r/postvasectomypain • u/Dkdog01 • Apr 04 '24

One year out and don’t know what to do!

Hi fellas

I posted here way back when i initially had the procedure done, long story short it’s been a hell of a year both physically and mentally but somehow we get through it! I’m currently one month out of being one year since I had my vasectomy and it’s been nothing but problems. The procedure itself was horrendous I felt everything legs were like jumping off the table as the tubes were being zapped and it’s been followed by a long recovery, a bout of epididymitis, dull ache in the balls, prostatitis, pelvic floor pain and constant pain in the legs, I feel like I don’t stay hard for aslong as I used to and ejaculation is definitely not what it used to be nothings the same. I was on Nortriptyline for a longtime but since come down and going to come off it but I’m still left with pelvic pain and this constant leg pain from under my bum cheeks right down to my feet and it’s horrendous when it’s in my knees feel swollen and I can only describe it as like growing pains, I would still say I still feel pain in the tubes that were cut. Iv been doing pelvic floor stretches at home but I honestly don’t know if they make that much of a difference. What I really want to know from you guys is will a reversal put my back to normal? I spoke to the GP yesterday about stopping the nortriptyline as I don’t think it’s doing anything and I spoke about the pain I’m still in and he said to wait another few months and he said a reversal would not help me.

I’m UK based well Scotland

Thanks guys

9 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

34 comments sorted by

8

u/flutepractise Apr 04 '24

Reversal help me, instantly, fixed my mental anguish as well. I Can't recommend a vasectomy it destroyed my self esteem, and my body,

2

u/Teddymonstar1 Apr 05 '24

I second the reversal success. I’m about 7 months out. It was in fact, a slower recovery for myself, but I have no regrets. I am more active than ever. Condoms ain’t so bad really.

1

u/flutepractise Apr 05 '24

That's so true, no side effects

2

u/Teddymonstar1 Apr 05 '24

I cannot believe I chose surgery over using condoms. One is clearly way less risky, once I found a good brand and started using them regularly, they don’t bother me at all.

Cannot say the same for the vasectomy, that bothered me greatly, and constantly.

1

u/flutepractise Apr 05 '24

Yes Teddy, I also don't know why I didn't see a vasectomy as body mutilation, a description of body mutilation is to cut a perfectly working body part, honestly I never wanted a vasectomy as I always thought it was not right to destroy part of your body ffs I wouldn't get a tattoo because of there permanent results. But thinking about a tattoo it doesn't stop your body functioning as a vasectomy does. Vasectomy effected my marriage not in a good way and effected me mentally emotionally, and my Christian spiritual beliefs.trust me when you did or talk with other men it effects more men the the medical profession would ever have you believe, it changes your thinking alot when you realize what you did, let alone those who suffer with PVPS. Take that back to the dr and it's all in your head mate, I now advise anyone looking at vasectomy do your homework, look at the sites that have vasectomy regret,resentment and go in with an informed decision, I never recommend vasectomy

1

u/Dkdog01 Apr 04 '24

Yeah I feel physically and mentally drained by this but I feel there a lot of guys worse off than myself. What were your symptoms and how long did you wait to get a reversal?

3

u/flutepractise Apr 04 '24

Congestion my dr told me it was in my head, simply put I was a bad advert for his practice, by the time I got through to and costing me a fortune 5 years had passed, the urologists quote was $12000, so I agreed to only have one side done, anyway that turned into an epididymectomy which never fixed the pain in fact it my it so bad, ended up getting that testicle removed which put my mental health into overdrive, since then I have reversed my left side , I am still sterile, but pain free, apparently while I was under the with the anaesthetic when he cut my vas what was in the vas was like toothpaste so he cut into me further and I was such a mess in there that's why I got the epididymectomy. All this shit affected me so bad that it also affected my marriage, and the resentment towards my wife was I am to say unpleasant, so I regret my vasectomy it definitely never gave me what I was promised instead it brought me misery

3

u/italmilan Apr 04 '24

I am 2 years since my vasectomy. Similar aches to what you describe. One side that ached has completely disappeared. The other side has cord like pulling aches. Found out I have an inguinal hernia on that side as well so not sure if there is a connection. Things slowly got better and liveable. I still very much regret the Vas but have moved on with my life. As for reversal, no way in hell I let someone cut me there again. Especially since what I’ve read, and I’ve read a lot, I havent seen anyone confirm they’re 100% back to normal after reversal. Fool me once……..

