What is traction supposed to feel like?

[lsssr]

I don't have a curve, but I notice if I bend my flaccid penis into a "C" shape with the dent side out, it feels like a "crunchy" stretch. Like stretching a tense muscle. After a bit of that, it softens up and hurts less. But after I stop, it'll flare up with pins-and-needles type of pain.

Is that how it's supposed to feel? Are you even supposed to stretch dents?

My ultrasound isn't for another 2 months, and one urologist palpated my penis and said he couldn't feel any plaques, so honestly I don't even know if I have Peyronie's. Is this fibrosis, a pinched nerve, something? I'm just so confused and worried this pain is never going to go away.

[bentoboy]

Hi there,

I'm really sorry to hear what you have been going through and hope the condition gets better.

I have exactly the same question about the dents. I have too many dents on each side and so curious whether anything could be done. I've tried to softly stretch them but then not sure whether it's a good idea and whether there's any risk associated with it.

Regarding the ultrasound, my penis is deformed to a varying degree in different places, but then the ultrasound can't really show it. But then I can feel some bumpy/uneven surface when I touch it with fingers (I think it must be some fibrosis causing deformity which is also hard to detect)

Regarding pain, as per my experience, pain usually improves once the condition somewhat stabilises. So hopefully you'll get better shortly!

[lsssr]

but then the ultrasound can't really show it.

I'm so worried they're going to do the ultrasound and say "nope nothing's wrong.   "

Like, do I want Peyronie's? Of course not. But it'd be cool to have some kind of answers about what's going on.

Regarding pain, as per my experience, pain usually improves once the condition somewhat stabilises.

I hope so. I've been feeling an ache in my penis for years now. But I was doing a lot of jerking off so I just assumed it was soreness/overuse or a bad vein. It was when I stopped jerking off a few weeks ago that I realized ... oh, this pain isn't going away.

I guess it's possible I haven't given it enough time to heal, but  

[richestorags]

Is that how it's supposed to feel? Are you even supposed to stretch dents?

My ultrasound isn't for another 2 months, and one urologist palpated my penis and said he couldn't feel any plaques, so honestly I don't even know if I have Peyronie's. Is this fibrosis, a pinched nerve, something? I'm just so confused and worried this pain is never going to go away.

Brother, your signature lists that you are suicidal. Please don't take this as condescending etc but please get help ASAP. There are effective treatments available for whatever your condition actually is. Next up, a urologist who has experience treating Peyronie's disease should have an ultrasound machine in their office and not make you wait a month.

[lsssr]

Trying brother. Got my first psychiatrist appointment on Monday, and that's after 3 weeks of waiting.

It takes f-cking forever to get an appointment for anything, whether it's a psych or a urologist.

[richestorags]

Hello: The change in your signature seems to indicate athat and MD prescriped Celexa. Antidepressants typically take 2 weeks before improvement is noted so please hang in there. I am not a doctor and can not give medical advice, however, some Google research on your condition seemed (emphasis added) to be commensurate with penile calcification. An ultrasound will easily determine if this is the case.

As far as treatment, if you have insurance and can get to a true expert, do it. Some examples of being treated by a generalist vs. a specialist:

1. I had Peyronies Disease with a 70-degree dorsal curve. 02/2023, a urologist who had decent (emphasis added) credentials in treating peyronie's disease said I needed an implant. WTF? A phone consultaion with Dr. Trost put that notion to rest in a heartbeat. One series of Xiaflex injections with him 03/2023 coupled with aggressive RestoreX use has me at around 20 degrees which is classified as normal. I could not be happier.

2. 10/2000, my father was diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer and was told to put his affairs in order. The treating doctor was a general urologist. Dad went to an Ivy-League educated radiation oncologist who scoffed at the terminal diagnosis. An aggressive course of hormone deprivation therapy, external beam and radioactive seed implant was administered and the doctor called Thanksgiving morning 2001 to say that Dad's PSA was undetectable and that he was cured.

Where am I going with all of this? Simple: Get treated by the best. Your treatment outcome will be superior and you will have peace of mind. It is unknown where you live and that is none of my business, however, there are multiple true experts around the country who are up to the task. Have you considered a phone consultation with Dr. Trost? He will spend 20-30 minutes on the phone with you at no cost.

[lsssr]

if you have insurance and can get to a true expert, do it.

