[rich]

After suffering with a very large vericocele for years I finally had the surgery 4 years ago at the age of 41. It was not the lathroscopic procedure I've seen written about, instead I had a 2-3 inch incision (I don't know if that means anything) in my lower abdomen. Although the surgery greatly reduced my symptoms, and my testicle is (almost) normal feeling, I have a long lasting post-surgical symptom that occassionally flares up.

Specifically, if I move, stretch or exercise where I put any strain on my abdomen or groin, I get a sharp, immediate pain in my abdomen, left testicle, and sometimes down my left leg (thigh) that can last for hours. The only way I've found to relieve the pain is to wear a jockstrap, take aspirin, and lie down for at least several hours. Usually, if I sleep overnight, the pain is gone the next morning. I told my Urologist about this (the pain was not occuring that day), but when he examined me he only said that everything looked fine, and not to worry about it. That was 3 years ago, and I still occassionally have episodes that are so bad that I have to lie down immediately. Has anyone ever heard of a condition like this? It never occurred prior to having the surgery, and quite frankly it is cramping my lifestyle as I'm afraid to have vigorous exercise or sex because I fear causing a painful episode.

I also described this condition to my GP, and he said that it might be a small hernia, and that I should get an ultrasound immediately after the pain begins (which is usually not possible). Can a varicocelectomy cause a hernia as a side effect? Any info or opinion would be greatly appreciated. And by the way, even with this after effect I would still elect to undergo the surgery again, as 99% of the time I feel just great. Thanks to all of you; this is a fantastic site, and an important resource for men like us.

[pedromilk]

Hello rich,

I was just lying on the floor right now with the exact same pain you described. Been exercising in the afternoon for about 2 hours straight and, as you said, thats how it goes: overdo a bit of the exercise and the pain later on starts. I honestly feel the exact things that you described, right now as im typing. Hope you read this, 2 heads are better than one :) It just can't be all fine like the doctor usually tells me if you also had the exact same type of surgery i did.[moderator note: email address has been removed].

Cheers,
Pedro

[Berk63]

I'm 24 years old and had this surgery at 18. My Urologist scared my mother and at the time, I had a naive trust of anyone who said they could fix any potential problem. The worms in my scrotum were bothering me and so I went through this surgery. Never thought that the surgery would affect my entire life in such a terrible way. Like you guys, I work out +2 hours every day and get paints up and down the leg-grown area... very sharp ones too. Even in meditation, when I am taking deep breaths and relaxing my whole body, the only point of discomfort comes from this area of surgery. Furthermore, not only is the pain ridiculous... my sexual stamina has been lowered since this surgery. I have a theory that these long and dilated veins created a kind of equilibrium pressure system long erections. Pre-surgery, I was continually having +1 hour periods of intercourse with ease, especially when fast pumps and pressure. I feel furious and regretful of this surgery since now, even though I have worked my pc muscle for a year now and worked on mental techniques of picturing things that do not turn me on to maintain a kind of balance... in the end, if i have a full erection, the pressure of the blood stimulates the left testicle so much that I am more rapidly forced into an orgasm. Therefore, I cannot go very long in a 100% full erection without viagra... that or I must maintain a semi flacid state so as to not stimulate this left testicle too much. On top of this, my right testicle has shrank drastically since the surgery. Was I the victim of malpractice or an error in this procedure? In any case, I'd like to know if there is anything I could do to reduce the pressure of blood flow on my left testicle in full erection so that I can at least enjoy my sex life without pills that damage my mitochondrial dna and such. Furthermore, so that I may at least be able to go into deep meditative trances without the sharp pain emerging in the left testicle/groin area when i relax my body fully. Is there any way to get a kind of synthetic artery piece to put into my current tubes so as to create an equilibrium of blood flow that reduces pain and brings back my sexual stamina?

[pedromilk]

Hello Berk,

Since my last post,more than a year ago, I've went to several doctors and think things have gotten a little better. I do not know if that might be your case, but mine was a Bilateral hernia, of increased size on the left part of the body. Honestly, the pain has not disappeared entirely when I do leg exercises mostly. Don't know about you but I only felt those when training the lower part of the body.

Anyway, I was scheduled to surgery and in the meanwhile i should increase abdomen muscle as possible, without causing too much stress so that the pain would start all over again. About a month prior to surgery, I did another exam to see how the hernias were in size: they weren't, apparently, slowly building abdomen muscle and not overdoing legs and abs exercises, did the trick. Of course it has hindered me: I can not ride a bike or have great quads since. At least I feel comfortable 99% of the time and work out the rest of the body with no restraints.

The veins you mentioned, I've been to several urologists and they all said it wasn't that much of a problem. In my case that is.

So, my 2 cents are, after exercising like you said for 2 hours, get yourself checked for hernias in the lower abdomen. It's quite common for people who had varicocele surgery to develop one sided (left) or bilateral hernia. And if possible, workout a little less for 1 month and you might see some differences like I did (swimming is a good exercise, not too much tension)

Hope this helps,
Pedro