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.