I was experiencing pain, discomfort and swelling of my left testicle for about the past month or so. I had surgery on a varicose seal about a year ago and it was sucessful or so I thought. When the pain came back I just thought it was another varicose vein coming back to haunt me again. But after a few weeks I noticed a different feeling toward the top of my left testicle, and swelling became extreamly severe. I eventually went to my urologist with my problem and he diagnosed me with epididymitis and prescribed anti-biotics and if the problem is still there after taking the anti-biotics for 10 days to go back to see him.

I'm on the first day of anti-biotics and I realized I should have talked to my doctor further about the problem, (i guess some things slipped my mind in the doctors office as I usually get nervous and embarased by asking some questions) so I decided to investigate online.

Questions:

-i read that masterbation should be avoided for at least a month during and after the symptoms are gone and healed!!!!! Is this true? If so, what could be the consequences if masterbation or any other meathod of ejaculation were to occur, besides swelling and pain? I don't think I can hold out a whole month.

-also, I held out going to the doctor for quite a while, what are the chances that i've accidently done permanent damage to my testicles?

-and i've heard this condition is often re-occuring, and if this is so, how often can I expect this condition to come back?

-my last question, should I limit myself to the amount of strenuos activity's I perform? I work as a freight handler and it involves heavy lifting.

Thank you for any answers or advice