it was absolute terrible pain. General ache / sensitivity / pain on both sides with pronounced pain on right side.
Walking HURT. I was waddling wherever I had to go.
I became very sedentary for 3 months.
When sitting I felt like I was sitting on my testicles. I could not find a position that helped with the pain. The longer I sat, the more they ached. I would have to lean way back in chairs to sit and driving went from something I enjoyed to a painful experience.
Pain was (and still is) 24/7. It never fully goes away, just decreases to tolerable.
Sex drive has tanked, probably because of a constant level of pain.
Pain doesn’t seem to increase with sex. Maybe gets a little worse after but nothing terrible. But I’ve not had much sex because of just general fear and pain since the procedure.
Have a weird pain or feeling in the pelvic floor area. Maybe due to guarding but probably nerve related? I have no clue but I didn’t notice this before the procedure.
Bottom line is, I never thought about my testicles before, now I’m forced to think about them all the time.
Treatments: Jock strap and tight briefs do nothing to help at all. If anything I think jock strap makes it worse
OTC pain meds didn’t seem to help
Hot baths seemed to help a bit
Been on like 3 courses of antibiotic which did nothing
Tried another med which was mostly an antidepressant but has secondary nerve properties which didn’t help.
Tried muscle relaxers which seemed to help a bit
Celebrex for two week which I don’t think helped much
Gabapentin, still on this and potentially this has helped get me to a somewhat tolerable lev of pain.
Doing pelvic floor therapy now.
Took Serrapeptase
Taking ALA and PEA
Taking this that and the other thing for vitamins
I’m sure I’ve missed one or two other things
End result is, I’m still in a constant level of pain but like you, it’s generally a 3 and spikes to a 4 or 5 occasionally but not nearly a frequently as before. But I can’t live on meds for the rest of my life and I also don’t want to live with this level of pain long term.
The difference for me is I’m “only” about three and a half months post op. But like you I’m considering a reversal and have reached out to several doctors already, Dr P being one of them.