Erectile Pain

Yes, this can occur. Most likely it is due to nerve trauma from swelling. The catheter and stents possibly contributed, but probably not in a major way. This is why it improves with time. The nerves of sexual function pass through the same area as the rectal dissection. While nerve sparing techniques have vastly improved over the decades, sometimes there is some trauma from local swelling and/or stretching during the procedure. Nerves can take up to a year to repair reversible damage. As long as things improve, then that is a good thing. I can only imagine how terrible it must be to have something pleasurable be painful! Glad you are doing well.

Jan

It has been three years since my surgery and I had this problem and over time it has pretty much gone away. I think in general, it just takes time for all those nerves especially to heal.

I had the Foley catheter but no such pain- only a short burst of pain, sort of a burning sensation, when the catheter was removed.  I got an erection within 24 hours of that catheter coming out, and it was pain free.  What I remember most was the tremendous relief just to have that first postsurgical erection, because my surgeon had warned me of the possibility of impotence and had STRONGLY recommended I bank my sperm.  I felt like celebrating at that moment, but there was unfortunately nobody to celebrate with as I lay alone in my hospital bed.