Saddles Leg Straps and Man Parts

[neonomad]

Whelp this is about the most personal thing I’ve ever posted online but I don’t have anybody else to ask, I’m sure a Dr would just shrug. I’ve been using a JX3 for several years but the past few years have dabbled more in real saddles. Let’s get right to it, twice this year I climbed, hung a couple hours, and rappelled down and now I am intermittently dealing with this wonderful phenomenon of the testes: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5904639/

Yes I may be on deaths door but the timing sure hints that it’s saddle induced, and I’m wondering if anybody else has experienced the same. Maybe I wasn’t meant for the true lightest weight setups, my man parts might not be cut out for it.

 

[raisins]

oh shoot....sorry about this

i use leg straps every climb for years, but always the type that buckle (not g hooks) and i keep them pretty loose and away from me...if i have tightened them, i pulled everything into a good location first.....i've never experienced any discomfort in that area

i mention that my saddle leg straps are buckles because it seems like g hooks have to be tighter to not just slide off (but i've never used them....just a hunch from looking)

please get checked soon to make sure it isn't something worse....my dad and uncle both got prostate cancer when they were 69 years old and i get my psa checked every year now because of that

 

[thedutchtouch]

Sorry to hear, hope it's not due to anything more serious. I would think that if it was trauma induced there'd be some pain involved? Were the soft saddle hangs super painful? If no I'm somewhat skeptical of the saddle connection.

Hope a doc can get it figured out for you and that it's something easily treatable

 

[Jammintree]

I’ve no personal experience with this. However, I am very good friends with several professional climbers who have fertility issues because of their constant constraint.

 

[MA_PAdeerslayer]

Definitely get checked. Better safe than sorry

 

[neonomad]

@Jammintree yeah I paired some searches with “rock climbing harness” to see if I could find anything but not much. I’m 45 now, back in 2015 I had a mild no apparent reason stroke so I’ve been taking Plavix ever since… it’s kinda like taking aspirin so I do have a tendency to bleed a little easier. Ive seen some bruises guys get when they take a small fall in the tree so I try hard to avoid that, Id bruise a little worse than average. If it doesn’t clear up quickly I’ll check with the Doc, but the problem is if something about saddle pressure is doing it, and I keep saddle hunting… I leave for southern Ohio on Thursday, looks like the JX3 gets the nod for the weekend, maybe I need to add a hemorrhoid donut?? Getting old sucks!

 

[Still Kicking]

It is probably the Plavix and the straps. I was on thinners after a heart attack experienced the same thing. It went away quickly/ Keep your straps on the loose side and absolutely get it checked if it doesn't resolve. Good Hunting!

 

[neonomad]

Sorry to hear, hope it's not due to anything more serious. I would think that if it was trauma induced there'd be some pain involved? Were the soft saddle hangs super painful? If no I'm somewhat skeptical of the saddle connection.

Hope a doc can get it figured out for you and that it's something easily treatable

No pain during the hunt but repelling does put a fair amount of pressure throughout the descent. If it persists, of course I’ll get checked out, but I will say it appeared literally the day after my first hangin hunt, so there could be something to that.

 

[Jtaylor]

I'll get personal too since I was freaked out as well. I had the same issue as far from deer season as we could possibly get. I hadn't been in the saddle for several months. I do ride motorcycles a lot and had been at the time. It ended up going away in less than a week, is probably more common than we know and is idiopathic for me. I don't want to give medical advice since it could be more serious but just letting you know my experience.
Oh, I was taking a Niacin supplement at the time as well so maybe be mindful of supplements too if you're on a blood thinner.

 

[neonomad]

It is probably the Plavix and the straps. I was on thinners after a heart attack experienced the same thing. It went away quickly/ Keep your straps on the loose side and absolutely get it checked if it doesn't resolve. Good Hunting!

@Still Kicking @Jtaylor Hate to say it, but I was hoping to hear some similar experience, thanks for sharing.

 

[Jtaylor]

I guess I should add, a urology consult is never a bad idea though if you're concerned and especially if it's going on for awhile, over 40, meet other risk factors, etc.

 

[Crawdaddy4]

Really sorry you are experiencing this. It can be as psychologically traumatizing as physical. I’ve never experienced hematospermia, but have had prostatitis and epididymitis. They were scary, but benign (thankfully). Had to get the ol’ DRE, but it was worth the peace of mind. Urologist told me “men would rather lose an arm than have issues with their wedding tackle”.

Definitely recommend going to see a physician. Godspeed.

 

[BTaylor]

Maybe try identifying as Sallynomad for the next few hunts.

Seriously, if that doesnt resolve pretty quick, do see a urologist. Bout time for you start doing that anyway. Getting old is a pita.

 

[Iron_llama]

I had a similar issue - stricture - several years ago, that required some pretty heavy surgery. It had nothing to do with saddles or hunting, and the surgeon and I were never able to pinpoint a responsible event. Where the urethra comes past the pelvic bone it's pretty vulnerable to getting crushed against the pelvis - think schoolboy fights, riding a bike, horses, motorcycles, etc., which can cause scar tissue and all sorts of other effects. I didn't read the whole paper you linked. But definitely, definitely talk to a urologist. If you're near Minneapolis I could point you at my guy.