ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION: WILL THE SHOTS PROVIDE A PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR PATIENTS
Lionel, for example, a 54-year-old, could not get an erection after he had surgery to correct severe back pain, because the operation damaged some crucial nerves. Lionel had a very strong relationship with his wife, Terry, and the couple adapted to this situation by expressing warmth and closeness in other ways. But they still felt something was lacking. For seven long years Lionel and Terry lived this way. Doctors told them it was very unlikely that Lionel’s body would heal itself. If Lionel wanted to have intercourse, he had two choices: a penile implant, or the shots.
After some discussion with his wife, Lionel decided to give the shots a try. After all, if the injections didn’t work, he could still have implant surgery. What did he have to lose?
Like some other patients with nerve damage, Lionel was extremely sensitive to the medication. The first injection of only a small dose of the drug brought him a very satisfactory erection— and brought a big smile to Terry’s face.
It took several office visits to determine the best amount of medication for Lionel, and to make sure he didn’t suffer any side effects. Then he and Terry were ready to try the shots at home. Terry was eager to learn the technique, so both of them learned how to give the injections. In fact, the couple later reported that giving the shot had become Terry’s job.
As long as Lionel keeps his regular checkup appointments to make sure the shots are working well for him and not causing any problems, he should be able to continue the shots for an indefinite period of time. But because the injections are so new, at this point we don’t know the possible long-term side effects and complications.
Will the shots provide a permanent solution for patients like Lionel? Right now, it’s just too soon to make such a prediction. As we pointed out earlier, repeated injections can cause scarring in the penis, and scar tissue will not expand like normal tissue. So it’s conceivable that scarring from long-term use of the shots could actually prevent a man from being able to get an erection.
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