Stretch Injury - Numbness, loss of sensation, burning/dull aches

[Daytoday]

Hi All,

I used to do this thing called 'jelqing' when I was in my teens. Don't ever do it. Accompanying it I also stretched my Penis.

13 years ago I was stretching my penis and I decided to also kegel at the same time, with my Penis stretched. I didnt notice any issues that evening but I woke up the next morning and my penis was numb. When I say numb, not completely, but 80-90% on the shaft (less further to the base), and the head of my penis is about 70% numb. Still somewhat sensitive on the frenulum, and I can pinch the skin on the shaft and feel pain.

I immediately went to A&E and was told I had just irritated a nerve and sensation would return.

After a while I was referred to a neurourologist and received an MRI which they say showed sever degenerative spine disease in my lower back. Apart from that, they could not find anything else. I was very surprised given this is a top hospital in London, with top neuro-urologists.

Nevertheless, I was pretty much told to pack my bags and hope for the best.

The issue still persists to this day, and has really impacted my life. I asked for another referral to the neuro-urology department this year as it felt like symptoms were deteriorating.

My symptoms:

Penile numbness

Dull ache/burning on left side of saddle which I can feel from around my anus and it goes slightly up the perineum toward my penis.

Harder to kegel - sometimes it feels like the muscles do not move much. And other times they move ALOT more. Very confusing

Harder to tell when I need to urinate

Weaker urination stream - I dont know if this is due to a nerve issue, or there is an actual blockage? I would like to note on the odd times symptoms get a bit better and I am able to masturbate/have intercourse, my urine stream is markedly stronger.

I feel some scar tissue just after the anus, toward the penis on the underside (I think I tore something and this formed in the months following the injury). I just find it weird as the doctors told me there was nothing there. Looking back I feel they may have been lying to me.

Through years of living with this, I have noticed there are periods where things are a bit better (5-10%) at most. And my libido comes back somewhat, erections dont feel weak, my penis 'hangs' with more blood flow etc.

Right now as I type this sitting here I can feel a burning in the exact same location mentioned above - always on the left side. From inside my anus, to the shaft of my penis. I also notice this side is slightly more numb than the left side.

Sorry for the long post - and possible spelling mistakes (I am on my phone).

I have some questions:

1.) Are there support networks for dealing with issues such as these? I feel like I am alone and some days really struggle. I feel now this issue isn't getting better. For me I need help with self acceptance.

2.) I don't understand the causes for the condition to 'relax' slightly, and then other times I feel like there is literally nothing between my legs. My only idea could be masturbation, or too much of it could make the issue flare up - but I dont masturbate all too often anyway.

3.) What could this burning/dull ache be when the condition flares up? It is always on the left side.

4.) Apart from what happens at the neurourologist on my next visit, what else can I be doing to further investigate this issue/try and minimise symptoms?

5.) Has anyone else had an injury like this and can give me tips on what helped for them?

6.) Would anyone reccommend I get in touch with any of the doctors/surgeons mentioned on this forum to get this issue investigated further?

Thanks very much.

[stephanies]

Daytoday,

I’m sorry you are dealing with possible nerve pain and numbness. Have you consulted with a urologist and a pelvic floor physical therapist? Along with MRIs of your lumbar spine and pelvis/sacrum to rule in or out spine issues or other causes of your symptoms that may show on imaging, those are my suggestions to start.

Stephanies

[Violet M]

I have some questions:

1.) Are there support networks for dealing with issues such as these? I feel like I am alone and some days really struggle. I feel now this issue isn't getting better. For me I need help with self acceptance.

2.) I don't understand the causes for the condition to 'relax' slightly, and then other times I feel like there is literally nothing between my legs. My only idea could be masturbation, or too much of it could make the issue flare up - but I dont masturbate all too often anyway.

3.) What could this burning/dull ache be when the condition flares up? It is always on the left side.

4.) Apart from what happens at the neurourologist on my next visit, what else can I be doing to further investigate this issue/try and minimise symptoms?

5.) Has anyone else had an injury like this and can give me tips on what helped for them?

6.) Would anyone reccommend I get in touch with any of the doctors/surgeons mentioned on this forum to get this issue investigated further?

1. There have been many guys over the years on the forum with similar symptoms as yours, and injuries similar to yours. They may not be active on the forum right now, but I can assure you that you are not alone. I guess you could call this forum a support group. That's the main reason we keep it running. Lots of us can look back and wish we had done something different because we feel like we might have caused our own problem. I never would have lifted weights like I did if I had known what would happen. So, I understand the self-acceptance feelings you are dealing with. It's easy to say you shouldn't feel that way but you can't just quit feeling like you do. You just have to put your energy into finding a treatment that might help.

2. I don't know if you have pudendal neuralgia or not, but it's common for people who do, to have symptoms that wax and wane for no apparent reason. Sometimes you can link it to a particular activity, but sometimes you can't.

3. Can't say for sure but the dull ache on one side sounds very similar to what I experienced with pudendal nerve entrapment. You can read the Nantes Criteria for pudendal nerve entrapment to see if the symptoms sound similar to what you are going through. https://www.pudendalhope.info/wp-conten ... iteria.pdf
You symptoms sound like they are in the distribution area innervated by the pudendal nerve.

4. There are many options to try to minimize symptoms. I will mention a few of them here.
Pelvic floor PT, or at least an evaluation by a PT -- if it helps, great but if it makes your symptoms worse, it could be a sign of an entrapment.
Medications such as baclofen to relax muscles, or there are many nerve medications such as gabapentin or lyrica you could try.
You could try heat or ice, or alternating heat/ice. You can do sitz baths or use heating pads and ice packs.
Some other treatments that people try are Botox (typically a temporary solution that helps some people but makes some people worse)
PRP (platelet rich plasma)
hyperbaric oxygen if you don't have a nerve entrapment
nerve blocks - which I see as primarily diagnostic because people rarely report long term improvement. Nerve blocks can be valuable for diagnostic purposes though.
I'm sure there are many others -- hopefully other forum members can give you some ideas.

5. Can't really speak from experience on that.

6. Since your symptoms are in the distribution area of the pudendal nerve, it would make sense to contact a pudendal nerve specialist.

Sorry, I don't have all the answers but you do have a lot of options. I wish you all the best as you try to figure this out. My prayers are with you.

Violet

[romotronco88]

hey bro, have a somewhat similar story in terms of symptom presentation, all caused by an injury. Feel free to DM if you want to chat. after 2.5 years, I'm about 85 pct better 40-50 pct of the time.