I was just searching the net once again for this issue, just hoping to find someone who shard this problem with me. I was pretty sure there had to be other people out there with this issue. I didn't know what to call it. I wondered if it was what people were talking about when I heard jokes about "chafing." But I saw pictures and that's not it. I know this post is very old now and no one else is responding but I just HAD to reply with the fact that I have this same issue! And I haven't even been able to articulate what it is before. I'd just tell the doctors it was pain on my penis from rubbing up against my underwear and they'd think I was crazy! No solutions were ever even suggested. I don't think mine has been as bad as some of what you guys have described here simply because I'd just avoid walking anywhere when it was too bad or I learned a highly temporary 'trick." I would sag my pants like those --pardon my reference here-- African-American, male youth would often do (see Lil Wayne for example) with their boxers showing. I wouldn't show my boxers but my paints would be down to the point where my penis wouldn't move so much and rub up against my boxers. This gave me a slight pit of relief while walking. It didn't help when I was running though. Sometimes, I just suffered through the pain! I also associated this issue with intense masturbation and even after sex when using a condom--although that was rarely the cause of the irritation. That only happened if the condom pinched my penis by the opening, which I hate! But I am now concerned that herpes could be related. A girls I have been having protected sex with for the last few years has been diagnosed with HSV but so far, my test results have come back negative, except for one time, it was inconclusive. I don't know why that was but I thought it might be cause my body is somehow fighting it off well enough that most tests are negative for me, even though I still might be a carrier or something??? I'm probably saying ridiculous things here. But these are my thoughts and I felt I should share. I hope we can find a way yo alleviate the pain altogether though. Hey, thank you so much for posting this and for all of the responses!

Well It has been about 4 months of painful discomfort from the circumsition scar to the tip of my penis (only when rubbing it against my clothes) and I have seen 3 urologist, 1 dermatologist, and every single one of them diagnose me as "crazy". Some days the pain is almost unbearable and others just bad. They did some blood test to find herpes and I came back positive from type I and II. and although I have had periodic cold sores in my mouth since I was a kid, I have never had any blister or visible sign of herpes II in my genitals, not even now. One thing I was doing before this thing from hell came on me was eating around 30 almonds a day. I know now that almonds are rich in Arginine and arginine fuels Herpes Virus. Has anyone of you guys can recognize a trigger for your condition or found anything so far that helps?

Thank you!

Well Gentleman you can add me to this club that no one wants to be a member of.
This bizarre affliction began for me about two months ago. I initially thought it might be work related as I am a research Chemist and was doing some work with Isocyanates which are known sensitizers. The condition has persisted however, weather I work with these compounds or not and now I am extra cautious to avoid any contact while working with Isocyanates.
Thanks to your posts I have developed a new theory, I believe this may be an unusual manifestation of the Shingles virus. I am not overweight and no chance I have HSV.
I do know for certain that I had Chickenpox (Herpes Zoster virus) at the age of 5.
Given Hiriser32’s experience with the latency of symptoms over years this screams retrovirus to me. Also if you check the net you will find that Shingles in rare cases can affect the Female genitalia (Vaginal Shingles). So why not the male? Perhaps even rarer still.
Would be interesting to know if all of you also had the Chickenpox.
I was reluctant to go to the Doctor as I figured they wouldn’t have a clew and as is the case with many of you my symptoms come and go as well.
At this point for me this is an extreme annoyance but nothing I can’t live with.
However based on your posts if this continues at my next scheduled physical I am going to present my PCP physician with this data and ask for a prescription of Valtrex (valaciclovir) to see if my theory has any merit. If this gives me relief I would like to follow it up with a Zostavax shot (Shingles vaccine).
If any of you have tried any of these two treatments and found any relief please posts your results.
Good luck gentleman we may be case studies for something new here..

Hi Chem1,

Thank you for your post. I may have the same affliction as you and I've had it for years. I also had Chickenpox as a child and now wonder if this is related. A dermatologist tried to use liquid nitrogen on the area and later a urologist performed sugary to remove the skin around that area to promote nerve regrowth but neither was effective. Have you learned anything since your last post or tried any treatments?

Welcome Sylvester1.

I have a question for all the guys:

Who has successfully tried to ignore the pain? Has anyone just done their best to put it out of their heads and learn to ignore it? Does anyone feel like when you're really busy, or absorbed in work, or even when just having fun you don't notice or feel the pain as much?

If the doctors are right, and this is "nothing," can we try to psych ourselves out by ignoring it and live a happier life even though the pain is still real and there?

Does anyone get what I mean?

DLNY - glad to hear there has been some improvement.

Yes I would say there is little doubt about that intact I was reading an article recently “Living with chronic pain and discomfort” in which one of the techniques recommended for coping was,

“Find ways to distract yourself from pain so you can enjoy life. Track if your pain subsides when you are distracted. Document any findings in your journal.” It has many other recommendation for coping.

But I have so far never managed to put it completely out of my mind for any length of time as in days as opposed to hours.

I find your theory very interesting Chem1, I would like to ask you if you are certain you havent got Herpes I or II, because that may rule out Herpes as the only cause of the pain we are all feeling. I also had Chickenpox when I was a Kid so you may be on the right track.

Altough your post is a bit old it would be fanstastic to hear from you regarding any advance you may have on your theory and how are you doing with your treatment if any.

It´s been about three years since this condition started from me and would like to know if anyone of you have made progress and how.

Thank you Chem1 and thank you all.

I just want to mention the possibility of more advanced problems just in case, since you are having problems getting treated.
Hypersensitivity - hard to tell if it's just the skin (as in skin irritation) or the nerve underlying innervation of the penis.
If it's the nerve (and not just the very external layer of skin) then it may be pudendal nerve problems. This is the nerve that runs from the spine through the alcock's canal near your bottom, through to the exterior portions of your ****, testes, and penis to innervate them.
Problems along this nerve line can cause pain, numbness, or hypersensitivity along this nerve route.
Problems can include lower back problems (anywhere from L4 through S4) tugging on it, ligaments rubbing it the way, alcock canal getting smaller and rubbing it (scar tissue or by other means), piriformis muscle problems since it runs close to it, etc. It can even be from Femoroacetabular Impingement (FAI) or hip impingement syndrome. So if you have any other symptoms like these check them.
As a female, I have pudendal nerve entrapment problems from L5 S1 disc degeneration. So, yeah, anything along that route can upset it. Sometimes my clitoris (on you it is would be the same with your penis) would get hypersensitive in not so nice a way. I didn't even want to touch it or have anything like underwear rub it. On other places along the nerve line, I swear it felt like the skin was highly irritated, but the skin was actually fine. It was the nerve that was having problems. Figured out it was my spine pulling on it from above by being a bit out of place through an MRI.
So, if your symptoms progress to other things, too, thought you may want this info.