Can You Speed Up Nerve Healing After Prostate Surgery?
The prostate gland is an organ unique to the male anatomy. It is found in the pelvis below the bladder. If the prostate develops cancer, surgery is necessary for removing part of or all the organ.
Prostate surgery, also referred to as prostatectomy, is an invasive surgery that can cause penile nerve damage. When nerve damage occurs in the penis, erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a result. Fortunately, there are ways to possibly speed up nerve cell regrowth and regain erectile function.
Read below for 7 tips to speed up nerve regeneration after prostate surgery.
7 Tips To Speed Up Nerve Regeneration After Prostate Surgery
1. PDE5 Inhibitors
PDE5 inhibitors are a class of oral drugs that facilitate blood flow. Most known PDE5 inhibitors include Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. These drugs produce vasodilating effects that help to relax pelvic muscles and promote blood flow to the penis. But while PDE5 inhibitors may be successful in men with ED, they have lower success rates in men with ED after prostate surgery.
2. Penile Rehabilitation Exercises
Penile rehabilitation exercises are exercises that strengthen the core and pelvic muscles. By strengthening these areas, genital muscles receive more support. Penile rehabilitation can help men strengthen their genital muscles enough to get an erection.
3. Linear Shock Therapy
Linear shock therapy, also known as linear compression therapy, uses low-intensity shock waves to promote new blood cell growth and flow in the penis. Clinical trials support linear shock therapy for ED with a success rate of nearly 80%.
4. Injection Therapy
Caverject is a prescription medication injected into the penis using a syringe. Injection therapy can help bring blood flow to the penis and induce a penile erection. Injection therapy has a high success rate of approximately 80%. The only drawback to this method is that the syringe must be injected into the penis.
5. Nutritional Supplements
Nutritional supplements can be taken to maintain adequate levels of nutrients during prostate surgery recovery.* Nerve cells need certain nutrients to function properly. Natural supplements, like NeuraZenx, which contains 20 key nutrients for nerve health, may help support nerve function and regrowth. *
6. Vibration Therapy
Vibration therapy for ED involves using a vibrating device on the penis or pelvic region to stimulate penile nerve fibers. Vibration therapy is non-invasive, inexpensive, and can be helpful for stimulating arousal.
7. Penile Traction Therapy
Penile traction therapy device is a metal device worn on the penis daily for a set period. The device is said to help stretch, lengthen, and correct deformities in the penis. According to some research, penile traction therapy may help restore erectile function in some men with ED.
The Bottom Line
Nerve cell regeneration is a long process that can take months to fully heal. It’s important to have realistic expectations about your recovery and understand that you may not ever regain full erectile function.
If you are experiencing ED after a prostatectomy, talk to your doctor about treatment options best for you.