At this point I've seen 3 different urologists and they all kinda sucked. I literally ask when I make the appointment "does this doctor know about Peyronie's?" and the person on the phone says "I don't know, I'm just a clerk who does the scheduling." So I wait weeks and weeks to see a doctor, then when I finally get in the room they say 🤷

My GP is great and actually tried to order the ultrasound herself, but since she's not a urologist it literally blocks her from inputting the request. I'm in Houston so I'm near Dr. Clavell, who I think is an expert? But he's out-of-network so it'd cost $300 per consult, ultrasound price not included. I asked Dr. Trost some questions in the Q&A section of the forum, but he answered most of them with "I cannot speak to your specific condition." So IDK how helpful a phone call would be. I feel like he actually needs to see you to give any insight.

I'm just so tired of fighting the healthcare system, dude.

[nevertheless]

Have you been able to search online? Took me a few hours but found a few who specialize in peyronies after a bunch of striking out.

If they actually specialize in peyronies, the clerk should know. I called and asked for specific doctor, when we got to the reason for visit question and I said curve/peyronies, clerk said "oh he's the best doctor in our practice for peyronies, good choice".

[lsssr]

Have you been able to search online? Took me a few hours but found a few who specialize in peyronies after a bunch of striking out.

I have Community Health Choice insurance, so I go on their website and do the "Find a Doctor" thing to find someone in-network. Most of the time the calls get routed to some centralized call center that oversees multiple clinics in the hospital's system. This was the website (link) for the last urologist I saw, and it says Peyronie's in the specialties section.

But with everyone I've seen, it seems like the vibe is there's nothing you can really do about Peyronie's, even if you catch it early, so these doctors simply can't be bothered to do the scan. The urologist set my appointment 3 months out and said that was the soonest she could get.

So I'm just sitting here doing hand traction while I wait a 1/4th of a year for an ultrasound.

[richestorags]

I have Community Health Choice insurance, so I go on their website and do the "Find a Doctor" thing to find someone in-network. Most of the time the calls get routed to some centralized call center that oversees multiple clinics in the hospital's system. This was the website (link) for the last urologist I saw, and it says Peyronie's in the specialties section.

But with everyone I've seen, it seems like the vibe is there's nothing you can really do about Peyronie's, even if you catch it early, so these doctors simply can't be bothered to do the scan. The urologist set my appointment 3 months out and said that was the soonest she could get.

So I'm just sitting here doing hand traction while I wait a 1/4th of a year for an ultrasound.

I am a licensed property, casualty, life, health, accident, sickness and personal lines insurance producer. After looking at their network, Community Health Choice should be ashamed of themselves. They seem to cater to Texas residents and employers with limited-to-no out of state or out of network benefits. Fork them. ERISA (Federally-governed) plans can put severe restrictions on what services, doctors etc. a person can receive but a state plan like Community is subject to Texas law. It is easy for insurers to avoid paying for treatment under ERISA plans but State plans greatly favor the consumer. A search on the Community website disclosed that there are no in-network urologists in Dallas. Oh really. Next up, There is no spaghetti in Italy. Have you called these people to demand a referral? No promises, however, I have had the pleasure of making the likes of Aetna and MetLife buckle under relentless but perfectly legal demands that they adhere to contractual obligations. You deserve better than this. Start with a call with Dr. Trost and we can crucify Community Health over the next few weeks.

[lsssr]

Have you called these people to demand a referral? You deserve better than this. Start with a call with Dr. Trost and we can crucify Community Health over the next few weeks.

I'm starting a new job in a couple weeks that has Blue Cross HealthSelect insurance. That any better?

Since my last post I called some out-of-network doctors (like Clavell) and they couldn't fit me in til August either. I even went to the emergency room and asked for the ultrasound, but they said they don't perform them. Seems like it's pretty much impossible to speed up this process.

Celexa's kicking in so I'm a lot less stressed about it. Also it weirdly helps with the flaccid pain. Apparently it can have a side effect of genital numbness/reduced sensation (link) and sometimes it relieves nerve pain (link) so maybe it has something to do with that.

[richestorags]

1. Congrats on your new job!
2. Blue Cross is excellent. They have a huge array of in-network doctors nationwide and are very fair when it comes to paying claims. Dr. Trost is in-netowrk with Blue Cross.  
3. Get a Termination of Benefits letter from your current employer that specifically states when your current benefits will end. Blue Cross can nit pick about about a person having "other insurance" and the termination letter will head that off at the pass

I am not a doctor and can't provide insight into your condition. However, you may be confident that with new insurance, you will have access to top-notch doctors who will get to the bottom of this and render appropriate treatment.