Hi Jack02811. Welcome to the forum.

I'm not a doctor and I have no medical qualifications. Just 40 years of experiencing testicular pain with no apparent cause.

Epididymitis is a tongue-twister to say and I always have problems spelling it.  I've had on and off attacks of epididymitis, plus other vague testicular pains, for years. 

My experience is that a single course of antibiotics don't always clear the infection immediately - sometimes the action is delayed and sometimes more antibiotics are required.  Since the doctor has felt your testicles for lumps and found nothing untoward, there's no immediate cause for worry about cancer.  If you keep getting repeat infections or other pains, then your GP may refer you for an ultrasound scan just to check that there's nothing else going on.  I had this a few years back and it was clear, despite my long history of pains.

In your position I'd finish the antibiotics and give it a couple days to start working.  If it doesn't then contact the GP for advice.  Take paracetamol or co-codamol (max 3 days only for co-codamol!) for the pain.  If the pain gets really bad then contact the GP urgently, or if the GP isn't quickly available, ring 111.  I've had to do this on a couple of weekends when the pain has appeared out of nowhere.

Hi Jack02811. Welcome to the forum.

I'm not a doctor and I have no medical qualifications. Just 40 years of experiencing testicular pain with no apparent cause.

Epididymitis is a tongue-twister to say and I always have problems spelling it.  I've had on and off attacks of epididymitis, plus other vague testicular pains, for years. 

My experience is that a single course of antibiotics don't always clear the infection immediately - sometimes the action is delayed and sometimes more antibiotics are required.  Since the doctor has felt your testicles for lumps and found nothing untoward, there's no immediate cause for worry about cancer.  If you keep getting repeat infections or other pains, then your GP may refer you for an ultrasound scan just to check that there's nothing else going on.  I had this a few years back and it was clear, despite my long history of pains.

In your position I'd finish the antibiotics and give it a couple days to start working.  If it doesn't then contact the GP for advice.  Take paracetamol or co-codamol (max 3 days only for co-codamol!) for the pain.  If the pain gets really bad then contact the GP urgently, or if the GP isn't quickly available, ring 111.  I've had to do this on a couple of weekends when the pain has appeared out of nowhere.

Hi all I have had a pain in right testicle which started with a sharp pain but is now just a dull nuisance but can be a sharp pain from time to time  but don't know what to look for am waiting to go go for ultra sound scan  all blood tests and urine tests came back clear but am still very worried as it is uncomfortable to sit too long and not getting any definate answers to this pain.  I have had two lots of antibiotic tablets and none have worked am fedup with the discomfort and waiting for this ultrasound scan thing can anyone give me a rough idea how long I need to wait any info would be Smashing 

Hi Sweeper. 

I waited about 6 weeks for a non-urgent ultrasound of my testicles.  I was suffering from random testicle pain and repeated episodes of epididymitis.  The scan was clear. 

I've suffered from these pains, off and on, for at least 20 years.  I don't know what causes them. 

My only practical suggestion is to ensure you have adequate pain-killers to hand when the pain strikes.  This is worth discussing with your GP.

Hello Sweeper and thank you for your post in the Ask the Nurses part of Cancer Chat,

I am sorry to hear about the pain you have and I can appreciate you are worried about it. So far no test has come back with any worrying results and you are now waiting to have the ultrasound scan.  You will have to wait until you have had this done to understand if there is anything the matter. I am afraid that no one here can diagnosis you.  

How long you will wait will depend on the type of referral that was made, for example if a cancer is suspected you would wait about 2 weeks, although this is a longer wait in some hospitals. If it is a non-urgent referral it may take 18 weeks, although some people are seen earlier. So to understand more about the type of referral that was done and how long you could wait do talk with the doctor that arranged it. 

Waiting for tests and then the results can be a worrying time so I hope you have some support.  In the meantime if your pain is a problem do talk with your GP about how best to manage it 

I hope you will be okay. Please get back to us if you need any more information or support.  You may find it helpful to talk things through with one of the nurses on our helpline.  The number to call is Freephone 0808 800 4040 and the lines are open from 9am till 5pm Monday to Friday.

Take care,

Caroline