Chronic Prostatitis Treatment

What is Epididymitis - Definition
Epididymitis is an inflammation of the epididymis, the tube that connects the testicle with the vas deferens.
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Whar are the Epididymitis causes, incidence, and risk factors
Epididymitis is most common in young men ages 19 - 35. It is a major cause of hospital admissions in the military.
Epididymitis is usually caused by the spread of an infection from the urethra or the bladder. The most common infections that cause this condition in young heterosexual men are gonorrhea and chlamydia bacterias. In children and older men,E. coli and similar infections are much more common. This is also true in both homosexual and heterosexual men.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) can occur as epididymitis. Other bacteria (such as Ureaplasma) may also cause the condition.
Ureaplasma - is hidden infection that can only be found by special PCR ((polymerase chain reaction) Test.
Another cause of epididymitis is the use of a medication called amiodarone, which prevents abnormal heart rhythms.

The following increase the risk for epididymitis:

   * Being uncircumcised
    * Recent surgery or a history of structural problems in the urinary tract
   * Regular use of a urethral catheter
    * Sexual intercourse with more than one partner and not using use condoms
    * Chronic prostatitis sequela

 Symptoms
Epididymitis may start with a low-grade fever, chills, and a heavy sensation in the testicle. The testicle becomes more and more sensitive to pressure. Other symptoms may include:

    * Blood in the semen
    * Discharge from the urethra (the opening at the end of the penis)
    * Discomfort in the lower abdomen or pelvis
    * Fever
    * Groin pain
    * Lump in the testicle
    * Pain during ejaculation
    * Pain or burning during urination
    * Painful scrotal swelling (epididymis is enlarged)
    * Tender, swollen groin area on affected side
    * Testicle pain that gets worse during a bowel movement

Signs and tests

Physical finger examination shows a red, tender, and sometimes swollen lump (mass) on the affected side of the scrotum. Tenderness is usually in a small area of the testicle where the epididymis is attached.
It can be enlarged lymph nodes in the groin area (inguinal nodes), and a discharge from the penis. A rectal examination may show an enlarged or tender prostate.

These tests may be performed:

    * Complete blood count (CBC)
    * Doppler ultrasound
    * Testicular scan (nuclear medicine scan)
    * Urinalysis and culture (you may need to give several specimens, including initial stream, mid-stream, stream after a    prostate massage) - this is to find out the source of inflammation.
    * Tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea

It is important to distinguish this condition from testicular torsion. Testicular torsion is an emergency and should be treated with surgery as soon as possible. Testicular torsion usually be accompanied with very strong pain so you even can't touch the testicle

Treatment
Your health care provider will prescribe medications to treat the infection. Sexually-transmitted infections require specific antibiotics. Your sexual partners should also be treated. You may need pain medications and anti-inflammatory medications.

The treatment for epididymitis caused by the medication amiodarone is a lower dose or change in the medication.

Bed rest, while elevating the scrotum and applying ice packs to the area, is recommended. It is very important to have a follow-up visit with your health care provider to find out whether the infection has gone away completely.

 Expectations (prognosis)

Epididymitis have to get better with proper antibiotic treatment. There usually is no reduction in sexual or reproductive abilities. However, it is common for the condition to return.

If Epididymitis is not treated, or in some other cases, the condition can become long-term (chronic). In chronic cases, there is usually no swelling, but there is pain. Also in chronic cases it may cause infertility.

Complications

It always may be an complications like:

    * Abscess in the scrotum
    * Chronic epididymitis
    * Fistula on the skin of the scrotum (cutaneous scrotal fistula)
    * Death of testicular tissue due to lack of blood (testicular infarction)
    * Infertility

p.s.

Acute pain in the scrotum is a medical emergency. It needs to be checked out by a health care provider immediately.

Hi guys,
I really feel your pain. I was diagnosed with epididymitis 6 years ago and suffered from the inflammations and pain for about 2 and 1/2 years. Several urologists just assumed that I had sexual relationships out of the wedlock (it was not the case!) and prescribed several bouts of antibiotics to no avail... Then, I finally traveled to the hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and they diagnosed an enlarged prostate that was exerting pressure on an internal nerve. A simple course of alpha-blockers, for about two months, took care of the problem! The pain and inflammation totally went away...
I was so angry that I had to live with this for almost 3 years given how easy the solution was, just because most doctors are ignorant of the origins of this problem!
Please have your doctors try and prescribe you alpha-blockers: I never have had any problems since then...
I hope this helps: please post back if you tried alpha blockers and they worked: I would like to know if an enlarged prostate (or similar inflammation of internal muscles) is a common cause of epididymitis and be able to help more people...