thanks

No discomfort what-so-ever. And when I said I wear it 24/7/365 I really did mean that. I only take it off for brief periods and then I put it back on again. I wear it everywhere, even to medical appointments, including with a urologist. No doctor has ever made any comment or even batted an eye when he (or she) saw my cock ring and, of course, none has advised me that it was in any way dangerous. So I guess it's OK.

My dick functions in the normal way. It gets hard, it gets soft, I can pee normally and I can shoot loads of jizz. The only difference is that the ring holds my balls down in my sack for a better appearance, especially when I'm erect. And there is a nicer contour in the crotch of a swim brief at the beach or pool. What man doesn't want that?
--------------------------------------- added after 15696 hours

A further comment about wearing my cock ring 24/7 even to medical appointments. I just had one, a medical appointment that is, last week with a new doctor. Part of the getting established in a new city process. It was a lady doctor and she was examining my butt hole. Of course I left my cock ring in place and she didn't say a word about it.

To answer your second question first, no, it is not painful.

Yes, the ring keeps my balls from drawing up. That's why I wear it. See my reply to Blaine25 above.