FML: Why do I have mild discomfort in my left testicle?

I had something similar years ago. It was an inflamation of the epididymis. They gave me antibiotics, which cured it, but also turned my entire body from the neck down purple. People can still say I have balls. No chopping was required. It is scary though. Good luck.

”... the epididymis is a tightly coiled tube located in the back of each testicle. It stores your semen and helps deliver it when needed. If you’re feeling a pain in your testicles, there’s a chance it’s caused by a cyst—a spermatocele—growing inside the epididymis.

The cyst is benign, and it started out as accumulated sperm cells. It forms at the head of the epididymis, though these cysts can develop on the testicle or along the vas deferens. Spermatoceles are often found during procedures for other issues, and they’re thought to be pretty common. Most of the time, they’re very small and don’t cause any problems. Sometimes, however, they grow to the size of several centimeters, and at this point, you may feel a sense of heaviness in your testicles, discomfort or even pain.”

Most of the time, spermatoceles require no medical treatment. The doctor will want to periodically check it to make sure it’s not growing, and to verify that it’s not cancerous. However, if it’s causing you any kind of suffering, you may be prescribed antibiotics. In extreme cases, the spermatocele can be removed, though there is significant risk that the patient will lose the ability to father children as a result.”

Or a kidney stone.

Blue balls? :)

I wouldn’t be too concerned. Pain is rarely a symptom of cancer, especially if there’s no lump. Probably an infection – or maybe nothing.

After a bit of a rummage around, I am leaning towards infection of the epididymis, as that is where the discomfort seems to be coming from. When I feel around a bit, it is the little tubes at the base that are uncomfortable.

I would not go as far as to call it pain, I do have a high pain tolerance, so maybe it does hurt a little and I just don’t notice, but I would only really call it an annoyance or discomfort. If it were actual pain, I would be in the ER shaking the doctor by the shoulders and shouting “You’ve got to save me man, you took an oath!!!”.

@poisonedantidote I looked at the top ten signs of testicular discomfort and that is the one that fit your description closest. I think you’re doing the smart thing because if it is or was something more serious, you’re listening to your body tell you somethings not right.

One time my mom went to the ER because she felt a pain in her lung area that was weird and unusual and ended up she had a few blood clots because of a new medicine, was admitted immediately for monitoring until the clots were dissipated, and they could have killed her if left untreated with blood thinners.

@KNOWITALL Yea, better safe that sorry. I usually try to ignore things, but I have a rule, that if I can’t stop the bleeding by myself, or the problem has been around 3 days then I call the doctor and make an appointment. Today is the 3rd or 4th day, so I booked an appointment.

I have a friend who is the total opposite, and I will never understand why. Not only will he not go to the doctor, but if he is forced to, he will lie to the doctor.

@poisonedantidote I know a lot of people like that, and they think they don’t want to know, but I’ve learned that with early detection your percentage increases dramatically of living a full life. Also, even if they can’t fix it, palliative care is a wonderful thing. :)

This may not be a good thing to tell you, had the same problem and it could be infection in my case it was a blood clot…ouch!
Don’t sit around and wonder about it I waited six months and have a very uncomfortable procedure to remove the blood clot go and see a urologist.

Do you have back trouble? My husband gets pain in his testicle and he has back problems, and the two are related.

Might be merely a strain, which has happened to me.

Pants aren’t too tight?

@DigitalBlue My back is slightly stiff today, but it was not yesterday, the day before, or the day before that.

@Pachyderm_In_The_Room That has happened to me too, but it normally goes after a few hours. I think all guys have had the experience of having a ball feel a little odd for a day and then go, not that I get it all the time or anything.

@dabbler No chance of that, I recently lost weight, all my pants are big on me, and I use boxers underneath.

@poisonedantidote, I know how miserable this kind of nagging worry is, so my best advice is, see your family doctor. He’ll probably send you home with the knowledge it’s nothing serious.

ya know I find it interesting that it’s almost always the left nut that hurts. Never the right one. Blue balls, left nut. Kicked in the nuts left one. Any discomfort, left one. I dont think my right one has ever felt any discomfort. Always the left. Not sure why that is.