That is a lovely illustration. However, if you find yourself straightened up for longer than 6 hours straight you need to see a doctor (I can’t believe that really happens, I never pointed north for that long, not even in high school).
After 4 hours I would call all my friends!
To brag?
Here's the solution. Not very pretty.
Medical advice should be sought immediately for cases of priapism.
If the erection has been present for two hours the recommended therapy is pseudoephedrine 120 mg orally. If this has not subsided by four hours, a further 120 mg of pseudoephedrine is recommended. (Therapeutic Guidelines, 2001)
If the erection has been present for six hours, it is essential to contact a medical practitioner. The therapy at this stage is to aspirate blood from the corpus cavernosum under local anaesthetic. If this is still insufficient, then aspiration is conducted with injections of adrenaline as an adjuvant. (Therapeutic Guidelines, 2001)
If aspiration fails and tumescence re-occurs, surgical shunts are next attempted. These attempt to reverse the priapic state by shunting blood from the rigid corpora cavernosa into the corpus spongiosum (which contains the glans and the urethra). Distal shunts are the first step, followed by more proximal shunts.
Should all else fail, complete removal of the penis is necessary.