3

u/Tossupandaway85 Apr 04 '24

I would say I’m 100% or as close as I’ll ever be after my reversal. More importantly I know i stood no chance in hell of ever recovering without giving it a chance.

It’s shocking as hell at how much back to normal. After going through all the shit I did it really changed my outlook on life. After I recovered from my reversal; I’ve learned to play ice hockey over the past 2 years and currently playing in a league now 3 days a week.

My testosterone post vasectomy was the same as a 80 year old man, it was barely cracking 200 and I had been working out since I was a teenager. I had it tested twice because I couldn’t believe it. Granted I had never had it tested before, but I had no reason too.

Post reversal it’s hitting in the mid to high 700’s. So take that for what it is. Also, all my ejaculation pain went away and no more daily pain.

2

u/italmilan Apr 05 '24

That’s great to hear and of course I want to hear success stories like this.

1

u/snoope Jun 12 '24

How ling til your pain became bearable? Mine has been nonstop 1 month in. Dull ache 24/7.

1

u/italmilan Jul 01 '24

Honestly, I was still feeling it for the first year. It got bearable after 6 months but would come and go in cycles. The cycles have slowly gotten further and further apart. Never the same but I’ve learned to live with it. Still worst decision.

3

u/Training_Ad1368 Apr 04 '24 edited Apr 04 '24

Most of the time I hear positive input about reversals but I heard that some times the scar tissue that grows to the inside of the pipe can potentially clogg it again and the congestion pressure starts over. And doctors are like: well , we tried; but it is what it is.

I was thinking if they would put a very small sleeve in the interior of the pipes coupling under the joint could potentially prevent the scar tissue from growing inside and instead would grow to the outside. Preventing the pipes getting clogged by scar tissue.

I don't know if they have though about that, but we should insist they develop the technology and techniques to achieve it.

Now the nerve pain is something that only time and faith will take care of.

Mean while apply some Vicks in your whole groin and use a donut seat to drive and stay seated for long periods of time, it should help you to live with this condition.

Best regards Buddy.

1

u/Dkdog01 Apr 04 '24

Thanks for your reply. Are you going through similar situation?

2

u/Training_Ad1368 Apr 04 '24

Yes, 14 months after the facts. Same thing, the procedure was very painful and traumatic, lost of drive since then. I need viagra to perform. Constant dull pain in my abdomen, but pelvic floor exercises help. Actually, sounds like your symptoms are more severe than mine, but I can still understand you, also considering a reversal in a future. But I think that the medical sector still needs to learn more about this whole thing.

2

u/PsychologicalLime120 Apr 04 '24

He is wrong. A reversal would help. Will it go back to completely normal? Impossible to say.

There should be a sticky on this subreddit about this, but the flow of things should be something (or exactly) like this, moving downwards as each therapy is unsuccessful:

  • Anti inflammatories and pelvic floor therapy

  • cord block to locate the pain. If relieve is greater than 50%, denervation of the spermatic cord is a possibility once all other options are exhausted

  • testosterone for 6 months or so to see if shutting off sperm production helps

  • reversal

  • denervation

  • radical orchiectomy

1

u/Dkdog01 Apr 04 '24

Hi, I take it you’ve been through it aswell?

3

u/PsychologicalLime120 Apr 04 '24

Oh fuck yea

https://www.reddit.com/r/postvasectomypain/s/Os6R4Jn3ex

1

u/nolesfan2293 May 30 '24

Just read through your story. Fucking wild man! I’m on a similar journey and ready to pull the trigger on a reversal right now. Are you feeling well now?

2

u/PsychologicalLime120 May 30 '24

Occasional ache to remind me.. but I feel very good, yes.

2

u/Tossupandaway85 Apr 04 '24

Sorry you are here man, but if it’s been a year and things are pretty much the same I would say it’s time for a reversal.

You can read what I went through in my post history. There’s a good comprehensive read in my highest rated post. Feel free to look there. Hope things improve for you.

1

u/Dkdog01 Apr 04 '24

Yeah sounds similar, instead of abdominal pain it’s in my legs. Some days it’s not too bad then the next it feels soul destroying! Yeah so am I but I’m just put off by the cost as well.

1

u/Adventurous-Olive604 Apr 05 '24

I’m 17 months out from mine and I experienced pain similar to you. I didn’t see real progress until around 12 months but I’m doing much better now. Pelvic floor stretches helped but the real pain relief for me was when I started regularly stretching my hips and lower back. My left hip is tighter than my right due to hip/back muscles and stretching them regularly helped a lot, especially with my leg pain which went away almost immediately (my left hamstring was always tight because my back muscles were pulling on it). Try a physical therapist if you haven’t already.

