Heat vs Ice Post-Op

[Wooody]

Met with my Dr yesterday for my pre-op appt. Surgery is next week and I asked about icing during my recovery. So many here say "ice, ice, ice" etc, even days after, but that doesn't make sense to me. The Dr confirmed what I was thinking and told me to ice only for the first 24hrs and after that, heat. He said icing after surgery (which is basically an injury to the body) is good initially to reduce swelling and bruising, but after that icing will constrict blood vessels and would slow healing. Even Google AI seems to recommend this approach when searching.

So, I plan to follow my Dr's instructions and ice during the first 24hrs but not after that. Then it's hot showers, heating pad and hot baths after 3 days.

[atul21]

Right. I have pointed this out many times as well. Even protocol of Dr. Eid asks you to ice for 1-2 days and then move to heat pad/hot shower.

[equusAz]

I iced for 2-3 days - then heat after that. When I DID ice - it was constant though - and it really helped.

[Old Guy]

I never used ice and I regret the fact no one told me to do it. That was before I found FT. My swelling and soreness was horrible the first two weeks. After doc allowed me to bathe, it was a hot bath every morning for a couple months. That was the best thing to ease the soreness.

[Wooody]

I never used ice and I regret the fact no one told me to do it. That was before I found FT. My swelling and soreness was horrible the first two weeks. After doc allowed me to bathe, it was a hot bath every morning for a couple months. That was the best thing to ease the soreness.

Did you have it done penoscrotal or infrapubic? I can imagine more swelling and soreness with penoscrotal. Mine will be infrapubic and hopefully the swelling and soreness will be manageable. Plus I have a huge tolerance for pain so that should help.. I hope!

[Old Guy]

Did you have it done penoscrotal or infrapubic? I can imagine more swelling and soreness with penoscrotal. Mine will be infrapubic and hopefully the swelling and soreness will be manageable. Plus I have a huge tolerance for pain so that should help.. I hope!

Mine was penoscrotal. My other mistake was removing the drain bag too soon. I was still having pretty good drainage but wanted to get that thing off me. Probably caused more swelling.
Pain, hope you do tolerate it well. That is one tender area doc is going to mess with. Good Luck!

[Implant2025]

I iced for 2-3 days - then heat after that. When I DID ice - it was constant though - and it really helped.

I used ice for like 3 days until the worst of the swelling had stopped. My scrotum was the size of a tennis ball after surgery, but 3 days later it was more like a softball. I also found ice was good for reducing pain. After that it was warm showers and a heating pad.

But I'm a bit surprised that some surgeons are letting you start taking baths after a few days. Mine was very clear to avoid baths, pools and hot tubs until my incision was healed. And when I worked as an RN, patient discharge instructions almost always said to keep wounds as clean and dry as possible while healing. Just shows that every surgeon is different. Lots of variety on when to start cycling, yes/no drains, yes/no catheters, infrapubic/penoscrotal, and whether patients go home with a partial erection.

[Quincy]

I iced often for the first week and more. It certainly helped with reducing swelling. My doc, Karpman, told me I would be most comfortable sitting in a hot bath as soon as I could. He sealed the incision with surgical glue (infrapublic, so the incision was smaller and on smoother skin), and he told me I could start hot baths on day 3. It was WONDERFUL. The pain eased immediately. Swelling seemed to be helped with the ice, which I continued to use, but comfort increased every time I got in a hot bath, which I did a couple times a day. After I got home, I actually bought a hot tub. It helped with comfort and also made the stiff bulb easier to pump.

I know, however, that many surgeons say no bath at all due to the possibility of infection. Make sure you ask your doc. You certainly don't want to risk an infection. Mine would not have approved the bath without the surgical glue sealing.

[Wooody]

I iced often for the first week and more. It certainly helped with reducing swelling. My doc, Karpman, told me I would be most comfortable sitting in a hot bath as soon as I could. He sealed the incision with surgical glue (infrapublic, so the incision was smaller and on smoother skin), and he told me I could start hot baths on day 3. It was WONDERFUL. The pain eased immediately. Swelling seemed to be helped with the ice, which I continued to use, but comfort increased every time I got in a hot bath, which I did a couple times a day. After I got home, I actually bought a hot tub. It helped with comfort and also made the stiff bulb easier to pump.

I know, however, that many surgeons say no bath at all due to the possibility of infection. Make sure you ask your doc. You certainly don't want to risk an infection. Mine would not have approved the bath without the surgical glue sealing.

Karpman is doing mine on Tuesday and he gave me the same instructions, except to only ice for 24hrs. I will definitely be soaking in a hot bath. I hear it also really helps with pulling the pump down into the sack.

[JohnHC]

All three of mine were penoscrotal - first two no drain, swole up to softball size, no baths till healed, no shower for 3 to 4 days, ice for 2 to 3 days then switch to heat, no cycling till after 2 week check up. This revision ( Dr Hakky ) - drain ( get to remove myself today day 4 ), swole up to little bigger than a baseball, iced for 2 days then heat pad, no shower till after drain is pulled, no baths till after healed, will start cycling at 1 week ( will have ultrasound done and then shown how to cycle ( duh after 2 failed ones I think I know how )). Different Drs - but I'd agree on most, ice for a few days then switch to heat, no baths until healed to reduce any chance of infection cause you don't want that to ruin your day, shower at day 3 or after drain is pulled ( no direct water onto wound ) and pull down on pump as much as possible to help keep it in a good spot. Can't wait? Well it's best that you do - a few weeks of waiting is better than risking an infection that can cause much damage and even longer waiting period.