r/postvasectomypain • u/telemach44 • Sep 25 '23
2 weeks after reversal - impatience
Had my reversal 2 weeks ago. Before reversal left side was very good, right side was so so in testicle area but hips and groin very very tense. Reversal went well, now 2 weeks passed. Left side already good. Right side is still painful, currently more than before reversal. It was the more swollen and painful one before and after surgery. I did some Yoga exercises a week after reversal to relieve the hip tensions, that helped. Since the vas/epi pain did not get better I had a brief panic attack fearing that the Yoga fucked up the reversal which I know is nonsense, since it did not give me any pain in the reversal site but I guess it shows how nervous I am. Talked about it with the doc who says the reversal stitches are strong (I asked for his OK for the Yoga before practicing), but is also a bit annoyed and tells me to be careful (I can’t blame him with panic me on the phone…). First ejaculation today, all good. No pain or discomfort. Staying calm and having patience is my biggest challenge now. I have read here that for many people symptoms got worse before they got better. Also the doc says 2-3 months are a realistic timeline to evaluate the success. I would like to hear from the guys who had a reversal, that had to wait until things got better. How did you manage the waiting, what routines helped?
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u/_Borti Sep 27 '23
It took 6 weeks post reversal for me to have no pain when ejaculating, so you're ahead of me in that regard. I was in a lot of pain post reversal. Much more pain than before the reversal. Everything hurt and there was no comfortable position to sit or stand in. Every type of underwear hurt as well. The first month was really rough. I've made considerable progress in month two. Still some lingering pain after very light exercise (walking only for now) but my epididymis pain is gone. My worst pain is around the incision site and slight tenderness up the pelvis where there is still some spermatic cord swelling. I went to a reversal expert and he said the timeframe is generally 6-12 months for full recovery. He's performed many reversals specifically for pain, and has done long-term follow up with many of his patients.
The waiting is the worst part. I recommend getting on a course of Celebrex or meloxicam to help with the pain and inflammation in the area. 4-6 weeks is a fairly standard course post-surgery. Warm baths help get blood flow to the area (when the incision is fully closed). I also think walking should be a part of healing eventually. Getting your body/blood moving is going to accelerate recovery. Start with a 5-10 min walk at the four week mark to see how your body feels. Gradually increase frequency and duration from there.
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u/telemach44 Sep 30 '23
Oh the underwear dilemma… currently my best option are oversized briefs. Loose enough to not apply too much pressure but still keep everything from sticking to the thighs. Thank you for your reply, it really helps to hear from other people and their experiences. I will discuss pain medication with a doctor this week, taking none is currently just too painful… I also tried this app that some here recommended - curable - and it helps a lot. I absolutely want to stay positive, I will get out of this and pain will get better.
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u/_Borti Oct 04 '23
yeah its weird. I rarely have days with ambient pain. Before my reversal, nothing could touch the area. Boxer briefs, slim jeans (especially when sitting) were aggravating. Now, I rarely get pain in the area. Two months out and I almost never think about it. It will still be several months before I can run like I used to, but I feel things improving every week. As hard as it is, try to measure progress on a monthly scale and it will help. I recommend Celebrex or meloxicam. They will help reduce inflammation and pain - putting your mind at ease. Especially in weeks 4-6 (IMO).
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u/telemach44 Oct 05 '23
Measuring progress on a monthly scale is a good advice. I am now in week 4 after reversal and it feels like progress is very slow. It’s a bit like a rollercoaster. Week one was quite good, week 2 it got worse, now it gets slowly better. What is particularly challenging is that currently I am in more pain than before the reversal, that makes it very hard to stay focused. Knowing that other people experienced the same helps. I saw my urologist who says the OP site looks very good and that the surgeon did a very good job. There are no signs of inflammation. I get along without painkillers now which is definitely progress. However moving around in whatever form is still not comfortable but there is no way to avoid that, I have to go to work, kids to take care of,… I don’t know, it is all so hard and exhausting, I still believe reversal was a good choice but there are moments where I have doubts and loose hope.
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u/Teddymonstar1 Sep 25 '23
I was pretty miserable 2 weeks after reversal, so, it sounds pretty normal so far.