As an update on 7/2/10 -5 verapamil injections did not work for me at all. Rather, my curvature increased during the series of injections by a significant amount (30-50 more degrees upward, roughly), and I lost more length (about 3/4") and hourglassing was not improved at all. Based on comparing pictures and measurements, it seems to have gotten worse. I havent edited anything in what I originally wrote below because I think people may read the same articles and reach the same conclusions that I did during March-June. However, I (personally) would absolutely not recommend these injections before trying the VED or FastSize with Viagra, Arganine, and Penox. I don't know anyone on this board who is even an advocate of these injections...and there are a lot of people here with a lot of different kinds of Peyronies Disease stages & treatments. Hey Comebackid,
I totally understand and basically agree with you & what others have said (and the shots are not exactly a fun experience). I am concerned about the additional trauma. Dr. Levine & the doctor I am currently seeing in my local area both seem to feel that the trauma is essentially "controlled" and the medicine can change the healing process vs. what may have happened when I had my first injury. I know that's not the experience of everyone here & it may not even be mine in the end. And to your point, the reason for my post was my concern over the trauma in this injection - which seems more firm/localized than previous injections that were more fluid and diffuse when healing.
Anyway, all that being said, the
main reason why I am doing it is here...and I added emphasis on the things that "sold" me essentially.
http://www.nature.com/ijir/journal/v14/n5/full/3900917a.html"Of the 14 men who entered the study, 91% had resolution of pain, 42% had objective decrease in curvature, 58% had improved erectile dysfunction (ED), and
100% reported increased penile girth. "
and out of another sample of 150~, "Increase in girth was reported by 83%, 80% described an
increase in rigidity distal to the plaque,"
I never had that much girth to begin with, and Peyronies Disease took another 1/2" in circumfrence (at least) past the plaque...and that area does not get as hard anymore. So, it looks narrow and curved like the tail of a cocktail shrimp coming out of a shell. If I can just gain the girth back with these shots, I will be happy. Dr. Levine & others have said to go to 6 and then wait a few weeks - then see how things go. If after 6, nothing changes, I can stop. I know the sample sizes in these studies are not huge... and I may not benefit - but the people who got girth back seem to be in the majority. Have you seen that paper before? What were your thoughts on it? I'm basing my decision pretty much entirely on that paper...and at this point I have 2 more to go & then another ultrasound.
I asked my doc about xiaflex & it's basically under lock & key right now for hand surgeons only who have also taken a special training course & registered with the company. This has probably been discussed elsewhere, but the mfr is not risking any off-label use that might hurt their FDA approval for Peyronies Disease (if someone has a bad side effect from a urologist injecting off-label). No urologist can get their hands on it at the moment. It might be a few years off - by which time I might have calcified plaques. Right now, I think my plaque is not calcified (in the majority). The ultrasound showed a small spot that did seem calcified on one of the plaques...so, it's starting.
