RestoreX without counter-bending

[ueacv]

Can RestoreX be used just straight, no counter-bend, for treating curvature? Is there data on how much the counter-bending adds to the treatment?

I have used RestoreX for 3 months and do not see improvement in curvature. I think there is some (new) bend to the side.  When I use the counter-bending, I notice that my penis bulges to the right. It isn't a uniform folding across the RestoreX. The new bending is to the left, which makes me suspicious.

In my penis, there is a band of firmer, almost tendon-like tissue that runs along the entire length of the top (dorsal) surface. I'm guessing this is normal anatomy (?). When I counter-bend, it is like this band mashes down into the bulk of the penis (corpora) and that bulk gets pushed off to the right. I've tried again and again to make the penis squish uniformly during the bend, but it just does't work that way for me. Maybe 1 time in 20 will it seem to be more uniform.

Does any of this ring a bell with anyone? Do you bend uniformly or is it normal to bulge to one side? This is what is motivating me to ask if I can just skip the bending.

[tsp]

The firm tissue on the dorsal side is the neurovascular bundle. If you use RestoreX on a normal penis, for lengthening, say, the neurovacular bundle will bear most of the load as it is the shortest/least extensible structure in the penis.

For RestoreX to be effective for Peyronies, the plaque should be under stress. Two things can get in the way:
1. skin - make sure your skin is loose and not bearing any of the load
2. the neurovascular bundle - counter bend to get the plaque under stress and not the neurovascular bundle. Also start with 10 min of straight stretching to lengthen/loosen the neurovascular bundle before counter bending at the plaque.

RestoreX is effective straight if the plaque is in the dorsal part right next to the neurovascular bundle. In this case stretching the neurovascular bundle also stretches the plaque.

When counter bending, get the penis to bend at the plaque location. If you can't get the RestoreX fulcrum next to the plaque, stick in a piece of gauge between RestoreX and your plaque to get your penis to bulge out. This will apply force on the plaque.

I wouldn't worry about your corpora bulging to the side since it doesn't appear to be under stress, it is simply being pushed aside by the neurvascular bundle. It will likely get pushed aside in a different direction each time depending on the minor random variations in how you clamp your penis head.

What kind of curve do you have?

[Jamesblue]

There's 3 cylinders in the penis for erection two at top one underneath.
When counterbend two must go one way while the other goes opposite.
I noticed this and arrange for alternate positions each session.
If you wish to treat bend then full 110deg counterbend is nessecary..

[ueacv]

Thanks for the replies- very helpful. The curvature is upwards. To give more background: I noticed the curvature almost immediately after a radical prostatectomy was performed 11 months ago. Immediately after catheter removal, I began using sildenafil (Viagra) 100 mg, nightly. I was able to achieve some level of erection, almost enough for intercourse, and think I noticed the bend at that point. Erections were accompanied by discomfort on the dorsal surface near the glans, maybe an inch or two back. My ability to achieve erections decreased in the next month or two and, at month 3, I started using Trimix injections. The bend was then obvious. It is my belief that the bend was there almost immediately post-surgery. It certainly is not the result of injections. I wonder about the catheter, but it is known (I think) that RP kicks off all sorts of remodeling in the penis, and quite soon, so that is probably a more likely explanation.

I never went to see an MD. As you might guess, I'm rather "full up" on medical evaluation of things that dangle, swing, and squirt. More seriously, I decided that I will not, at this time, consider Xiaflex or other such injections because the highest priority is to regain erections and such treatments I think could interfere. So, I chose to do the RestoreX as self treatment after reading their research paper and reading others' experiences.

The only thing I regret is not having an MDs physical exam. It is my impression when palpating my penis that there is no obvious plaque. I might convince myself that there might be a spot along neurovascular bundle somewhat near the vague spot where the bend is, but to be honest I am more in favor of saying that it seems like the entire n.v. band is going into tension leading to development of curvature over the length rather than there being a kink. If it really helped, I could consider posting a photo.

So, that's the background in more detail. Are there cases without an obvious plaque? Is palpating the plaque ever subtle or is it generally obvious?

