Epididymitis anyone had it?

sonny73

Just been to the quack; balls had been aching a couple of weeks ago and booked an appointment, by which time the balls were fine again.
Anyway he said to me it was Epididymitis having checked me over (squeezing my nuts and making them hurt :shock: ) and has prescribed some drugs.
But as all good Dr's do (I guess he had to warn me) if it gets worse I must stop riding; and he had just advised another patient to do that!!!

Just wondered if anyone else has suffered with it, if so did it pass? He said I was 'just susceptible to it', as I've had no STD's or the like!?!? And that it's common in cyclists!!

Anyway it’s a bit of a kick in the balls (had to get it in before anyone else did) to ever hear anyone tell me I may have to give up riding; had it earlier in the year with a prolapsed disc and I was having none of it.

john-e-big-guns

Just read on Wikipedia somthing to do with 'stroking the inner upper thigh' that causes swelling behind ya nuts....interesting read

I hope things will improve

yakk

Look on the bright side.You could always perfect your out of saddle sprinting and climbing technique!
My full sympathies.
Yak

freehub

I have it.

I was proscribed drugs that helped, but the doctor told me it is very common and it can be removed via operating but that can apparently lead to complications, so he said just live with it, so I do, it gives me some bother sometimes, I got worried thinking maybe it was cancer or something as it was a rather large mass, but it's all fine.

I don't think you'll have to give up riding, it's been like a year since I was diagnosed with it.

stevewj

had it when I was about 15 - too embarrassed to tell anyone until it was approaching the size of a lemon. Cured with penicillin but left an ongoing problem with recurrent swelling/aching due to damage to the tubes. Early treatment would have prevented this.

Frank the tank

I've suffered with it for over 25 years. It "flares up periodically and is excruciatingly painful and riding (of any sort ) is out of the question due to the pain.

I can tell when a bout is coming on and I get down the docs. I think the tablets he prescribes are either Oxitetracycline or amoxicillin can't remember now. Either way I've only ever packed up on a tempory basis.

sonny73

Thanks for the replies, it's nice to hear some positive stories; and even in your case Frank that you've not had to do more than temporary breaks in riding.
Fortunately (touch wood) mine is a mild case from what I've read, at present and riding doesn't hurt, I don't even think it agravates it (I hope); as thinking back I've had it for a good few years and only been riding again for a couple and it's not changed due to that. It's crossing the legs when I feel it most.
Cheers

stevewj

The doc prescribed a pouch-like thing that suppports the scrotum with your watsit hanging out the front - looks ridiculous but works well.

passout

I've went to the doc a week ago with it. On some drugs that have pretty much cured it. Wasn't too painful in my case but I went in earlier. He did say that it tends to re-occur. Still, it's a thousand times better than cancer which I thought it might be.

Special K

Gentlemen,

I had surgery this summer. Please don't delay going to the doctors if you have any pain or aching whatsoever.

Having surgery is never fun and if it's about cutting bits out of your gentlemen's area, then trust me when I say, you won't enjoy it.

Happy and healthy Christmas to you all!

Frank the tank

Special K wrote:

Gentlemen,

I had surgery this summer. Please don't delay going to the doctors if you have any pain or aching whatsoever.

Having surgery is never fun and if it's about cutting bits out of your gentlemen's area, then trust me when I say, you won't enjoy it.

Happy and healthy Christmas to you all!

I was told some years ago surgery was an option but this was no guarantee of a life free from the condition, so I chose not to go under the knife.

passout

Frank the tank wrote:

Special K wrote:

Gentlemen,

I had surgery this summer. Please don't delay going to the doctors if you have any pain or aching whatsoever.

Having surgery is never fun and if it's about cutting bits out of your gentlemen's area, then trust me when I say, you won't enjoy it.

Happy and healthy Christmas to you all!

I was told some years ago surgery was an option but this was no guarantee of a life free from the condition, so I chose not to go under the knife.

Excuse my ignorance but does this mean removing the sperm duct / tubes in that area altogether? If so I 'guess' that this means no more kids?

passout

Have you guys tried anatomical saddles or changed your riding style/bike set up in any way as a result of this?

And happy Christmas by the way!

Pross

Sonny73 wrote:

Just been to the quack; balls had been aching a couple of weeks ago and booked an appointment, by which time the balls were fine again.
Anyway he said to me it was Epididymitis having checked me over (squeezing my nuts and making them hurt :shock: ) and has prescribed some drugs.
But as all good Dr's do (I guess he had to warn me) if it gets worse I must stop riding; and he had just advised another patient to do that!!!

Just wondered if anyone else has suffered with it, if so did it pass? He said I was 'just susceptible to it', as I've had no STD's or the like!?!? And that it's common in cyclists!!

Anyway it’s a bit of a kick in the balls (had to get it in before anyone else did) to ever hear anyone tell me I may have to give up riding; had it earlier in the year with a prolapsed disc and I was having none of it.

I'm trying to get around to visiting my GP for pains in that area, not sure if it will be this. I get a pulling ache from my right testicle up towards my hip area every now and then and sometimes feel like my trousers are cutting me in half. Got checked out a few years back as I thought I had a lump there too but was told it's just cordage. What sort of symptoms do you get with this?

