pharmboyrx

About a week ago I was having some discomfort in my left testicle. It went away, then came back yesterday. Yesterday it was more pronounced and extended up to the left of my belly button. I really noticed it when I was pushing in the clutch on my car. It didn't hurt, but it was uncomfortable. Last night it did hurt (like 3/10) when I bent over to pick up my clothes off the floor or got up out of bed quickly.

I ended up going to the ER where I had to turn and cough a lot. They ultrasounded my nuts (Like they do for pregnant women) to rule out testicular torsion. I was there for 5 hours and they couldn't find anything wrong with me. All they could say was that it might be a hernia in early stages or early epididymitis which is inflammation of the gland on the back of the testicle. They referred me to a PCP and assured me they couldn't see anything that needed immediate attention.

So I've woken up now and it still feels the same. So my question is: How long does it take for a hernia to be detectable? Anyone here had a hernia? What's it feel like? I'm just scared to do anything involving physical exertion now.

John Wilke

I would lay low until you see your doc. Stay away from activities that make it hurt.

That's the best I can offer.

jw

Jim Bonnet

I had a hernia .. it never really hurt that bad. had it for about 10 years before i got it repaired last off season.. good luck.

NRRider

Must...refrain...from...wisecrack....
I don't know the answer to your question, but hope you get it resolved soon. Unknown ailments like that are really annoying.

Bacciagalupe

+1

Don't try to get actual medical advice from a web board, of all places. Almost no one here is qualified to make a better diagnosis than the ER, and absolutely no one on this board has examined you or seen the results of whatever tests they gave you at the ER.

Go see the doctor, period.

pharmboyrx

I know. My one regret is that I forgot to ask if I could have the picture.

Also, I wasn't asking for medical advice online. I'm asking for experiences relating to hernias and how long it took for them to develop. I've never had a hernia or epididymitis and don't know anyone who has so I was just trying to satisfy my curiosity until I saw my PCP. I did go see a doctor, three in fact......and a nurse......and another nurse....and the ultrasound lady. If I was relying on this board for medical advice, I wouldn't have gone to the ER

msheron

I had a hernia rt. groin..............I lifted to much weight on my shoulders in the 8th grade and I tore my groin muscle wall............(actually intestines came through the muscle wall and extended into my right nut sack! Yeeeeeeeeooooooow!

The surgery was basic and it healed................now that was 22 years ago! I have even had epiditimitis and that is uncomfortable as well. I also have stricture in my urethra or however you spell it. Normal but not common.......no real concern by Urologist and just live with some discomfort in the nether regions when I really exert physical activity. That is why I no longer run..............too much pressure on the prostate area and leaves me sore.

If you have a hernia there will be a noticeable bulge in the affected area and goes away when you lay down, basically your intestines suck back inside you until you stand again. But anyways, you will know. Wait til the doctor grabs your Nads and squeezes them simutaneously and tells you to cough! Yeeeeeeoooooowwww! You can hardly breathe at that point.

Don't mean to scare you but I have been a walking disaster all my life. Blew off my top lip with a 12 gauge in 1989 and had it sewed back on, shot in the right eye in 1984 and lost vision but it came back, in 2000 nearly severed off three fingers right hand and had one of the best hand surgeons in southeast reattach nerves and tendons and now only a 17% disability in that hand after months of rehab. I could go on but when your born on Friday the 13th you expect crap like that to happen to you..........anyone want to go riding with me and see if it rubs off!

TNoodles

I had a hernia some years ago. I skied through an entire season with it and then had it repaired in the spring. The doctor actually recommended some easy cycling as soon as the incision healed. These days the surgery is even less invasive. If it is a hernia you really don't want to let it go as long as I did because complications can result, including infection, and then you can have some real problems.

oujeep1

A hernia is apparent if you have a hernia. A hernia small enough to detect is not going to cause symptoms. As a urologist I frequently deal with testicular pain of unclear origin-there are multiple causes that need to be ruled out, such as a hernia, kidney stone(did they do a urinalysis)-even in extreme cases low back disease can cause referred pain. If everything else is ruled out, best advice is rest and antiinflammatories for a few weeks. And unless your insurance requires it go to a urologist, not your pcp.

oujeep1

I missspoke my last post, i meant to say a hernia small enough to be difficult to detect is not going to cause symptoms. Also have you had a vasectomy?

tenpas

My last bout of kidney stones had a pain from the testicle up to the right side near the appendix. It would come & go, but not something you want to get caught without a dr around. Suddenly it became VERY painful.

Definitely go see a Dr, don't wait (remember what happened to Lance, he waited.....)

monk

I had a hernia that took 15 years or so to get bad enough for me to finally get it repaired . . . never really hurt, however. I would notice it mainly when I coughed - - I'd see it bulge out. I would literally have to "push" it back in . . . got so used to it that I would hold my hand over it before I coughed sometimes. A hernia should have nothing to do with your testicles, I wouldn't think. But hey, like others have said in this thread I don't think I'd take the advice of a bunch of cyclists on this one . . . go back to the doc.

scottmorrison99

I gotta ask. How would a vasectomy cause this kind of pain? I have had a vasectomy, so I'm askin'.

pharmboyrx

They did do a urinalysis. it was clean. No vasectomy. The only thing relevant I can think of is at a physical 3 years ago my old dotor found a spermatocele on my left testicle/sperm duct. I don't think its grown though. They did say that I might have to go to a urologist. I don't have insurance so I was thinking about skipping the middle man and going straight to a urologist to save some money.

I almost felt like I was making it up because they practically did a complete physical and said I was in perfect condition. But who knows.

oujeep1

A spermatocele can cause pain if it is large enough- the only real cure for that is surgery-I tell all my patients they will feel worse instead of better for 3-4 weeks after that surgery. A vasectomy can be associated with what is known as the post vasectomy syndrome, testicular pain that is delayed in onset, sometimes by years, probably from pressure in the testicle or more likely the epididymis, due to the fact that you still produce sperm but they cannot go anywhere. Affects maybe 1/10 vasectomy pt. can be anywhere from very mild to quite a problem. Let me most importantly say to anyone who has a hernia that pushes out and they have to force it back in(not just a bulge when you cough that goes away) PLEASE see a surgeon, that should be fixed. That bulge is your intestine- can lead to an incarcerated hernia-bowel trapped-which can lead to a strangulated hernia-bowel dead- not something to mess around with.

mimis

I'm a doc. I wouldn't be surprised if this is only sciatic pain reflecting at that area. Sciatic pain can imitate groin or testicular or thigh or knee or foot or heel or gluteal or you name it pain... Extending a leg (clutch pedal) and bending over typically trigger an occult lumbar and sciatic inflammation. Are you having low back pain on the saddle or whenever you feel this groin discomfort? I'd say forget the hernia scenario and see an orthopedics or physical therapist!

mimis

Doc mimis again: fact is that since your testicular/inguinal ultrasound was normal, possibility of a spermatocele is ruled out. Unless the u/s operator was ill qualified..