I'm a 20 year old male suffering!!!
It's very difficult to describe my symptoms because they always change. But basically, my right testicle has this very uncomfortable feeling to it. It isn't a pain but like an achy, dull feeling to it. It’s like a constant reminder that something is there and out of the norm. When I physically touch it, it isn't painful except for the bottom part of it where I assume is where the epididymis and testicle connect. It's a very unbearable discomfort since it's chronic and unmanageable. However, I do have actual pain in my right groin. After doing my own research, I would call this my spermatic cord or my inguinal canal. The pain is usually dull but I do have some sudden sharp pains that quickly come and go. The other main source of discomfort is my lower right back on my pelvis area right above the buttocks. It feels like this ache that I need to constantly massage to make it feel better. I feel little rubbery nodules when I do massage this area. I also feel a tender spot on my actual lower spine.
These symptoms are chronic/persistent. However, periodically I get the same feeling on my left testicle/groin/lower back. When it happens on my left side, it doesn't last a very long time. But there is times when both testicles ache for almost a whole day.
Occasionally, this discomfort/pain radiates down my right butt cheek or down into my thigh or the tendons right above my knee. When it radiates into these areas, it's only for a short period of time. However, this referred pain never happens on the left side. Recently, I also began having some discomfort in my perineum area as well but I don’t know if this is related.
This problem first started when I was 18 years old. During this time, I was checked for STD's and given ultrasounds of my scrotum and kidneys. I didn't have any STD's nor kidney stones. But the scrotum ultrasound only diagnosed me for Vericocele. The Urologist I saw at this time told me it wasn't a big deal and prescribed Naproxen. I didn't find that any NSAID's helped me. However, the discomfort ended up suppressing itself for the next two years to a point where I could do my daily activities and not worry about it.
Two years later, or about three months ago, the discomfort came back much worse and persistant. I went to see my doctor, where after a negative urinalysis; I was given Doxycycline for Epidytimitis. Didn't help. I was then told it was Prostatitis. After having my prostate checked for normal results, I was still put on Levaquin and Flomax just in case. Didn't help. I then got a CT scan on my pelvis area where everything came back normal except for scattered lymph nodes in the retroperitoneum and the mesentery that were ignored because they didn’t meet CT criteria for enlarged lymph nodes.
Then I was told it could be my genitofemoral nerve, which runs from my back to my scrotum along my groin. I was then placed on anti-inflammatory steroid tablets, methylprednisolone. Up to this point, it was VERY difficult for me to roll out of my bed to do my daily tasks as if it was a simple headache. After taking the methylpredisolone, I felt as if God was giving me a break. This medication has been the only thing that has helped. It didn't completely go away but it got to a point where I was no longer climbing up the walls in misery.
After telling my doctor about this, he wanted to send me to a Neurologist to get a steroid shot in my spine since taking oral steroids can't be a long term solution. However, before being referred, the neurologist suggested to make sure it wasn't a hernia. So then I was then sent to a general surgeon where he said it wasn't a hernia and that I should get a second opinion from an Urologist. So then I go to the Urologist where after a negative physical exam on my scrotum, I was told he couldn't help me, but a visit to a Neurologist was his recommendation. Along with his recommendation, he also believed that it can't be my genitofermal nerve since the location of this nerve is too high and deep compared to the area of discomfort in my lower back. He also said he would think it's a bulging disc in my spine if the pain is bilateral. But since the discomfort is chronic on my right side and periodic on my left, I don't know if this would be considered bilateral.
Besides everything else mentioned above, I also tried visiting a chiropractor and trying acupuncture. After a few visits to both with little to no improvements, I stopped going because I couldn’t keep affording it, especially when I wasn’t seeing improvements. Now since all arrows are pointing to a Neurologist, I got my referral to see one.
At my initial appointment, I was given a few physical exams and was sent to get an MRI on my lower back region where results were normal. I found this as a bitter/sweet feeling since my hunt still continued. After following up with the Neurologist, he ordered a second MRI, this time on my pelvis, which also came back normal.
I have hit a dead end and I no longer know what to do. Can anybody help me???? :(
Every time I see a new doctor, I try to have hope that I will find a solution to my agony. But after being turned down so many times and having so many possible diagnostic solutions fail, I have a fear that I'm going to just have to life with this. I’m always simply told to take NSAID’s which don’t even touch the problem. Regardless if I’m laying down, sitting, or standing up, it’s STILL there. Neither sneezing nor coughing tends to make it worse. Urinating and ejaculation is normal and painless. I can’t find any sorts of trends with this. Sleeping has become very difficult. I also have feelings of emotional distress, anger, and tension build up since I feel so helpless.
I'm 20 years old and this pain has pretty much taken over my life. I’m now on anti-depressants to stop all the negative thinking that's caused by this (unseen cancer, chronic pain that won't ever be cured or diagnosed). I really wouldn't want to go to an extreme of getting an orchiectomy but I really can't live like this for the rest of my life.