Hydrocele and cycling
 

Greetings all. About 12 years ago I developed a rather sizable hydrocele. I eventually had it surgically removed (as some may know, there are papers that claim that hydroceles may result from cycling, oh well). Now the question: Using the stationary bike at the gym, my affected testicle will ache badly after riding. My inference is that this is due to rubbing of the scrotum etc etc. Does anyone have any ideas on how to avoid such problems? Seat position? Saddle changes? Or should I hang up my cleats for good...

Kahrs: I've got one too. Your post convinced me it is not yet time for surgery. I am 75 years old and just finished 47 miles in the Berkshire Mountains. Today I hit 15 for an average speed for the first time. Am not about to give up cycling yet. My present bike is a Trek 1.1 2010 model. The seat is notorious for being hard and uncomfortable (just read the reviews). Thought I would replace it first thing. Now, after 1000 miles I find I really like it because it seems to minimize the discomfort of an extra large "package". Don't know if that might be an answer (a harder seat with a narrow seatprint). Also, the various lubricants available none of which I have yet tried. Good luck! (to both of us.)

One other advantage of a hard seat is that it forces you to pedal standing more often.

Well,

I had a hydrocele when I was seven or eight, and I was an active cyclist by then. But I don't remember any problems associated with it after surgery.

However, I do remember getting a jack knife, comic books and other things for being in the hospital. Now days I don't think they'd let a kid have a jack knife in the hospital. :rolleyes:

Get a road bike. Stationary bikes, at least in public spaces, are meant to be "1 size fits all". I would think that getting a comfortable fit would be difficult at best. I could, of course, (perish the thought) be wrong, however, that is how the local Y's are.

I had one repaired about 35 years ago and it left one testicle higher than the other due to scarring. I twist the saddle slightly to the "high" side and it is much more comfortable. You may want to twist to the non-affected side.

@Sculptor7: As I've learned, when it comes to surgery "let your pain be your guide" - I was pretty uncomfortable before... I had independently thought of the uncomfortable saddle!

@artkansas: No, they'd pick it up on the x-ray or see it zooming in the MRI

@rck: I own two road bikes but I haven't been riding in many years. I wanted to see if it was worth putting in the money to refurbish them ... But I agree, the saddle is unreasonably wide.

@Metric Man: How does one join Team Poseur? Thanks for the hint -- in my case, I believe it's a problem with the epididymis --- I'm not sure about the scarring. I wonder, does anyone know of urologists who specialize in cyclists???

All you have to do is have a desire...and buy a jersey. ;)

http://www.elevengear.us/images/poseur/poseur-J.jpg

Interesting, I have had a diagnosed Hydrocele for as long as I can remember. The hydrocele, however, hasn't changed size at all. A couple of doctors suggested that I have surgery to "correct" it, but they described a procedure that sounded more like an "epididym-ectomy" in nature. Since I have no pain or discomfort, and I couldn't see the value in removing otherwise healthy tissue, I've declined their surgical option.

Go back and ask your doctor what's going on. I don't think there should be any pain. I've had the problem on both sides at separate times, and other than for short periods after the surgeries were done, there's been no pain or even discomfort...it's like they never happened.

I've had a spermatocele for 25 years. It used to bother me occasionally, but to be honest, I haven't noticed any discomfort for a long time.