Balanitis? Nerve Issue?

Posted by zippy05 @zippy05, Sep 18, 2024

Hello!

I'm a 42 y/o male that has been dealing with chronic pelvic pain for over a year.

My primary symptoms are:

- Pain near the tip and underneath my glans
- Redness around the tip
- Painful ejaculation
- Sensitivity all around my glans with movement

In addition:

- I've had arthritis like symptoms since 2019 of unknown origin. Back, hips, and feet primarily.
- I get buttocks pain if I sit for too long and occasional pain down my right calf.
- I was on clarithromycin for 4 months prior to this all starting, which may or may not be related.
- I had an MRI done in 2019 that showed a disc impingement at L5-S1 with narrowing on the right side of my nerve roots.

I've seen four urologists - did a cystoscopy, whoch showed mild urethral inflammation, tried 3 rounds of antibiotics, nothing helped. They sent me to pelvic floor therapy, which I did for 4 months. I did have a tense PF, but after awhile the PT said she didn't think PF was causing my pain based on my progress.
- 5 dermatologists, who have speculated on psoriasis, eczema, and fungal infection. No creams/ointments have worked. I even did a glans biopsy (ouch) but it didn't tell us much.

My next step is neurology, in case this is nervous system related.

Multiple urine and semen tests have come back clean, aside from occasionally having trace blood in my urine.

Any thoughts on how I can figure out if this is a skin, nerve, or muscle issue? Or something else?

Thanks!

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anonykel | @anonykel | 3 days ago

Hi there.

At age 54, I have had nearly the same condition and analysis for over a year with no improvement. Seen 2 urologists and 2 dermatologists.

Have you found a solution and, if so, would you mind sharing it?

A different form of doctor has advised that I have neuropathy (nerve damage) resulting from chronic Balanitis which would have started from a fungal or bacterial problem that wasn’t treated in time. He has prescribed a one month dose of Pregabalin (for the nerve damage) and a topical steroid to help the skin cure. In addition a change in diet to lower blood sugar.

I am about to commence that prescription with the hope that it will work. This doctor is confident that it will. I can report here once I’ve undergone the process to apprise you if it worked with the hope that it can be of help.

That mentioned, if you have found a solution for your case, would you please describe it here as it may be of help?

If a physician with expertise with this sees this post, I would ask that he or she kindly advise.

Thank you in advance.

zippy05 | @zippy05 | 3 days ago

Unfortunately, I have not. I would be curious to know how how Lyrica works for you if you wouldn't mind keeping an update. How strong of a steroid did they prescribe and for how long?

anonykel | @anonykel | 19 hours ago

In reply to @zippy05 "Unfortunately, I have not. I would be curious to know how how Lyrica works for you..." + (show)

Thank you for your prompt response.

The steroid cream is Clobetasol Propionate 0.05%.

I await for these prescriptions with the hope that they be available to me next week.

I will update here, hopefully with progress.

I hope you get well. This is a pretty impactful ailment, to say the least.

zippy05 | @zippy05 | 15 hours ago

If you can, please keep me updated on your progress!

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