[youOme]

Today my husband revealed to me that he had a large lump on his testicle. I asked if I could see it and it looked strange. He says the lumps been there for over a month and his back and stomach have been hurting as well. He swears up and down it's a hernia from lifting heavy objects at work. I'm thinking in more scary terms though. My husband has been a carpet installer for many years before this and has lifted heavy things all his life. Wouldn't he had them before if that's what it was....a hernia? His father was actually diagnosed with prostate cancer and had surgery. So far, he's clean and living well. This was a recent event.

Although my husband and I are going through a separation, I would be devastated if he ended up becoming ill with something serious.

I'm begging him to go to the hospital tonight but he refuses. He says he will wait till Thursday and try to go to a clinic instead because he is uninsured.

I'm terribly worried.......

Docs as soon as poss IMO ..... maybe a cyst or innocent lump, hernia etc .... but to put your mind at rest get him there asap ..... this kind of thing will take the doc a few minutes, please dont leave it .... good luck and keep us posted, hugs Jinnyxoxoxoxoxoxoxo

[bebop]

it very well could be a hernia but it is surely nothing to play around with. he needs to have it looked at very soon. it could be more. you just never know until you get checked out. lifting heavy things could cause it at any time hon. all it takes is one time the wrong way.

[(JD)]

here's part of an answer from another place:

. Cancerous lumps in the testes are generally not tender when they are touched. Relatively rare, testicular cancer usually occurs in men between the ages of fifteen and twenty-five years, especially if they have an undescended testicle.

Other causes of swelling and/or pain in the testes can include:

* hydrocele, a collection of fluid in the scrotum
* epididymal cyst, a fluid-filled swelling of the epididymis (the structure behind the testicle where sperm mature) which may also cause fever and discharge from the %#@&#!
* varicocele, varicose veins in the scrotum, which is described as feeling like "a bag of worms"
* bacterial infections

Torsion of the testis, another possible explanation, occurs when a testicle rotates, obstructing the tube sperm travels through and cutting off the blood supply. This most commonly occurs around puberty and causes acute severe pain and swelling of the testes. Pain in your testicle is most likely not a hernia (a protrusion of an organ or tissue through a weak area in the muscle or other tissue that normally constrains it, which commonly occurs in your abdominal area).

If during sex or masturbation you are engaging in activities which involve twisting, pulling, or squeezing of your testicles, this may be a cause of pain. Otherwise, average masturbatory or sexual techniques (even many times per day!) do not cause your testicles to swell.

[Danialla]

I would encourage him to see a Dr soon. The ER would really not be needed (and probably be very exspensive), but an appointment as soon as possible is a must.

Better to rule out things early, and a month is still really early. Encourage him to get an appointment, even if it's Thursday. But also keep on him to keep the appointment too. Sometimes people get scared and they feel what they don't know wont hurt them.............

Keep us posted...

[youOme]

I finally talked him into talking to a neighbor who is a nurse, he only did that to get me off his back, but still I am satisfied. She said both her sons had hernias and that his condition sounded very similar. I was just being cautious, especially with the circumstances of his dad in mind. I am relieved that he will be okay. He's calling off work and going to doc tomorrow. Thanks guys.

[PsyChris]

I'm glad he is going to the doctor. His symptoms do sound similar to a hernia however it is best that he have medical evaluation by a physician.

Remember that an Emergency Room is for acute care. If he had a sudden increase in pain, or some other symptom that suddenly started it would be considered an acute condition and something that should be handled in the ER. So many people get disappointed when they spend 6 hours to be seen by an ER doctor only to have them say there is not anything we can do in the ER and send them out to a specialist!