AboutStephen W. Leslie, MD Expertise Questions concerning erectile dysfunction, kidney stones and prostate disorders including prostate cancer. I have a special interest in kidney stone disease prevention.
Experience Full time practicing urologist with 20 years experience. Assistant Clinical Professor of Urology at the Medical College of Ohio. Editor in Chief of eMedicine Urology internet textbook. Author of only book written for patients by a urologist on the subject of kidney stones "The Kidney Stones Handbook". Inventor of the "Parachute" and "Escape" kidney stone baskets and the "Calculus" stone prevention analysis computer program.
Organizations American Urological Association, Ohio State Medical Association, Sexual Medicine Society
Publications Men's Health, Journal of Urology, Urology, Healthwatch Magazine, Emergency Medicine Monthly, eMedicine, "The Kidney Stones Handbook", and numerous articles in various newspapers. He is also the editor of the Urology Board Review by McGraw-Hill used by urologists to study for their Board Certification Examinations.
Education/Credentials Graduate of New York Medical College with residencies completed at Metropolitan Hospital New York, Albany Medical Center and University of Wisconsin-Madison
Awards and Honors Thirlby Award of the American Urological Association.
Expert: Stephen W. Leslie, MD Date: 8/24/2008 Subject: Son's hydrocele surgery 08/19/2008
Question My son is 16 and he had the outpatient hydrocele repair on Tuesday of last week. He is unable to stand up for more than 5 minutes due to the pressure and pain in his testicles. The surgeon advised this is normal and he is to stay off of his feet as much as possible to speed the healing process. His right testicle is still larger than the left and kinda hard. He is very frustrated and upset about this surgery. He wishes that he never went through with the surgery. This after months of thinking about it and then realizing the pressure from the size was uncomfortable. He is still taking narcotics every 7 hours. We tried to skip the presciption med and give him tylenol and the strength was not enough. He is miserable, frustrated, and wanting to know when will he be able to get out of bed and walk around without the discomfort.
Answer Shannon:
It's still only a few days after the surgery. You and your son should have been told that the swelling after a hydrocele repair can be considerable and may even be worse than the original hydrocele. This usually gets better over time, but it can take a while.
We usually recommend ice on the testicle to minimize inflammation and swelling. It's not too late to use this, but it would have been more effective if used immediately after the surgery. Meanwhile, just give it some time. If the pain is not improving over the next few days, contact the surgeon and ask him to take a look. There should be that much pain by a week after the surgery.
