Orchialgia is testicular pain that can be acute or chronic and caused by various medical problems. Diagnosis and treatment can be challenging, and patients may benefit from consulting a urologist with experience in this area. Acute pain can be caused by an infection or injury, while chronic orchialgia may be associated with cysts, cancerous growths, or surgery. Treatment options include pain management, surgery, and electrical stimulation. It can take weeks or months to diagnose and treat, and patients may find complementary treatments helpful.
Orchialgia refers to pain in the testicles, which can be caused by a variety of medical problems. It can be acute in nature, with rapid onset and severe pain, or it can be chronic, characterized by at least three months of intermittent to constant pain. Evaluation and treatment can be challenging, as this symptom is notoriously difficult to track down in some cases, and some of the treatment options carry an increased risk of causing further orchialgia. Patients may find it helpful to consult a urologist with experience in this area to get the best care.
Acute pain can be caused by an infection or an injury, with testicular torsion being a common culprit. This condition occurs when the spermatic cord becomes kinked, creating a situation similar to a kink in a tube. Without an adequate blood supply, the tissues under the twist begin to develop ischemia, a lack of oxygen, which can cause severe pain. If the patient does not receive treatment, there is a risk that parts of the testicles may die, which puts the patient at risk of serious infections.
Cases of chronic orchialgia may be associated with cysts, cancerous growths, and a history of surgery. Cysts can present early with pain and some swelling and can take time to diagnose accurately, as can tumors, especially if the patient does not appear to be at high risk. A doctor may not consider testicular cancer in a very young man, for example, when the patient reports chronic orchialgia. Surgeries such as a vasectomy can sometimes cause persistent chronic pain due to nerve damage or scarring.
An immediate option for the management of orchialgia is pain management to help the patient feel more comfortable. The next step is a thorough assessment to find out what is causing the problem. This may require palpation, medical imaging, and an interview with the patient to look for risk factors that may be involved. Some conditions need to be treated surgically to relieve pain and discomfort, while options such as electrical stimulation might be considered for patients with what appears to be nerve pain that isn’t associated with any specific disorder in the testicles.
It can take weeks or months to define the case of orchialgia and provide adequate treatment, especially when there is no apparent physical cause. During this time, patients can be very uncomfortable. Some patients find it helpful to use treatments such as physical therapy, stretching, and acupuncture to complement their care.
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