Your Recovery
You have had an orchiopexy (say "OR-kee-oh-peck-see"). In adults this is usually done for testicle torsion. This occurs when your testicle twists, which twists the cord that provides it with blood. This cuts off blood from the testicle. This is usually an emergency, and the surgery takes place right away.
Your doctor made a cut, called an incision, in your scrotum and untwisted the cord. If the testicle looked like it was too damaged, your doctor probably removed it. Your doctor may have replaced the testicle with a prosthetic testicle, which is a plastic oval. This keeps the shape of your scrotum close to what it was before the surgery. The loss of one testicle should not change your ability to get an erection or father a child.
If the testicle is okay, your doctor attached it to your scrotum with stitches. This will keep the cord from twisting again. Your doctor also attached the other testicle to the scrotum so the cord will not twist in the future.
In most cases, doctors use stitches that dissolve on their own in 2 to 3 weeks and do not need to be removed. The incision will ooze fluid for 2 to 3 days.
You can expect to feel better each day, although you may have some mild to moderate pain for several days after surgery. You may need pain medicine during this time. Your scrotum will be swollen after surgery. This is normal. The swelling usually goes down within 2 to 4 weeks.
You should be able to do most of your normal activities after 1 to 2 weeks, except for those that require a lot of effort. It is important to avoid straining with bowel movements and doing heavy lifting while you are recovering.
This care sheet gives you a general idea about how long it will take for you to recover. But each person recovers at a different pace. Follow the steps below to get better as quickly as possible.
Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety. Be sure to make and go to all appointments, and call your doctor or nurse call line if you are having problems. It's also a good idea to know your test results and keep a list of the medicines you take.
Where can you learn more?
Go to https://www.healthwise.net/patientEd
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