Meatal Stenosis

[SickofCP]

Hi guys,

I saw Dr. Rodney Anderson last month and in his opinion I have a mild meatal stenosis. This means that the opening to the urethra at the tip of the penis is too small. He estimates that it's a 16, where a 20 is normal. In his opinion this may be causing at least some of my pain. He's recommended gradual dilation (and not surgery) to resolve it. I have to see a uro near home to start doing this (takes forever to get an appt).

I can't seem to find any good information on this on the internet. Meatal stenosis does not appear to be common in adults.

I keep wondering now, how much of the pain I feel there is referred pain and how much is actual pain at that location. I certainly feel pain and iritation right towards the tip.

I've discussed in previous posts that I had a split stream prior to the onset of chronic prostatitis / chronic pelvic pain syndrome symptoms. Dr. Anderson feels that this is consistent with meatal stenosis. He thinks it's "possible" that this was contributor to the onset of symptoms.

I'd appreciate your opinions on this. I know that many of us FEEL as if there is an obstruction at the tip of the penis. Is it possible that in my case there really is?

[webslave]

It's a bit like a stricture, but at the end of the urethra, not the beginning. See
https://ucpps.men/prostatitis-cystoscopies-and-urethral-strictures

It may help to have it treated. I'd treat it if I were you, but no guarantees!

[SickofCP]

what do you mean by "no guarantees"?

Do you mean:

1) that treatment will not fix it
Or
2) that even if it's fixed I can still have the pain

Do you think that at least some of the pain I feel there is NOT referred pain?

I definitely think that I need to treat it.

[webslave]

There is no guarantee that the pain will end. Pain is sometimes difficult to stop, even when the precipitating cause is removed.

[SickofCP]

But wouldn't resolving this give it a chance to heal over time? I'm not sure I understand why there would still be pain. Do you mean referred pain from trigger points (such as from the levator ani), or do you mean from damage caused to the urethra and nerves at the location of the pain?

I realize that fixing this will not cure me by some miracle, but I feel strongly that this is a good first step in resolving some of my pain. This diagnosis validates the sensations that I feel. It feels constricted, and sure enough it is!

Also, it may explain some of the cycles of pain that I've had. I've always noticed that when I had perineum discomfort, and very weak stream, the pain at the end of the urethra was little or none. On the other hand, when the perineum discomfort cleared, and my stream became more powerful, the constricted tip would start to hurt upon urination. This pain would then make my pelvic muscles tense up to prevent the strong urine flow from hurting, thereby starting over the cycle. Might be interesting to see what happens when the cycle is broken.

Fixing this constriction combined with following the Stanford/Wise-Anderson Protocol is my best hope. And hope is a good thing to have.

[MastCells]

Please list any tests/procedures that were done by Dr. Anderson. How did he make this diagnosis?

[SickofCP]

He only did it by looking and making an educated guess. When I start dilation, I'm assuming it will be measured.

[MastCells]

Interesting diagnosis. See:
http://www.emedicine.com/ped/topic2356.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency ... s/8861.htm

[SickofCP]

Those are good links MastCells. Thanks.

Here's a quote from one of them:

Meatal stenosis is a relatively common acquired condition occurring in 9-10% of males who are circumcised.

That seems too high to be true.

If it is true, maybe most who have it do not also get CPPS, as I did. If a stream is split or slightly narrow but there is no pain involved, then a man will likely not see a doctor about this. I never mentioned that I had a split stream to my doctor until the onset of pain symptoms.