Reversal of Corticosteroid Damage?

[jimmy199]

For about a year, on and off, I was prescribed various anti-fungal and hydro-cortisone ointment and creams by my doctor, and later my dermatologist to deal with itching on my scrotum and at the base of my penis shaft (where it meets the scrotum). No treatments seemed to help, so I eventually gave up on all prescription, about a year later and hoped the issue would resolve itself. It has now been a year since I gave up on doctors, and nearly two years since my problem began (august of 2009), and I find that my scrotal skin is hypersensitive. Just wearing pants causes me to experience itching and soreness. I don't know if its normal because i can't really remember how the skin used to look, but there is a "shinyness" about the skin, particularly where the penis hangs over the scrotum. In addition, the fordyce spots in this area are extra pronounced. I did a bit of my own internet research, having given up on my doc, and came across some unsettling information about steroid induced skin atrophy. I am in a panic that the cortisone treatments have permanently damaged my skin. Is this likely? I notice no striae, which i've read indicate atrophy, but the skin does seem to have lost some of its colour, and is, as i mentioned before, "shinyer"than before. Is soreness and itching a symptom of atrophy? Will the atrophy be resolved over time on its own? (I am only 20 yrs old.) In my panic I have searched the web for methods of reversing atrophy, and have come across a great deal of information about a product called "Tretinoin," which apparently helps to reverse skin atrophy. Is it advisable to use this or something similar on an area so sensitive as the scrotum? Obviously I will return to my dermatologist in person to ask, but I was hoping to get some insight from you. This condition is severely depressing as it is always on my mind.  

[Gimsiez]

Anyone???

[flutivatehell]

medicine is not working anymore...had amazing relief for a week and now back to normal pain...i guess I´m just a loser who don´t deserve to be happy. bye

[Fullysickish]

:( really sorry to hear that

[flutivatehell]

"I have not been on this site for months. Sorry. My problem is almost entirely gone but I am on Lyrica, Cymbalta, and Oxycodone. All are for nerves. I have non length dependent small fibre neuropathy. It spreads fast and to almost everywhere on the body. I don't know if the sting in the head of my penis was a first symptom, which I believe is the case, or just a separate issue. In any case the meds for nerves has calmed it down to almost nothing. I first went to a dermatologist andwas told abrasion from rubbing on underwear. Then neuropathy by a three different urologist. Of course the neurologist insisted it was a urology problem until just recently. Get someone to prescribe meds for nerve pain and see if it helps. If it does it is a nerve problem. Good luck."

[flutivatehell]

medicine is not working as good as before..don´t know why. Atleast I know what the problem is now and I will go see a nuorologist.

[flutivatehell]

the last two days have been difficult cause the pain is back again. Not like before but that amazing relief i have had for a week has subsided a bit. I don´t know why. Still taking the antibiotics though and still convinced i found the right diagnos. I don´t understand....

[flutivatehell]

I´ve been reading other forums about penile dysasthesia and it seems like some people have had big relief from Lyrica.

"Ive had this exact problem for almost a year now. Im not sure what caused it, but it is extremely difficult to live with. Even a slight amount of rubbing against underwear hurts a lot. My doctor decided that it was likely nerve pain and prescribed me pregabalin. The relief I've gotten is amazing. But, the pain is still there sometimes, although its much reduced, and if I forget to take the pill on time, I can feel the pain coming on a few hours later. I've been on pregabalin for about three months. The doctor says that it should help the nerve heal, but I havent seen any improvements on the odd day or two where I forgot to take the pill on time. I'm going to request to see a specialist because I dont want to take a pill for the rest of my life. I hope this helps some of you. If anyone else has had success with another drug or treatment, please respond

[flutivatehell]

I promise to keep you updated...the pain is down 50 - 70 percent...some days around 50 others 70.. this most dramatic difference is the burning sensation...there is still itch from time to time but not like before. The skin is still thinner and therefor I guess it´s always gonna be a bit more sensitive than before. This medicine is not a cure for the atrophy it´s a cure for steroid induced rosacea and nerve damage caused by the cortisone. I don´t know how many of you in here who are just concerned about the atrophy itself. I have no good news there and i strongly believe once it occured it´s irreversible. What I´m saying is that for you who like me have got chronic PAIN from the cortisone. I urge you to try these antibiotics. I just want to make that clear so you don´t think I found a cure for the atrophy. But for someone like me this is a dramatic difference to get a pain relief of this degree. Maybe this will only help during the time I take the medicine and don´t know the answer to that and time will tell. But i think it´s amazing I found the diagnos. There is absolutely no hesitating that this is what happened to me. NERVE DAMAGE. I´m thinking about booking an appointment with a neurologist and discuss this and see if there are more treatments. WIll keep you updated.

[flutivatehell]

so it seems the relief is still around 50 percent. I want to be cured and get it down 100 percent but i´m realistic and understand it won´t happen. But as I have said before...this is the only thing that has worked and you should try it if you´re in pain. I fear the pain will come back when i quit the meds though. I don´t know...feeling a bit less depressed at least...can´t believe that this thing that happened to me has stolen my life like this...if you´re in my situation I feel your pain.

[flutivatehell]

AFTER 6 ****** YEARS!!!!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!