Also, did they really recommend giving up riding for a prolapsed disc? Mine has gone (confirmed by xray at my chiropractor) and was going to get the GP to look at that too as it's playing me up again so want to see a specialist. I was actually advised by the chiropractor to start cycling again as it strengthens muscles that support the back.

passout

Pross wrote:

Sonny73 wrote:

Just been to the quack; balls had been aching a couple of weeks ago and booked an appointment, by which time the balls were fine again.
Anyway he said to me it was Epididymitis having checked me over (squeezing my nuts and making them hurt :shock: ) and has prescribed some drugs.
But as all good Dr's do (I guess he had to warn me) if it gets worse I must stop riding; and he had just advised another patient to do that!!!

Just wondered if anyone else has suffered with it, if so did it pass? He said I was 'just susceptible to it', as I've had no STD's or the like!?!? And that it's common in cyclists!!

Anyway it’s a bit of a kick in the balls (had to get it in before anyone else did) to ever hear anyone tell me I may have to give up riding; had it earlier in the year with a prolapsed disc and I was having none of it.

I'm trying to get around to visiting my GP for pains in that area, not sure if it will be this. I get a pulling ache from my right testicle up towards my hip area every now and then and sometimes feel like my trousers are cutting me in half. Got checked out a few years back as I thought I had a lump there too but was told it's just cordage. What sort of symptoms do you get with this?
ck.

Those symptoms sound like mine.

sonny73

Pross wrote:

I'm trying to get around to visiting my GP for pains in that area, not sure if it will be this. I get a pulling ache from my right testicle up towards my hip area every now and then and sometimes feel like my trousers are cutting me in half. Got checked out a few years back as I thought I had a lump there too but was told it's just cordage. What sort of symptoms do you get with this?

Also, did they really recommend giving up riding for a prolapsed disc? Mine has gone (confirmed by xray at my chiropractor) and was going to get the GP to look at that too as it's playing me up again so want to see a specialist. I was actually advised by the chiropractor to start cycling again as it strengthens muscles that support the back.

Definitely get them checked over, better safe than sorry; but yes I had similar symptoms to those you describe, more dull aching though. It was a couple of weeks back when I had been wearing a new pair of jeans for a week or so, stopped wearing them and the aching went; just kept the Dr's appointment to check them over to be safe.

With the prolapsed disc I have (in my neck) it was a specialist surgeon that said maybe I would never be able to cycle agan, my chiropractor (who is a goddess, I bow to her skills) was in total disagreement and 100% correct, took 4 months but they had me riding again and I'm probably fitter and stronger now in general due to the exercises they give me to help.

What surprises me is my GP (about my balls and neck) and the surgeon I saw for my neck, were so bloomin negative, always focus on the worst case scenario and what you should stop doing.
I had to really squeeze it out of them that I could in the long run actually be fine, things would clear up with correct treatment and cycling would be fine, it was seriously like they were scared to say it; but I guess that’s just a bi-product of the suing culture we have these days?

Still, my nuts ache more in the last 2 days since he ‘diagnosed me’ and I've been taking the meds and I haven’t touched my bike since last Thurs; all in the mind I think that is (I hope anyway)

Pross

Thanks, will get around to making that appointment. A dull ache is probably a good description, not very often painful but just enough to make me aware of it. There's only one GP at my practice I trust - the other missed my daughter's brain tumour and we were lucky we kept going back until he referred her to a specialist!

passout

Dull ache is the perfect description.

Gazzaputt

Was diagnosed with the same and I told the doctor I'm a regular cyclist she said don't worry.

t4rmac

I had this earlier in the year. Similar story - went to the docs, got given some antibiotics (iirc) and took a week off riding so as to avoid further complications. I tracked it down to a new pair of bib shorts which weren't providing the right amount of padding in the right place. Might be worth trying some different shorts and / or anatomic saddle. Everyone's different and you need to make sure the crown jewels are safely packed for transit.

Nuggs

freehub wrote:

I was proscribed drugs

No you weren't.

Pross

t4rmac wrote:

I had this earlier in the year. Similar story - went to the docs, got given some antibiotics (iirc) and took a week off riding so as to avoid further complications. I tracked it down to a new pair of bib shorts which weren't providing the right amount of padding in the right place. Might be worth trying some different shorts and / or anatomic saddle. Everyone's different and you need to make sure the crown jewels are safely packed for transit.

How did you do that? I was under the impression it is caused by a bacterial infection :?

freehub

Nuggs wrote:

freehub wrote:

I was proscribed drugs

No you weren't.

Why not?

Pross

freehub wrote:

Nuggs wrote:

freehub wrote:

I was proscribed drugs

No you weren't.

Why not?

Presumably because you were prescribed them?

passout

Pross wrote:

t4rmac wrote:

I had this earlier in the year. Similar story - went to the docs, got given some antibiotics (iirc) and took a week off riding so as to avoid further complications. I tracked it down to a new pair of bib shorts which weren't providing the right amount of padding in the right place. Might be worth trying some different shorts and / or anatomic saddle. Everyone's different and you need to make sure the crown jewels are safely packed for transit.

How did you do that? I was under the impression it is caused by a bacterial infection :?

From what I know there can be different causes. I don't think there has been research on the the link to cycling but my doc reckons it's perfectly possible.

passout

Nuggs wrote:

freehub wrote:

I was proscribed drugs

No you weren't.

Oh yes he was (well it is panto season).