Does the Pump really bring it all back?

I have posted before about my Radical prostate nerve sparing robotic surgery from this last January 2009. The Doctor prescribed .25 mgs Viagra daily,along with the Kegels. I was wondering (I'm asking you guys, not the doctor on this question) if anyone with the same typee of surgery as I had, has used the pump to help with the blood flow, and does it really help?
Or does this device only helps with getting the limpiness to a semi, little more than limpiness state to acheive a better erection...and I used the term "erection" (VERY) loosely.

I realize that even after surgery, I am able to acheive a dry,intense orgasm with no hardness at all, but I just can not wait to acheive what I used to get, prior to the surgery, if that will ever happen at all. The doc tiold me it was a nerve-sparing surgery,but how in the heck would I know any different?

Thanks for all the encouragement about hanging in there and all, but I am still overwhelmed and frustrated over not getting another opinion about my low-grade cancer, that I could have lived without all this drama.

Some people say on this site that the nerves grow back at the rate of 1/8" - 1/2" per month. Is this true, and does this pump help with this?

Rap a rubber band around one of your fingers till it turns purple/dies and falls off

If you allow blood to flow to the finger it wouldn't have died.

Your penis won't die if you don't use the pump, but it'll be happier if you do.

Cramper,

I am nearly 4 years post open nerve sparing RP and stil get no natural erections.  I figure that wil be perminant.  I still use the pump for maintenance and tri-mix regularly with great results.  I can't tell you about nerve regeneration because it hasn't happened for me, but I do know that the pump helps in keeping things the proper length and size.  There are many of us who still have active love lives with good erections via pills or shots.  While natural was my 1st choice, injections work very well for me and my wife. 

I wish that I could tell you that you will be back to natural erections soon but we all know that it may or may not happen.  Just know there are options out there that make a good 2nd choice.

Best of luck to you and all of us that deal with ED daily.

Allan

Starting with the nerve question the answer I believe is no. Think about the nerve pathways in the spine. It does not take much to permanently damage them. Likewise if a limb is cleanly severed and reattached much care is taken to graft the nerve ends and even then it is hit and miss about how much use is regained. If the extent of your cancer requires the severing and removal of the nerves in the region of the prostate then there is no pathway for the signals that control erection so that's it. Grafts joining the severed nerves have been tried (sural nerve graft) but thes have not been very successful. It is true that the severed ends can grow slightly toward each other but the growth is very, very small. So far as the vacuum device is concerned its purpose to to prevent the penis from atrophying. It's a case of use it or lose it. Thick of it as exercise. Much like muscles that will waste away if not used the sacs that inflate the penis will waste and lose their elasticity and ability to properly inflate.

I think I've had the same experience as mspt98 with my VED (Stamen Medical Systems MOS).  I'm one month post-op and use it for therapy, but can't get a decent erection with it.  I'm getting good vacuum, but it seems to only expand the tissue around the outer surface (say outer 1/8"), so the erection is much smaller and does not at all feel natural.  I also tried one of the rings the other night (largest diameter one) and it was *very* painful, especially trying to remove it. 

Right now I'm about 50% erectile ability with Cialis and I'm praying it improves.  I'll continue using the pump for therapy, but don't have hopes for using it for IC.  If he ED meds fail me, I'll be looking to injections. 

Regarding nerves actually growing, someone else posted on this several weeks back and indicated that they grew back 1/8" per month or something like that.  My surgeon insists that this is not true.  Nerves may heal, but they don't grow once they've been severed.  If anyone has a link to a medical journal article or study, which states the contrary, I'd like to see it.

Bobo, it's great that you are finding the pump works well for you. It also works for me, but as my wife does not like the erections it produces, I use the injections which give better erections -- for us.

I think if trying the pump, it is important not to give up too soon. There are techniques to master, like how to get a good seal, how to place the constriction ring(s) and so on. Pump without constriction at first, then when you are getting results there, start experimenting with the constriction.

I think your early sessions should be solo. You will have some failures and it's best to have those alone! When you are getting good results, then you can let it loose on your partner.

Another factor is that like any other part of your body, it can take a while to return to normal fitness. And like any other fitness regime, you should start gently and build up slowly.

So I think you need a month or more of daily exercise before deciding that the pump is not for you. There are good reasons why it won't work for everyone -- poor circulation might be one. But don't give up on the pump without a reasonable trial -- it takes time.

Hi all. I have a couple of quick, hopefully easy questions.

I just bought a pump, and am just starting to "test" it. Per the instructions, I am not supposed to use the "rings" until i have tried testing it a few times, just to see how the erection process works. That is fine with me.

for those of you with pumps, you may not remember the first few days, and the initial issues. You may have moved on to the point where you don't even have to think about it.

my model is a manual model, with a hand pump (as opposed to the battery operated one).

I am wondering how much pressure I should expect, or be comfortable with?
I am wondering how many times to pump (in between pauses)?

The owner's manual recommends doing a few manual pumps, just to get the air out. Sounds like i am supposed to pause for 5-10 seconds after the intial few pumps. Then, I am supposed to pump a few times, and pause. and pump a few times, and pause. I have done that. I do notice some stiffness. And, there is a bit of presssure (kind of a "tugging" sensation). The owner's manual recommends proceeding slowly (not to rush things). It also makes mention of some minor brusing, as blood is flowing into areas where it has not been in a while. It says that minor brusing will go away quickly. It also makes mention of some precautions of overdoing it, going too quickly, too intensely, that can conceivably cause bleeding or clotting. I obviously do not wish to damage myself.

I just called and spoke with the company, and the guy on the phone indicated that I should take it very gradually. Just one pump at a time, and then pause. Then one pump, and pause. And, it could be as much as 3-5 minutes before any real reaction occurs. And, in the first few days, to take it slow.

It is probably not as big of a deal as i am making it out to be.

Can anyone offer any thoughts as to what they have found to be the case, both during initial few days, and down the road once you have it down to a science.?

thanks

First of all, when you feel the sensation of the pump (it is anything but erotic) you will feel when the comfort level is reached and any more pumping would start to be painful. That's when you stop. You will feel the pressure of the suction slowly ease as your penis fills with blood and displaces the air. When it starts to feel like there is not a lot of suction, then pump once or twice more. Continue this until your penis is fully engorged. It will also probably be bigger than you remember it being! that's cause it is.

I think if you listen to your body, you will have no problem. It really hurts if you are overdoing it. It does take 6-10 minutes to get an erection for intercourse. But use the pump simply for therapy for a week or so, would be my suggestion. Trim the pubic hair around the base of your penis. It helps with the suction and these days most men manscape, so don't be embarrassed at the gym.
Paul

Well, one pump isn't gonna be enough for anyone here, I would guess.  It will take a slow but steady continued pumping action to fill and keep full the erection.  I've been at it almost 2 years and it sitll takes maybe 10 to 15 pumps to fully engorge it, then a pump every 30 seconds or so to keep it up.  Without sounding too critical, it may be that you are being too cautious.  Maybe a little more aggressive action needs to be taken.  The pump has safety device built in and can't do any major or longterm damage.  If you have already gotten one or 2 erectrions with it, then the minor bruising stage is most likely past also.  I suggest you go ahead and pump it up.  You will know wehn ti stop.  Like Paul said, there's nothing erotic about it, believe us....