A multifaceted approach to treating men with orchialgia and chronic pelvic pain that includes physical therapy and dry needling may lead to improvements in quality of life and less pain over time, recent studies suggest.

These studies were presented recently at the 113th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA).

Orchialgia, also known as chronic testicular pain, is persistent pain in the scrotum with no known organic cause. It can come on suddenly with severe pain, or it may be chronic—lasting more than 3 months—and come on gradually, explains a media release from AUA.

In the first study, researchers from Virginia Beach, Va, analyzed self-reported improvement data, as well as NIH Chronic Prostatitis Symptom Index (NIH-CPSI) data, from patients who underwent dry needling as a component of physical therapy.

The results suggest that 85% of patients who underwent dry needling indicated that their orchialgia improved.

Patients who reported improvement received, on average, 4.6 dry needling treatments. The 15% of patients who reported no improvement received, on average, 6.5 treatments, per the release.

In a separate study, researchers conducted a retrospective review of patient data for men who initially presented with orchialgia and were referred for pelvic floor physical therapy between January 2009 and June 2016. Each patient had a urologic assessment prior to physical therapy referral and were evaluated and treated by a physical therapy team, in accordance with any presenting musculoskeletal impairments.

Past treatments for orchialgia (such as NSAIDs, antibiotics, surgery, nerve block, narcotics, and previous pelvic floor physical therapy) were assessed and NIH-CPSI data was collected following pelvic floor physical therapy.

Results showed an improvement in NIH-CPSI pain and quality of life categories for all patients who received previous orchialgia treatment, the release explains.

Researchers conclude from both studies, according to the release, that dry needling could be an effective treatment for orchialgia as part of a multi-modal physical therapy regimen. They also conclude that physical therapy could serve as a valid and effective treatment option for men with orchialgia who have undergone previous medical and surgical interventions.

[Source(s): American Urological Association, PR Newswire]