Perhaps I should add that, when using the RestoreX, I assess whether the tension is in the superficial skin vs. deeper tissues. I usually need to pull the skin through the base of the device. For straight configurations, the end result seems to be loose superficial skin and tension in the dorsal band I described previously that seems consistent with the neurovascular bundle.

[tsp]

You seem to be doing everything correctly. Perhaps your plaque is near the base. Dig into the fat with your fingers and palpate near the base. Try doing it with RestoreX pulling things out. Check for indentations and hourglass deformity also. Your plaque could also be in the part of your penis inside your body.

If you are not seeing results with RestoreX, try applying more force. Getting the black rods to (almost) disappear applies quite a bit more force than just getting the white bands on them disappear.

[ueacv]

Should I infer from your reply that, when accessible, the plaque is easily recognized with palpation?

Most of the time, I had enough tension that only about 1/4" of black rod was visible. So, it has been more tension that just managing to hide the white lines. What's odd is that, for most of the 3 months, I didn't have much trouble with slipping, but in the last few weeks, I have, especially during bending. I'm not sure what changed.

I have been using the makeup pad trick. I wish I could find thinner pads (I should try to slice one again) or adjust the RestoreX differently because I feel like the jaws are more of a scissors than a parallel clamp. They need to open just a bit wider on the hinged side.

[tsp]

Unfortunately, the plaque is not always palpable. The bend/indentation/hourglassing should be obvious on an erect penis, unless the plaque is in the internal part of the penis.

Are you sure you have Peyronie's?

[ueacv]

Since I haven't had a urologist evaluate me, I'll have to answer that I cannot be certain that I have Peyronies, although I am sure that I now have curvature when I did not previously. With great trepidation, I post a photo. No one can give a medical evaluation on a group chat, and I'm not looking for one, but maybe the photo helps the discussion in some way. I'll probably delete the photo after a day.

[tsp]

Your case looks very similar to mine, a gentle upwards curve without an obviously localized defect. I eventually managed to locate an indentation in the left cavernosum by palpating the erect penis in the perineum. I have never been able to palpate the plaque itself - only its effects on an erect penis. Eventually RestoreX pulled out the defect and made it readily visible during erections.

I haven't paid much attention to my upward curve since it is mild, and I don't know if it has improved with traction. I had lost 2 inches, however, and RestoreX has recovered 1 inch so far. It was as if the plaque had shortened my neurovascular bundle by bunching it up at the base of my penis causing the rest of the penis to gently curve upwards and to the left.

[ueacv]

Thanks for all of your replies. They are very helpful.

I was going to ask, if you were unsure where the lesion was, at least early on, how did you decide where to focus the counter-bending, but perhaps you have only been doing straight traction since your main complaint is length?

In recent weeks, I've wondered if I notice a slight indentation in the right c. cavernosum when erect. I thought it might be associated with the very slight bend to the left that is present when the erection is forming, but which seems to go away when fully erect. I wondered whether this is a new defect introduced by the traction. If this is similar to your experience, then it could be indicating progress.

I'm actually quite fortunate. I'm still functional although some positions aren't so great anymore. I had a fantastic RP surgeon, and am fortunate to be having erections and am optimistic that over the next 6 months, I'll stop needing the Trimix injections. It is almost that way now. I started with the RestoreX hoping to improve things, but mostly I started out of fear that things would get worse if I did nothing.

So, where are we at this point in the discussion. I guess the feedback is that counter-bending is important. I'm not sure of the basis for that claim, but the posting that squishing out to the side doesn't matter helps. I can just keep going if I'm confident that always bulging to the right (it never bulges left) isn't a risk. It seems that some people report requiring more than 3 months and, despite what RestoreX literature says, that continuing to 9 months or a year was needed.

[tsp]

II am not a doctor and perhaps I was too hasty to suggest that our cases were similar. My Peyronie's was over 10 years old when diagnosed, so a matured plaque had to be present somewhere. You might not have much of a plaque at all.

