Painful urination: How long does it last after radiation (RT)?

I'm now a little over 5 weeks past the conclusion of a 28-session EBRT regimen. Around the middle of my course of treatment, I started having urgency and frequency issues, along with some discomfort, especially when trying to get started urinating. I'm happy to report that these side effects have mostly disappeared now - there are ups and downs, but I feel like I'm mostly back to where I was before the start of treatments. I'm up once or twice a night to pee, and I'm okay with that.

Something that I found helpful while the side effects were more severe was, when I was trying to start urinating, I would "massage" my penis with sort of a reverse "milking" motion (I know that sounds a little weird, and you may not want to do it in a public restroom). It seemed to help me get the urine flowing, and it also seemed to reduce the burning/discomfort. No idea whether there is any scientific basis for this working - but if it works, it works!

Here are some related discussions:
- Radiation causing constant urge to urinate and burning https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/radiation-causing-constant-urge-to-urinate-and-burning/
- Painful urination every 10 to 15 minutes at night during SBRT https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/painful-urination-every-10-to15-minutes-at-night-during-sbrt/
- Radiation for prostate cancer: Difficult urinating after sleeping https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/difficult-urinating-after-sleeping/

@bobv48, has the painful urination improved? How are you doing now? What tips might you share?

Thanks for the quick response. I'll be hopeful that mine doesn't last as long but who knows.

It peaked for me a year after RT (20 sessions of SBRT) and continued to be acute for about 6 months. It's still with me almost 3 years later, but it doesn't interfere with my life much any more.

My case is unusual, though. For most people, any side effects fade in a few weeks or months.