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Permanent Sclerosing Lymphangitis
For the past eighteen months I have had a condition which I believe must be sclerosing lymphangitis of the penis, a mildly discomforting lesion and indurated cord involving the coronal sulcus. From all my research I am most concerned that the problem appears to have received scant medical attention, perhaps due most to the assertion that the disorder almost always resolves spontaneously. The general medical consensus seems to be that it is a self-limiting condition most often occurring after vigorous sexual activity, which almost always heals itself with time: by far, the most frequent advice I have read is for one to abstain from sexual activity to allow for healing. There have also been recommendations to take several aspirin daily, and in some online forums special creams are advocated to accelerate the breaking up of lymph congestion that is related to sclerosing lymphangitis. For damages in which disturbances of lymphatic drainage may play a part, I have also read one case report where the lesion was perforated, causing a fluid to leak out and thereby creating a smaller, softer lesion which eventually disappeared.
I have tried aspirins and creams and nothing has worked for me. I have also abstained from all sexual activity for several months at a time during the past eighteen months and the sclerosing lymphangitis is still there every morning; it does get better during the day but it is always still able to be felt as a hardened tissue under the skin. It is true that it also presents worse after sexual activity. At its worst, it does appear very similar to the first photo in this article: http://sti.bmj.com/content/48/6/545.full.pdf
I know I should have sought medical attention before waiting this long but I have also been somewhat confused about where to even start, given the apparent lack of knowledge about the disorder combined with my reluctance to visit doctors. One study even concludes: “Until further knowledge is available, we suggest that this condition is best regarded as simple dilatation of a lymphatic vessel—namely, lymphangiectasis. As the condition is both benign and transient we propose the term benign transient lymphangiectasis of the penis for the condition formerly known as sclerosing lymphangitis.” All of this led me to postpone medical advice for too long; I suppose that I was also hoping that it would someday heal itself!
Another main reason for writing this letter is that I have not been to any doctor for the past ten years and, in this case, I honestly do not even know where to start? Would I go to a general physician, a dermatologist, or urologist? My hunch is that I should see someone like you and I am hoping that this letter today will give a start in the right direction towards a cure for my condition. I cannot afford to randomly visit doctors who may or may not have even heard of my condition, and who may only advise that I abstain from sexual activity, take a round of antibiotics, or apply some special cream, worse yet simply send me to another more specialized physician! Can anyone tell me what are the surgical treatment procedures for this condition and how much it might cost? thanks
I have tried aspirins and creams and nothing has worked for me. I have also abstained from all sexual activity for several months at a time during the past eighteen months and the sclerosing lymphangitis is still there every morning; it does get better during the day but it is always still able to be felt as a hardened tissue under the skin. It is true that it also presents worse after sexual activity. At its worst, it does appear very similar to the first photo in this article: http://sti.bmj.com/content/48/6/545.full.pdf
I know I should have sought medical attention before waiting this long but I have also been somewhat confused about where to even start, given the apparent lack of knowledge about the disorder combined with my reluctance to visit doctors. One study even concludes: “Until further knowledge is available, we suggest that this condition is best regarded as simple dilatation of a lymphatic vessel—namely, lymphangiectasis. As the condition is both benign and transient we propose the term benign transient lymphangiectasis of the penis for the condition formerly known as sclerosing lymphangitis.” All of this led me to postpone medical advice for too long; I suppose that I was also hoping that it would someday heal itself!
Another main reason for writing this letter is that I have not been to any doctor for the past ten years and, in this case, I honestly do not even know where to start? Would I go to a general physician, a dermatologist, or urologist? My hunch is that I should see someone like you and I am hoping that this letter today will give a start in the right direction towards a cure for my condition. I cannot afford to randomly visit doctors who may or may not have even heard of my condition, and who may only advise that I abstain from sexual activity, take a round of antibiotics, or apply some special cream, worse yet simply send me to another more specialized physician! Can anyone tell me what are the surgical treatment procedures for this condition and how much it might cost? thanks
And nobody answered this? How do you do now? I've seen this go for 10 weeks. Get much better but not go away completely for awhile
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