Are you suddenly feeling irritating testicle pain when walking? This might happen for several reasons. The treatment of this will vary depending on the severity of the cause of such irritation.
The first instinct of a person is to get severely tensed about these situations. There is no need to do so as this might occur due to various reasons starting from the choice of clothing to sexually transmitted diseases. The causes, prevention, and treatment of testicle pain when walking are broken down below.
People of any age might become the victim of testicular pain. These diseases are easily treatable once the severity of the disease can be diagnosed. One should seek treatment immediately once they face problems like these.
Table of Content
Causes of testicle pain when walking
Six common reasons can cause your right or left testicle pain when walking or moving. Most of the causes may not directly be related to the groin area but can cause serious discomfort.
Epididymitis
Behind each testis, there is a coiled tube that is called the epididymis. The epididymis is linked to the ejaculatory duct by a tube that is called the vas deferens. The epididymis is coiled and long. It stores sperm and transports it from the testis. The epididymis is located in the posterior margin of each testis.
The main function of the epididymis is the transport of the sperm from the rete testis to the vas deferens. The transmission time required is usually 10-15 days. The transport of the sperm is made possible by the rhythmic movement and contractions of the smooth muscle that surrounds the epididymis.
Epididymitis is the inflammation of the epididymis. In epididymitis, there is swelling and irritation of the epididymis. This swelling can cause intense pain in the testicle. Epididymitis can occur in men of any age but this is most commonly seen in men of age range from 14-35 years.
Epididymitis may occur due to various reasons. One of the main reasons causing epididymitis is infections caused by bacteria such as Chlamydia or Mycoplasma. The most common form of transmission of these diseases is sexually transmitted diseases. E.coli bacteria can also cause such conditions. The diseases that might rarely cause epididymitis are mumps and tuberculosis.
Other than infections, epididymitis may occur due to the backward flow of urine in the epididymis. This may be the result of heavy lifting. The blockage of the urethra is the tube that carries urine from the body, enlargement or infection of the prostate gland, usage of a catheter, and groin injury may cause epididymitis.
Treatment
The epididymitis that is caused by bacteria can be treated by antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, doxycycline, sulfadimethoxine, levofloxacin, etc. These antibiotics must be prescribed by a physician to reduce pain under testicles when walking.
The antibiotics are usually prescribed for 1-2 weeks. Resting, the elevation of the scrotum, application of ice packs to the affected area, intake of fluids, intake of inflammatory medications, etc. can relieve pain.
Hydrocele
Hydrocele is a condition where the accumulation of fluid occurs in an individual’s scrotum that results in swelling of the scrotum. These are more commonly seen in male infants than in adults. There are two types of hydrocele, namely, communicating hydrocele and non-communicating hydrocele.
Communicating hydrocele is caused when the thin membrane surrounding the inguinal canal fails to develop thus causing the abdominal fluid to escape into the scrotum.
Non-communicating hydrocele is caused by the persistence of extra fluid around the testicle even after the closure of the membrane around the inguinal canal. Hydrocele can be diagnosed by examining the changes of bulging of the groin area by application of pressure or when the patient is asked to cough.
There is no medication for the treatment of hydrocele that causes testicle pain when walking. Surgical intervention is not necessary to treat hydrocele either. A hydrocele usually goes away within six months to a year on its own. If it does not repair on its own then surgery is required to prevent complications in the future.
Hernia
A hernia is a condition that can be characterized by bulging of internal organs or tissues through a muscle. An inguinal hernia is a type of hernia where the abdominal contents bulge out through the lower abdominal wall into the inguinal or groin region.
There are two types of inguinal hernia namely, indirect and direct inguinal hernia. Inguinal hernia is caused by congenital causes that are birth defects in the abdominal wall. A direct hernia is caused due to weakness of muscles of the abdominal wall that develops gradually due to lifting heavy weights and straining.
This is usually seen in adult men. Hernia can occur on either one or both sides of the abdomen. Direct inguinal hernia is most commonly seen in adult men that are later in life as the abdominal wall weakens with time. Inguinal hernia is not that dangerous. It causes pain and annoyance during bending, lifting, or coughing.
Treatment
Inguinal hernia can be easily treated by surgical procedure. It is one of the most commonly performed surgical procedures. It is called hernioplasty or herniorrhaphy. Three types of surgical procedures are performed. These are open hernia repair, invasive or laparoscopic hernia repair, and robotic hernia repair. These methods may make the testicle pain go away when walking.
Though this is a very commonly performed procedure. There are a few minimal risks. The risks include bleeding, infection, and pain that can not be relieved by medication. There are possibilities of long-term complications though it is very rare. This might include damage to the nerve or return of the hernia. The latter can be treated by surgery.
Diabetic neuropathy
Diabetes may lead to nerve damage that is known as diabetic neuropathy. We know that diabetes is characterized by a disease that is caused due to decreased secretion of insulin and thus resulting in high blood sugar levels.
