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QUESTION:
I am a 40 yo male with Lyme and three more coinfections for a number of
years. Under treatment by LLMDs for the last 3 yrs.
About 4 yrs. ago, I developed excruciating testicular pain, in
combination with soft, inverted nipples and pain in the breast area as
well as very tender lower ribs. This last year, my PSA took an alarming
rise, though repeated biopsies, scopings and ultrasounds revealed only a
nonspecific prostatitis with calcification, apparently from the
inflammation.
The urologist shrugs, grins, and cracks jokes about taking them out.
When I can get him pinned down, he says he doesn't know the cause or how
to treat it, but that I should "go home and enjoy my summer". My LLMD
_thinks_ the enlargement and severe pain may be caused by Lyme
"settling" in the prostate gland and now the testicles, causing swelling
that really has no place to go. Trouble is, this doc is more familiar
with the pelvic pain caused to female patients than this sort of pain in
male patients...maybe the two are analogous?
ANSWER:
I have a pain and tightness in the lower ribs in the front. Don't know what
it is. Sometimes it is more pronounced when I sit or slouch.
I get the testicular pain on occasion as well. I know it's from Lyme.
Fortunately, I doesn't hang around for very long. I wish I had some answers
but I just suffer through it. I would be more persistent if it went on for
any length of time.
The urologist I saw could offer no
explanation. I have had horrible bladder pain also.
One of my earlier symptoms was pain just under my lower rib cage...worse on the
right side (But all of my symptoms were worse on the right side) It was worse
sitting at a right angle, so I stood and reclined in my recliner a lot. It
was not there all the time. Still have no idea if it was cartilege, nerves or
ligaments or something else...used to think it might have had something to do
with my kidneys and a few times thought it was my liver. Also had, and still
have pain problems lying flat for any length of time. Probably due to residual
damage along the thoracic nerve roots.
Since then and since 2 + years of treatment I still have occasional rib pain in
other areas including where the ribs attach to the sternum and the right back,
but it is getting less and less.
The pains I have on ribs are in back, along spine - no one can touch me there
to this day without a lot of discomfort.
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