Tingling and Sore Penis? Look into Restless Genital Syndrome

Most of the time, an aroused penis is a welcome situation for a man. Sure, sometimes that erection comes at a somewhat embarrassing moment, like when making a presentation, but most of the time guys are happy to see their little friend perking up. It’s usually a sign of good penis health, if nothing else. But for a small minority of men, that erection is a pain. It’s a result of something known as restless genital syndrome, and it can make for a sore penis situation for some men.

Not a regular erection

Often just called RGS and sometimes known as PGAD (persistent genital arousal disorder), restless genital syndrome is something which maybe doesn’t sound so bad at first. Basically, when a guy has this condition, his penis feels intensely aroused, even without sexual stimulus or fantasies.

How is that different than just popping an occasional boner for no reason at all, as happens commonly? Well, RGS occurs much more frequently - and the arousal can last for hours at a time, unless a man relieves himself by masturbating or having partner sex. And in some cases, even that doesn’t diminish the state of excitement that his penis feels. And when a guy is aroused for too long, it often leads to a sore penis.

Not priapism

This is different from priapism, in which a physical situation results in the penis being painfully erect for an extended period of time. With RGS, the erection may wax and wane several times - but even when it goes soft, the tingling and soreness remains.

In some cases, the sensation can be so extreme that a guy simply can’t concentrate on anything else. He may be working on an important project with a fast-approaching deadline, but his tingling, sore penis keeps him from making progress. And when guys afflicted with RGS take matters into their own hands and masturbate for relief, they often feel that they’re being controlled by their penis. In some instances, not masturbating can be even more problematic; if a guy gets RGS while walking, for example, in some cases the feeling of his penis rubbing against trouser fabric can cause him to unwillingly ejaculate in his pants.

Why?

So, what happens to cause RGS? Because it is a rare condition and has only recently started being explored, doctors don’t really know. It appears that it’s a neurological problem in which the nerves in the penis become hyper-sensitive - but exactly why they take on this high degree of sensitivity is not clear.

Some doctors think this is similar to restless leg syndrome, and so they prescribe medications used to treat that condition, such as selective serotonin uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or dopamine agonists. Since the condition is considered so rare, clinical trials have not been conducted yet to determine the effectiveness of these treatments, but some men report that they help.

If a man thinks he has RGS, he should definitely consult with a doctor, especially a urologist or neurologist with experience working with unusual conditions.

Simply living with RGS can make for a sore penis, as can frequently masturbating to provide some much-needed relief. One way to help soothe that sore penis is to regularly apply a top drawer penis health creme (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). Proper moisturization is one way to help ease a sore penis, so select a crème with both a high end emollient (such as shea butter) and a favored hydrator (such as vitamin E) Be sure the crème also contains pantothenic acid, also called vitamin B5. Pantothenic acid is a vital nutrient that helps maintain and strengthen healthy penile tissue.