I am now 2 weeks post vasectomy and I was told I’d be back training in 1 week. Well, it hasn’t happened! I had this done under local anesthesia in an office and was back to work (Emergency Medicine PA) in less than 36 hours. I did very well the first 4 days and then on day 5 I started experiencing pain in my left testicle. I went back to the urologist on day 6 and he said my exam was normal and that the only thing he could offer me was empiric antibiotics although there was no signs of infection (i.e. fever, swelling, redness, etc.). I had a little bruising on my scrotum but very little swelling. The pain did and still does radiate up my inguinal canal to my left lower abdomen/pelvis. I tried riding today and can’t sit on a saddle without pain and I tried running and that is painful too. I am somewhat baffled. I could see if my nutsack was all swollen and angry but that’s not the case. I don’t think I should be having this much discomfort 2 weeks out from an office procedure and the other thing that doesn’t make sense is why did I not have this pain initially? Why did it all start around day 5? Any thoughts from any Urologists on the forum or anyone who has had similar problems post vasectomy?
Sounds like they are going to have to come off. Sorry.
Seriously, though, go back to them now. I had some pain 2-3 days after that was worse than day 1, but two weeks seems like way too long. Don’t worry about exercise this week, but I’d get a second opinion if the Dr. who did it is unhelpful/unconcerned.
Hopefully someone here knows more.
Maybe they forgot a tool in there? I hear all the time of physicians leaving scapels and such inside people and sewing them up. Hope not for your sake. Good luck.
Yeah, well, uh, all I can tell you is that a week after my little snip snip, I was doing a mountain bike triathon with no pain. Second opinion definitely called for.
I have a friend who was back on the bike in 6 days after the procedure. I have to disagree with you though that it is ludicrous to think that I’d be back on the bike in 2 weeks. We’re not talking about major surgery here. I think I should be able to be doing light work-outs now.
I had mine done right after Thanksgiving. It took until about 10 days ago for the pain and bleeding to fully subside (a little more than 3 weeks following the procedure). I did my first run about a week after the surgery and had quite a bit of discomfort. I wasn’t able to comfortably ride a bike until last week. Up to that point, I was popping Tylenol and using Neosporin twice daily. As for swimming, the only advice I received was wait until all of the sutures disintegrate (my first pool workout will be after the first of the year).
Hope this helps.
It’s big but it ain’t that big to leave a tool in there! LOL!
I was swimming 2 days after they were cut and I started riding about 1 1/2 weeks later. It tood a few more weeks before the saddle was my friend again. If it hurts to ride give it a bit more time and stick to the pool.
Why would a cyclist get a vasectemy anyway? I thought cycling was making us all impotent and sterile…oh wait…I read that in the NYT…nevermind.
something is clearly not right.
do you need a non medical person to remind you that any significant post procedure pain requires attention?
fire the first one.
find a new one who gives a damn.
I sadly had complication and was still only about 2.5 weeks to getting back on the bike. I did have one issue a year ago while training for a trail 100 with some soreness but antibiotics took care of it. In my humble opinion I would also go get another opinion as all the people I know and research I did say that this is not a normal situation.
That said I have to say my doctor had the coolest name for a urologist — Dr Sacknoff!!
I have a friend who was back on the bike in 6 days after the procedure. I have to disagree with you though that it is ludicrous to think that I’d be back on the bike in 2 weeks. We’re not talking about major surgery here. I think I should be able to be doing light work-outs now.
Great!
You asked opinions on a triathlon forum. Not looking for you to agree or disagree I gave mine. I don’t particularly care what your friends have done. I thought I would simply tell you my experience. Thanks might have been in order. Obviously you are looking for validation of the opinion you have already arrived at. Jim Mishler has done that for you I assume. Whatever.
Bye.
You are being a little over sensitive here or maybe just a little bit immature. Your response was appreciated and respected. Thank you for your reply.
If you are a PA - remember: wind, water, wound. Were you icing a lot? Wearing a supportive jock/Under Armor type undies? Did you get the empiric abx? At day 5 an increase in pain tends to point to an infection - just might not be clinically evident yet. I’d take the po abx for now just to be safe. Come to think of it, I’m scheduled for my vasectomy on 1/27/06 and I really don’t need to read this 
I think I’ll start myself on some abx prophylactically now …
If you are a PA - remember: wind, water, wound. Were you icing a lot? Wearing a supportive jock/Under Armor type undies? Did you get the empiric abx? At day 5 an increase in pain tends to point to an infection - just might not be clinically evident yet. I’d take the po abx for now just to be safe. Come to think of it, I’m scheduled for my vasectomy on 1/27/06 and I really don’t need to read this I think I’ll start myself on some abx prophylactically now …
Im scheduled for one on 1/11/06. I thought it was supposed to be quick and easy, this doesnt sound like fun!
it is not fun.
it is not easy.
it is quick though.
An easier route would be to just wear a CONDOM!!! No surgery required there 
I am a PA, 5 years Cardiothoracic Surgery and the last 3 years Emergency Medicine and before that 7 years of Critical Care nursing. Wind, water, wound, womb, wonder drugs if I can remember that far back-- But that is the mneumonic you follow to work up a post-operative fever which I don’t have. Anyway, I think where I went wrong was by going back to work 12+ hours on my feet way too soon. I did wear a jock and am currently still taking the antibiotic and Ibuprofen. Yea, I am worried about a smoldering infection although no signs of infection yet other than pain. Good luck with your vasectomy. Take care!
I am a PA, 5 years Cardiothoracic Surgery and the last 3 years Emergency Medicine and before that 7 years of Critical Care nursing. Wind, water, wound, womb, wonder drugs if I can remember that far back-- But that is the mneumonic you follow to work up a post-operative fever which I don’t have. I’m sure you remember this more than I do since you are a Podiatrist. Boy I send you guys alot of business out of the ER. Anyway, good luck with your snip, snip. I’m sure I’m just one of the unlucky guys who won’t only suffer with pain for an extended period of time but my wife will probably get pregnant 6 months from now and I’ll be asking myself what the hell…
Google ‘post-vasectomy syndrome’, you’ll find some enlightening info. Sometimes pain happens after vasectomy for no clear reason. It sucks if it happens to you.
If there are no signs of infection, there probably isn’t one. Sometimes the desire to ‘do something’ makes it hard not to prescribe antibiotics. Ibuprofen (600-800mg) will probably do as much good as anything else.