Painful erections/skin bridge?

[alysonb]

To recap on my ds's issue (I wrote about it here a few years ago), when the pediatrician circ'd him he didn't really do the job, but rather just separated the foreskin from the glans and didn't cut anything (this is what it looks like and this is what a pediatric urologist told me later on). Anyway, I've just left it alone and everything was fine until about a month ago. Now I notice that he grabs himself frequently (which in itself I didn't think much of as I know a lot of boys who do this), but he also whenever he wakes up with an erection he grabs at himself and just yells OUCH, OUCH! I finally got him to let me look more closely at it and when you retract the foreskin it all goes back smoothly except for part on the top where it appears to be attached to the glans. It has been a few years since I really examined him, but I don't remember it being that way. Is this normal for an uncirc'd boy (which is what the urologist said he basically is)? Or should I make another appointment. I hate having him subjected to more prodding down there and even worse yet surgery, so I'll take any advice. He's 4 1/2 now, btw.

[2boyzmama]

I think there's a good chance that he will naturally separate and/or stretch on his own. 4 1/2 is still very young.

BUT, if it scar tissue that is too thick, then that might be different. I've heard of steroidal creams being used, but maybe not that young?

If you do take him in, contact DOC to find an intact-friendly dr.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

It is still to early to worry about that spot. He has years yet for it to release on its own. If when he enters puberty and it is causing him issues then you can take him and get the steroid cream.

Many young boys say ouch because of the odd sensation and they dont know how to articulate that other than saying ouch. It is also possible that the spot is starting to come loose and that can cause an ouch.

[PlainandTall]

Alyson- I'm having a hard time understanding this "circumcision" ...is it just that the end result looks like he's not circumcised because his glans is totally covered- or did the Dr. really not do any cutting at all? I just don't get it- if a circumcision had been done- there should have been some sort of a wound that you would have seen there - it's not like it's something you can miss. I know lots of boys are circumcised and it doesn't wind up looking like the parents expect... but I can't imagine a Dr. saying they are going to circumcise the baby and then not doing anything at all!!! Were you billed for this? I mean... not like I'd want to see a baby circumcised- but that's FRAUD!

As for the adhesion- because your son's foreskin was forcefully retracted when he was an infant- I would be concerned about that being a skin bridge and not a simple adhesion that's in the process of releasing. The fact that your son is complaining that it hurts- to me- that makes "wait and see" a pretty sad prospect...

There is a study by VanHowe you may find helpful:
http://www.cirp.org/library/complications/vanhowe/

...and this summary from Ponsky is also enlightening....
http://www.cirp.org/library/complications/ponsky2/
but the conclusion... "Although there is debate on whether to lyse these adhesions manually, our findings suggest that adhesions resolve without treatment."... I really have to wonder about that. It seems a little like the tree falling in the forest question... just because a doctor doesn't lyse the adhesion himself... should he just assume that it happened by magic and without pain? On the dramatic end of the scale- I remember reading a gruesome story from a teenage guy who took care of his skin bridge himself- with ice and nail clippers! ...ugh!

I'm just wondering- if it really is a skin bridge- how many years of painful erections will it take before that thing would let go!? I think erections should be funny or pleasant for a child... I can't imagine a little boy going for years- dreading- rather than enjoying that.

I think at his age- he's able to understand and discuss medical help with this. If he was 18 moths old- maybe it would whallop him out of the blue to be poked and prodded... but if he's complaining of pain- I think it's reasonable to tell him that you are concerned about what he is telling you and that you want to take him to the doctor to see if there is something that can be done to help fix that ouchie feeling. You don't need to commit to a treatment right then and there- but just to evaluate what is going on- I think that's fair.

A short term solution to the erection pain *might* be to suggest to him to pull his foreskin forward- that would probably take the painful tension off the adhesion.

[eepster]

How long has this been going on? Does he just say "ouch, ouch" or is he crying and such? Is he a dramatic kid, or a stoic kid? Will he say "ouch" over things like the bath water being a bit too chilly?