Testicular Pain

  I've been having pain in my left testicle for about a month now.
  It is not constant and tends to radiate or throb. It would only hurt when I would stand up from sitting and then it just tended to radiate down my left testicle and quit. The pain has become more severe and more constant. It now hurts when I walk or stand for any period of time. I still have periods of no pain but I'm never %100 comfortable. I have no swelling or redness. But the pain is starting to worry me. I'm going to surgeon this week to see if it may be a hernia. However I'm very active and experience no other pain throughout my body.
  Do you have any idea what this might be?

[HFHS M.D.-KR]

_
Dear Shawn,
Varicoceles are a common problem that cause testicular pain. They result from dilation of the veins that supply the testicle and scrotum . Most commonly varicoceles occur on the left. This is due to the drainage of the left testicular vein into the left renal vein. In contrast, right -sided varicoceles occur less frequently due the right testicular vein draining directly into the inferior vena cava ( the largest vein in the body). The complications of varicoceles include pain, abnormal appearance of the scrotum and reduced fertility. Removal of varicoceles surgically can be performed by a variety  of approaches. The incision can be made in the lower quadrant or in the scrotum. Recovery time is 2 to 4 weeks.
Your case may represent a vaicocele. This may indeed be the cause of your left-sided pain. You definitely need the scheduled physician evaluation. This information is provided for general medical education purposes only.  Please consult your physician for diagnostic and treatment options pertaining to your specific medical condition. More individualized care is available at the Henry Ford Hospital and its satellites (1 800 653 6568).
HFHS MD-KR
*keyword: varicocele