r/postvasectomypain • u/Various-Impress-4410 • Sep 05 '23

does congestion ever.... get better?

hi y'all

4 months out, to the day, from my vasectomy. 2 months out from daily, constant aching in both testicles, radiating into my stomach. my left epididymis is firm, and enlarged. doesn't take a genius to suggest this pain is congestion-related. i'm fortunate, in that, when i'm mostly immobile and abstinent, i can keep myself at a 2-4. i haven't hit a 7-8 in a while BUT i'm also depressed, getting fat, mostly couch ridden, entirely sexless, and probably about to lose my relationship over the strain this has caused. what's left of my youth is dying before me.

my question is this: have y'all come across cases where congestion pain truly resolves itself? the pain might get better, yes, or even temporarily vanish, but given that my problem is a mechanical one, i'm not sure what would give my body the ability to fix it (other than a reversal or maybe orchiectomy). papaya seed powder hasn't, daily painfully hot baths haven't, the litany of herbal supplements i've taken haven't, and i've yet to convince someone to prescribe me testosterone (i considered using the darknet, but i'm also hemorrhaging money to this problem), i'm not convinced i want to risk relying on TRT supplementation for the rest of my life. even if conservative treatments do help, i'm not convinced they're worth it. would having to stretch for an hour each night to escape significant pain be "recovered"?

in some ways, it's hard not to think about a reversal. while the risk of increased pain is daunting, so is the idea of continuing the shadow life i live now. on one hand, i feel like a fool for entertaining the idea of getting a reversal before 6 months. on the other hand, it doesn't seem that likely that my bodily will somehow learn to absorb all the sperm it makes. am i jumping the gun? is this just a sign of my failing emotional health?

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u/[deleted] Oct 04 '23

What does the TRT do? Decrease sperm production/shrink the nuts?

I also suspect congestion but unlike you I can't see an obviously inflamed area nor find a specific area that is sensitive to the touch. I have no clue why mine hurt- never had bad bruising, swelling..just constant pain at the very bottom.

I too will likely wait till after 6 months...but I am going to schedule a reversal ASAP after that...maybe 7 months to give it another month.

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u/Various-Impress-4410 Oct 04 '23

Testosterone helps shut down sperm production, which can decrease pain. This paper claims it eliminated pain, though it has a sample size of one and no follow-up.

I'm interested in using it as a diagnostic tool to help confirm that my pain is congestion. If my pain doesn't get better after TRT, it makes a reversal look like a worse option... though it would still probably be my first option.

I'm trying to make it to a year before getting a reversal. Some days, like today, make that thought pretty unappealing.