Your curve is only a few months old, and still painful. Your Peyronie's is likely in its acute phase. Traction is the most effective intervention at this stage. RestoreX is likely stopping your plaque from getting (much) worse. Traction has very few side effects; if you are indeed suffering from acute Peyronies, continuing traction until the plaque matures and the pain is gone would be the likely recommendation.

As for my early use of RestoreX, you guessed right - I only performed straight traction initially. Counter-bending is only useful if it helps move some of the force from your neurovascular bundle to the plaque. Perhaps you should monitor the development of your plaque(s) and adjust RestoreX to keep the force on them.

[jj21]

Some really informative answers in this thread.

Just to add, I recall Dr Trost mentioning the following (possibly in the MD forum on this site):

1. Straight traction can still be beneficial for curvature, especially if it is an upwards curvature (indicating plaque on dorsal side as the user TSP has explained;
2. Straight traction can still improve bloodflow, and help with length gains; and
3. In cases where there are multiple dents/curvatures, he recommends using only straight traction, as counter-bending can aggravate dents.

I've been doing straight traction for months with RestoreX and am seeing some progress, my condition may be different to yours though.

J

[ueacv]

tsp, don't worry: I'm not reading our discussion as medical advice. It is helpful, though, to hear of others' experiences. Thank you for sharing yours.

jj21- very helpful info! Thank you.

[Mr man]

Can RestoreX be used just straight, no counter-bend, for treating curvature? Is there data on how much the counter-bending adds to the treatment?

In my penis, there is a band of firmer, almost tendon-like tissue that runs along the entire length of the top (dorsal) surface. I'm guessing this is normal anatomy (?). When I counter-bend, it is like this band mashes down into the bulk of the penis (corpora) and that bulk gets pushed off to the right. I've tried again and again to make the penis squish uniformly during the bend, but it just does't work that way for me. Maybe 1 time in 20 will it seem to be more uniform.

Does any of this ring a bell with anyone? Do you bend uniformly or is it normal to bulge to one side? This is what is motivating me to ask if I can just skip the bending.

Hello,

Firstly to my Knowledge and experience. The 'band of firmer' tissue to the dorsal side is not normal penile anatomy. This is a consequence of Peyronie's plaque. I don't recall seeing this on any diagrams of healthy penis and it certainly was not on my penis before I got Peyronie's.

If I were you. I would stop using the bend function. It is making your penis more deformed.

From my personal use of restorex. Using it on streight did help elongate my penis. I used it for 3 months. It did nothing for the bend. For that I wore another device. 6 hours a day. For about 9 month.

[Mr man]

Thanks for the replies- very helpful. The curvature is upwards. To give more background: I noticed the curvature almost immediately after a radical prostatectomy was performed 11 months ago. Immediately after catheter removal

Be careful. Peyronie's generally comes on slowly and often month after an injury. In your case it sounds like you may have bruised penis immediately after the catheter was removed. From what I have read over the years. Simple bruising can cause bends. You might be better off giving traction a break? Not all penile injuries are Peyronie's.

Abstaining from sex. Taking anti inflammatory oral medication and other more conservative treatments might be enough? Something like 10 minutes of heat treatment daily. A warm rice sock or water bottle could help the injury heal? Maybe a course of ibuprofen? Traction can exasibate an injury. Have you seen a doctor for a clear diagnosis yet?

For me 3 minutes of manual traction before sleeping worked well. (Untill I was forced to stop due to another more serious disease took presidency.)

[ueacv]

Mr Man thanks for the reply. No, I haven't had a medical evaluation and really ought to. I waited 7.5 months before trying the RestoreX, but I did not abstain from sex during that period. Because of the prostatectomy 11 months ago, abstaining from sex would not be a good idea, so I just need to accept that risk, if present. I really ought to see a doctor. I suppose my (faulty) reasoning is that there's no course of action a doctor would suggest other than tracton that I would be willing to try at this time, and I didn't see anything that would contraindicate trying, so I tried. Persistent inflation I suppose might and, as you say, a doctor would be able to best advise if the RestoreX should not be used.