Testicle pain for 3 weeks

[plexity]

I started feeling some pain in my left testicle about three weeks ago and after four days I went to my doctor(PCP) who prescribed a week dosage of Cipro.  A US was not done at the time b/c I've had this happen to me about two years ago, and a US at that time was negative and a 5 day dosage of strong antibiotic (not cipro, don't remember what it was) made things OK.  After a week of the cipro, the pain was still there so a US was scheduled for tuesday (9/16) and I was told to not refill the cipro. The US tech wouldn't say anything to me except "the doctor will call you when he has the results", but something definetely did not look correct on my left testicle (I could see the screen the whole time). While my right side looked clear, the left side had several black areas. The pain has gotten worse the last three-four days and I'm feeling pain and discomfort in my lower abdomen.  It'll probably be another day or to before the results get to the doctor, so I'm at this state of just being nervous about the possibility of testicular cancer. I've probably done twenty self-exams the last 24 hours out of paranoia (which probably doesn't help the pain) and everything seems ok excecpt for where the testicle connects to the the tubing. From the research I've done, cancer does not usually involve pain in the testicle, and I would be able to feel a bump.  One thing to note is that when I took the cipro, I missed a whole day (two dosages), and just made it up by taking 8 days instead of seven to finish the prescription. Would this impact the effectiveness of the antibiotic?

My main questions at this point are how much should I be worrying, should I go ahead an refill my cipro(I'm authorized for three refills) while I wait for the doctor to get back to me,
and is it possible that this is just a bad case of Epyditimis
or could it be something else and worse?

Thanks,
Deepak

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Testicular cancer normally presents as a painless mass - unless it is rapidly enlarging, it is unlikely that testicular cancer can cause pain.  Other causes of testicular disorders would include epididymitis, varicoceles (dilated veins in the scrotum), hydroceles, cysts, or less likely, torsion.  

I would hold off on antibiotics as instructed by your physician - since only epididymitis or infections would be successfully treated with the antibiotics.  

If the scrotal ultrasound is negative, I would pursue a prostatic cause (i.e. prostatitis) - since pain from prostate inflammation can radiate to the prostate.  

Missing a day of the antibiotics shouldn't have much of an effect, as long as you finished to prescribed course.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Thanks,
Kevin, M.D.

[johnpatt]

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[plexity]

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