Knocks loudly and coughs, Ahem, is anyone in there...

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

DH has a pain very low in abdomen that's making his left bollock hurt a lot. A blocked duct maybe? Any thoughts?

Thanks.

[BigGitDad]

How about a hernia?

[lou33]

was gonna say hernia

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

Don't hernia's usually have sticking out bits?

Poor old DH is quite concerned - there has been talk of seeing his GP

[DimpledThighs]

UTI?

[lou33]

Common causes of testicular pain

There are many possible causes of testicular pain, some of which are more common and some more serious than others. There are eight main types that all men should know something about.

1. Direct injury
   
   Direct blows to the scrotum will cause that familiar nauseating dull ache that is characteristic of the condition. Any man who has ever suffered a knock in this area will remember the pain for a long time afterwards. Because the sensitive testicles are so vulnerable to injury, all contact sports should be played wearing supporting underwear or a jock strap. In cricket, a box should be used, especially when fielding near to the stumps or when batting. A hard cricket ball travelling at speed can otherwise cause considerable damage.
   
   Usually, bruising or swelling are the worst consequences of a direct blow. However alarming it looks, it will tend to settle within a few days with the help of supportive underwear, painkillers and warm baths. The bruising and swelling resulting from a normal vasectomy operation will also repair itself in the same way in a similar amount of time.
   
   Cycling injuries are not uncommon, not only from long-distance cycling in restrictive shorts on poorly padded saddles, but in stunt riders slipping off the peddles and falling heavily astride the cross bar.
   
   
2. Infection
   
   Both the testicle itself and the epididymis are prone to infection with microorganisms. Inflammation of the testicle is known as orchitis, and that of the epididymis as epididymitis. When both occur together, as they often do, the term is epididymo-orchitis. All cause pain in the area of the testicle, which is tender, swollen and hot to touch.
   
   Bacterial infection often descends from the urinary system leading to a typical infection that will normally respond to a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics. The viral infection mumps is not an uncommon cause of orchitis in adult men who are not immune, usually affecting one side, but sometimes both.
   
   Mumps orchitis is usually preceded by facial swelling due to an inflamed salivary gland just below and in front of one or both ears, and because viruses do not respond to antibiotics, the mainstay of treatment is pain relief and rest. In a small proportion of cases, mumps orchitis can lead to infertility if both testicles are involved, although some authorities prescribe corticosteroid medication to minimise inflammation.
   
   
3. Varicocele and hydrocele
   
   Varicocele and hydrocele can both lead to discomfort around the testicle, rather than actual pain in the testicle itself. Just like the veins in the leg, the veins that drain blood away from the testicles in the scrotum can become varicose, in which case a varicocele is formed. This feels like a bag of worms at the top of the testicle on the affected side and the veins themselves may be tender to the touch. The discomfort is of a dragging, aching nature, and wearing a supportive pair of pants or a jock strap will help.
   
   A doctor can distinguish between swollen veins and the normal underlying testicle through an examination. In moderate to severe cases, an operation to remove the varicose veins is curative.
   
   A hydrocele is a bag of clear fluid that collects in a sac around the testicle and may be the result of a direct injury. Alternatively, it can occur spontaneously in the remnants of an embryonic sac that remains formed around the testicle from birth.
   
   Small hydroceles may hardly be noticed and often resolve without treatment. Larger ones, however, can be drained and the remaining sac removed surgically so it does not reoccur.
   
   
4. Hernia
   
   A hernia occurs when a weakness in the muscular wall of the abdomen allows a loop of intestine to push through it causing a lump to form on the outside. In the groin area, a large hernia can descend downwards into the scrotum making it appear more bulky. The pain, which is usually abdominal rather than scrotal, is usually made worse by movement, coughing or sneezing. An operation called a herniorrhaphy is required to correct the underlying muscle weakness.
   