This increased blood sugar level can injure the nerves throughout the human body. Nerve damage due to diabetes is more frequently seen in the legs and feet. Affected nerves may cause symptoms like pain and numbness of the affected area. The damage by testicle pain when walking may cause legs and feet to the digestive system, urinary tract, heart, and blood vessels.
There is no specific cause of each neuropathy though researchers believe that gradually, uncontrolled high blood glucose level causes nerve damage that results in their inability to send signals. The rise of blood sugar levels weakens the walls of the blood vessels and as a result, they fail to supply sufficient oxygen and nutrients to the nerves.
This initiates damage to the nerves along with lower back and testicle pain when walking. There are a few known risk factors of diabetic neuropathy. Such as failure of maintenance of blood sugar level within the normal range, history of diabetes, history of kidney disease, obesity, and smoking.
If diabetes causes damage to the nerve of the testis, around the thigh, and the groin region then one might face pain during walking or running.
Treatment
One of the simplest solutions to diabetic neuropathy is the maintenance of blood sugar levels within the normal range as much as possible. A diabetic patient should be aware of this and check their blood glucose level regularly to keep track.
Kidney stones
Kidney stones are hard stone-like depositions in the kidney that are composed of minerals and salts. This is also known as renal calculi, urolithiasis, or nephrolithiasis. Kidney stones may be formed due to excess body weight, unhealthy diet, and specific medications and supplements.
Any part of an individual’s urinary tract can be affected by kidney stones including kidney, urinary bladder, ureter, and urethra. Passage of kidney stones can be very painful. These stones do not cause any permanent damage. They can be treated with medications if they are diagnosed early. If the diagnosis is delayed then there is a possibility of the stones getting lodged in the urinary tract. In this case, a surgical operation is required to remove the stones.
The signs and symptoms of kidney stones include pain in the lower abdomen and the groin. If the kidney stones move from the kidney along the ureter. This movement of the kidney stones into the ureter causes blockage and thus prevents the urine from flowing.
Sharp pain occurs in the back and below the ribs that radiates to the lower abdomen and the groin. The intensity of the pain changes and there is a burning sensation during urination and causes testicle pain when walking.
One should see a doctor if they face pain between testicles and anus when walking. if the pain is accompanied by nausea and vomiting if there is the passage of blood with urine, and if there is difficulty in passing urine. The risk factors of one suffering from kidney stones include dehydration, family or personal history, unhealthy diets, overweight, metabolic diseases, etc.
Treatment
If the kidney stones are diagnosed early then taking medications prescribed by a doctor and drinking sufficient water can help treat the disease. If it is not diagnosed early then a surgical operation is required to remove the kidney stones.
Mumps
Mumps is a viral infection that affects the salivatory glands and causes swelling of these glands. This is a communicable disease that is caused by a virus. Mumps may spread if one comes in contact with the saliva droplets of an infected person, sharing utensils with the infected person.
The complications of mumps include orchitis that is characterized by the swelling of one or both testicles. Orchitis is painful and causes aches in the testis.
Treatment
Mumps can be easily treated by intake of antiviral medications. One should receive a mumps vaccination.
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FAQs
- Can sperm build up cause pain?
No sperm build up does not cause testicle pain when walking. However, fluid build up around the testicles or swelling up can cause pain. An infected epididymis can also cause severe pain that may seem like pain on the testicles.
2. Does the choice of clothing have any effect on testicle pain?
Yes, the choice of one’s clothing can affect or induce testicular pain. For example, if a person wears lined-up running shorts then that person is unlikely to face any sort of pain as these shorts are tight and help to keep everything in place. If a person faces problems even after this then they should go to a doctor and get checked up.
If a person is facing testicular pain then they should try wearing support and see if this solves their problem. If it does not then they should consult a doctor.
3. Why is my left testicle hurting when I walk?
Varicocele can be the reason behind the pain only in the left testicle. It is a treatable and common health issue among men. If the vein around the testicles doesn’t function properly you will feel testicle pain when walking.
4. Can testicle pain be relieved at home?
Testicular pain can be relieved at home by some simple methods. These are:
- One can use ice to reduce the swelling of the scrotum.
- One can support their testicles while walking or lying down by using a rolled towel.
- One can take over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen to reduce pain.
5. Is surgery required to repair testicular pain?
Surgery is not always required to treat testicular pain. The treatment of the pain completely depends on the severity of the disease or the reason behind the pain. If the cause of the pain is diagnosed early then medications and modification of lifestyle can easily treat the disease. Other than that, surgery may be required. One should not panic about such situations and should consult the doctor first.
6. Is testicular torsion a constant pain?
No, testicular torsion is not a constant pain. Pain occurs during bending, walking, running, lifting heavy objects, etc. One might wonder how bad the pain is for testicular torsion to be sure. It causes sharp pain along the back, lower abdomen, groin area, and thigh.
Conclusion
One should not get tense if they suddenly start sensing testicle pain when walking because there is a wide range of causes of this. One should consult the doctor as soon as possible and seek treatment. Receiving proper treatment and taking medications properly can treat this easily.
One should try to lead a healthy lifestyle to prevent such inconveniences. All a person has to do is to be aware of their health and not risk what is comfortable for their body.
