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Complications following torn frenulum

Written by John S. at 06 Sep 2001 20:49:15:

I feel I should post an update on my condition. Previously I posted long anguished questions and got many sympathetic replies. The postings seem to have disappeared off the bottom of the page but in case anybody can find them the first was entitled “torn frenulum at 42”.

Previous to this problem I did not realise that I had a tight frenulum and that a foreskin should ideally retract during intercourse. Anyway, immediately following the incident in which my frenulum tore and bled a lot, I has persistent pain and swelling of the meatus (where the urine comes out). The pain was constant for months and sexual activity aggravated it. The meatus was very swollen and had a couple of little bright red patches that looked like ulcers that would turn white and blanched as they got better, before reoccurring.

It turns out that the torn frenulum was a red herring, ie. it happened at the same time as something else but was not the cause of my persistent pain. Indeed, the frenulum healed after a couple of weeks and the pain that remains is associated with the meatus.

After describing my symptoms on this forum I had suggestions of a urinary tract infection and herpes activation by trauma etc. These were well wide of the mark. It is not surprising that nobody on this forum got near the truth as I visited my GP practice and the local urinary tract clinic 9 times without success. The 6 or so different doctors I saw had different opinions ranging from clamydia, thrush and (most insultingly) my imagination.

Recently my GP referred me to a consultant urologist but when the appointment came through it was for September 2002! I therefore paid to go privately. The urologist diagnosed a very minor PRIAPISM. Now, very minor might sound encouraging, but priapism is one of the most serious things that can happen to a penis ... it is when there is a problem with the connection between the arterial and venal blood systems in the penis. It results in persistent painful erections that lead to scaring and eventual impotence. There are few effective therapies.

I am fortunate in that I do not have a persistent erection and the effect is limited to the very end of my penis. Unfortunately this is where most of the nerve endings are located. I received this injury at the beginning of April and there has been some improvement over the last few weeks, so I have some hope of recovery, but it is unlikely to recover completely.

I would like to offer my sincere thanks to everybody on this forum that provided support, specially PaulB. However, in the interest of informing others to the best of my ability I must point out that I sustained this injury while following the suggestions on this web site for stretching a tight foreskin. I ignored one vital part of the instructions ... to stretch gently. The injury occurred when I retracted the foreskin behind the corona ... I did not do it with much force but my frenulum was so tight that it was almost pulling the meatus (to which my frenulum is attached) out of the glans.

In retrospect, I should have gone to the doctor and had the frenulum cut and I would not be in this position now. When my injury has healed more, as I hope and half expect it will, I will have the operation. A tight frenulum makes sex quite uncomfortable and (again) in retrospect it has ruined my enjoyment of sex all my adult life. If you have a tight frenulum don’t bother even trying to stretch it, I recommend that you go and have this tiny, simple and safe operation.

Finally, I should say that I have sustained several injuries in my sporting career that took 1, 2 or even 3 years to heal completely. Time is the great healer and we should not be disheartened if we have to rest the old war horse for a while after an injury.

Best wishes and good health to all, John Stuart.


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