   
5. Torsion of the testicles
   
   The testicles are fairly mobile structures but they are tethered to the scrotum to prevent them twisting too far in any direction. Testicular torsion occurs when excessive twisting does happen and the blood supply is cut off from above. The testicle then swells and becomes acutely painful. While sometimes the swelling can allow the torsion to correct itself, permanent torsion can be serious in that the testicle will die after six hours without a blood supply.
   
   An operation carried out quickly enough can resolve the situation, but if gangrene has occurred the testicle on the affected side will need to be removed. Having said that, men still function perfectly normally with only one testicle and their future ability to perform sexually and to father children is unaffected.
   
   
6. ?Blue balls? of love
   
   Sexual arousal that does not terminate in ejaculation can cause congestion in the sperm carrying tubes, resulting in a dull aching sensation in the testicle. This is sometimes referred to as ?blue balls?, which is inconvenient but entirely harmless. The pain disappears within a few hours anyway, although some men relieve the discomfort through masturbation.
   
   
7. Kidney stones
   
   A kidney stone on the move from the kidney area downwards to the bladder and out through the penis will usually cause intense sharp pains in the abdomen. However, the pain is commonly referred downwards into the testicle region but the intense suddenness and severity of the pain is very suggestive of a kidney stone. Also, blood may sometimes appear in the urine.
   
   When the doctor finds no abnormality in the scrotum in the presence of these symptoms, investigations and treatment for kidney stones are commenced.

[BigGitDad]

Hernias can manifest themselves in different ways, sometimes they have sticky out bits ie something coming through the stomach wall but sometimes they can appear hip related or like groin strains. Guess you would need to google to find out more and really scare your DH!
I would say if his testicle is sore has he (or you) checked it for lumps?

[lou33]

lol @ blue balls of love

[BigGitDad]

Lou, boy you can really type fast!

[lou33]

they feel rather sore now

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

I've googled hernia's and it does sound quite probable.

Will now read through lou's post ...

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

Thanks for that lou. I'd say it's either infection, hernia or kidney stones and DH can go show his tackle to the GP in the morning.

[lou33]

am still chuckling over blue balls of love

[BigGitDad]

How did your husband get on? Did he get his bits felt?

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

DH had an emergency GP visit on Monday morning, he had a feverish night and then at 7am Monday, he passed-out cold on the bathroom floor

GP ruled out appendix & hernia but referred him to Maidstone hospital (which is an hours drive) for scans & tests for possible kidney stones, twisted testicle or urinary tract infection. Hospital Drs failed to do any scans, discounted the twisted melons man and instead gave him 2 weeks of antibiotics. If he's still in pain, we can go back. Farking marvellous!

At least DH has stopped fainting & falling over.

[BigGitDad]

Coor blimey! Poor fella, lets hope he gets well soon.
I wonder how long it will be before you write the thread 'My DH has been ill for a week now and he's milking it etc!!'
Seriously though he must be in some pain.

[DrDaddy]

Poor guy...please pass on my best for a speedy recovery. Makes me ache down there just thinking about it.

Was reading the thread and thinking it probably wasn't tortion as I remember my cousin having this when he was about 17. He was in absolute agony for about 3 hours before plucking up enough courage to wake his mum and dad at 4am. They whipped him into A&E where the doc said, hmm...if it's become necrotic it might have to come off! He then fainted and says after the op, the first thing he did was count how many. Luckily, he was intact.

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

DH is feeling slightly better today.

[seamonstr]

I had an infection in the right one when I was about 18, most painful thing I've ever had.

Of course, being too mortified to speak to the doctor and ignoring it as it ballooned up for 3 weeks probably didn't help.

[BigGitDad]

How is HB getting on Duchess?

[TheDuchessOfNorksBride]

He is feeling much better, thank you. So it looks like it is 'just' a UTI and not kidney stones or worse.

Can't believe it had such an effect on him though.

Seamonstr - I hope you've learned your lesson about being shy of the Dr!

[BigGitDad]

Could be worse, he could have got manflu!