Dear friends,
As I have written in my previous posts it seems that I too have to confront the pain, debility and muddied water of this seemingly little talked of condition.
It strikes me,having visited this site regularily for some weeks now that,unlike many other health support forums this one is a rare and brave attempt to bring into the open a condition about which it is notoriously difficult to talk and about which there seems to be very little known-yet,reading through the posts and given my own limited expereience, it would appear to offer great potential for sharing ideas,knowledge,fears and doubts.

I don't want to ramble on too much but I suppose my story may be more-or-less typical of many sufferers and I am well aware that many are facing far worse scenarios.

A year ago I was a reasonably fit ,active, independent 44 yr.old with a successful teaching career.I stayed up late,rode mountain-bikes,enjoyed a night out with friends (and ate my curry hot! )

A stupid fall in March resulted in severe soft tissue damage to both knees and left me unable to walk for most of this year and in considerable pain.I am still struggling to overcome this and it was also my first brush with the vaguaries of our hard-pressed and regrettably often ineffectual National Health Service.
Suffice to say that after much halfhearted and inappropriate treatment I beg and borrowed money to see a consultant who could eventually put me on track.

When I began to show symptoms of testicular pain which rapidly worsened
my local doctors again said ;

1-They didn't know what it could be.
2-They did not have accsess to a specialist who might, at least, not within the next 12 months.
3-There was therefore nothing they could do except send me to the local pharmacy for more Ibuprofen.
4 they were unwilling to do even the simplest of tests in case nothing showed up (?)and even if it did there would still PROBABLY be nothing they could do........
I'm sure you get the picture?

Eventually I found a charitable GUM/STD clinic who were prepared to investigate, offer a diagnosis and instigate treatment and testing.In the meantime I was both scared and in constant pain.Finding the 'clinic' had been completely by chance.
I also found this website and am thankful for the help !!

I am now on a long course of A/B's-Azithromycin-1 month+,with follow up and an ultra-sound booked to investigate possible epididymitis/or prostatitis.
Meanwhile I still have to find a way to manage and alleviate the constant nagging pain which can flare up into a real eye- waterer on occasions.

Unlike my knee injury, it is SO difficult to explain to people that you have a pain in the *******'s all the time!

Has anyone had similar experiences with health services?
Does anyone have any ideas for effective pain control/what works for them?(I am trying the Fenugreek Diet!)
Any ideas for changing /modifying diet/lifestyle
Any thoughts on how to deal with the uncertainty..fear...stigma/embarassment?

Yrs. flo.