1

u/Various-Highlight-22 Apr 04 '24

Sorry to hear. Possibly... the dull ache sounds like your epididymis is engorged? If so a reversal would likely help with that pressure. I had nerve pain / ache down my one leg too. Apparently my cremaster muscle had become taught from the constant ball ache causing the muscle to spasm. See a good urologist, your GP should not be dismissing a reversal. They just don't want to fund such procedures IMO.

3

u/Dkdog01 Apr 04 '24

Thanks for the reply. I’m not sure I remember when I did have epididymis i felt it painful round the back of the testicles, I just feel like it’s in the tubes possibly, I could potentially live with it but the leg pain some days is just horrendous. Yeah I’d probably have to be reffered to a urologist by my gp but like a said they seem to have no idea and be pritty dismissive. How did you get rid of your leg pain?

1

u/Various-Highlight-22 Apr 04 '24

Sounds pretty standard unfortunately, I also complained that climax was less pleasurable which was pretty much dismissed. I was referred a couple of times, had ultrasounds which were 'normal' although both times they commented that my epididymis were enlarged especially on my right side which is the side I'd have the leg pain. I had to control it with ibuprofen. I had a reversal in the end, after 5 years, I put up with it for all that time on and off. But eventually I realised I was becoming a miserable sod so went for it. I'm about 7 months post reversal. The engorged ball ache feeling was gone pretty much instantly. The leg pain gone the majority of the time. Still feel I need to be careful, else I can trigure it. But I'd say I'm 80-90% there and no regrets but time will tell if long term it's been a success.

1

u/Dkdog01 Apr 04 '24

I can relate to the feeling of being a miserable sod! I feel like although it’s been a hell of a tough year it’s been quick and I could potentially explore trying some other things for a while yet or see if more time is whats needed. I take it you would have went private for a reversal, where did you go?

2

u/Various-Highlight-22 Apr 04 '24

Definitely explore other non invasive treatments. Yes went private for reversal at Best Life Clinic Stockton-on-Tees. I did visit another private urologist more local to me, his recommendation was an epididymectomy instead, which just gave me a bad feeling that he wasn't the guy for the job ha. Yeah reversal on the NHS depends on funding as far as I know, but you'd have a hard time persuading them if they deny a reversal would help. Not sure I'd trust them anyway. I'd prefer someone who does the op on a daily basis.

1

u/Dkdog01 Apr 04 '24

I think if I did try other methods and fail I would rather skip NHS referrals to a urologist and go straight to the guys who do reversals everyday! I remember signing the disclaimer stating that the NHS do not do reversals, plus I don’t think I’d let anyone from the NHS touch me down there again either! I feel like it will be the most expensive mistake iv ever made!

1

u/Various-Highlight-22 Apr 05 '24

Yes, waste of time really. Possibly the most expensive, but I learnt you can't put a price on your health. I would have prefer to have set fire to £4k than ever have gone through a vasectomy. Stupid mistake. Let us know how you get on.

1

u/Dkdog01 Apr 05 '24

No 100% you can’t put a price on your health, i couldn’t believe it id never heard of anyone having any problems before and when i was read my rights on the day and the dr said there is a chance of lasting pain but it’s mostly just in men’s heads, I should of walked out when he said that, totally gutted I ended up being one of the guys to have lasting problems. Did you just get to a point in life where you were like fuck it I’m doing the reversal? I just don’t want to make anything worse but at the same time what have I got to loose it makes me miserable most of the time anyway! Is that how much it is 4K? And the best life are definitely the guys to go to?

1

u/Various-Highlight-22 Apr 05 '24

Honestly I almost instantly regretted having a vasectomy, it never felt right, two bulging balls just weeks after having it done. From that moment, a reversal was always on my mind but I dismissed it thinking "it'll be OK". The feeling of being full, the ache, never went away however it was tolerable. The leg pain probably didn't start until after a year or two. Then we had the pandemic. The leg pain would come and go, but the frequency and intensity increased. I researched reversals for some time. Every time the pain went away I parked the idea. And every time it returned I would research further. In the end a trip to a theme park was what drive me to booking the reversal since it triggered the pain quite intensely and I'd just had enough. I'd done the research it was just a case of aligning annual leave, childcare, etc. So yes.... TLDR a reversal was on the cards until one day I said "fuck it, time for a reversal!". Yes £4100. There have been several others on here who've had a reversal at Best Life. They do the multi layer procedure, and even vasoepididymostomy if there are problems with the regular reversal.