January 30th, 2015
Low back pain is indeed one of the commonest musculoskeletal ailments that affects literally 80% of the general population at some point of their life (1). Clinical data indicates that chronic lower back pain (back discomfort lasting for more than 12 months) is prevalent in 22 to 65% of the general population (2).
Besides compromising the quality of life and increasing the risk of disability, the chronic lower back pain is also classified as a leading cause of sexual dysfunction in a number of patients.
Lower back pain can affect sexual activity by a number of ways; such as:
Pain and discomfort in the back is often associated with rigidity and stiffness of spinal muscles. Any sudden movement or activity of trunk can aggravate pain and may lead to lightening or bolt like sensations. Needless to say that such as arrangement makes it impossible for a male to perform comfortably in the bedroom.
Most importantly, feeling of pain, agony and discomfort also negatively impacts the mood, stamina and energy levels that are required for maintaining sexual advances.
Depending upon the primary cause or pathophysiology of back pain, there is a high propensity of spinal/ lumbar involvement. For example, spinal conditions like spinal stenosis, facet syndrome etc. are strongly associated with nerve impingement syndrome that affects the nervous communication and activity of nerves required for sexual activity.
In some individuals, lower back pain is followed by a prior history of pelvic trauma, surgery or injury, which may also be responsible for the symptoms of sexual dysfunction or erectile difficulty.
For example, according to a new study reported in the peer reviewed journal Spine (3), investigators suggested that lumbar surgery of anterior spine is often followed by anterograde ejaculation in males. Â Additionally (4), procedures like discectomy (that are usually performed for the surgical management of chronic lower back pain due to prolapsed intervertebral discs) is strongly linked to erectile dysfunction in males. When the procedure is performed in young healthy adults, the incidence of ED is 34.7%, which increases abruptly if the procedure is performed middle-aged to elderly males.
In some cases, lower back pain and sexual difficulty shares the same pathophysiological phenomena. For example, morbid obesity leads to cartilage loss and aggravated wear and tear damage to the inter-vertebral joints. At the same time, obesity also leads to hormonal and metabolic disorders and may present as sexual dysfunction due to low testosterone levels (it has been observed that peripheral conversion of testosterone to estrogen is fairly high if BMI is more than 28 kg/m2). Â Other similar patho-physiological factors that may presents with lower back pain and sexual dysfunction are:
Despite remarkable advancements in the field of therapeutics, talking about sexual dysfunction is still considered a taboo and a lot of people tend to ignore the symptoms instead of seeking medical help. It is highly recommended to discuss with your primary care provider regarding sexual dysfunction in order to devise a functional treatment plan. Additionally, you can also follow these tips to optimize your spine health:
To conclude, if you are suffering from chronic lower back pain, it does not mean that you cannot perform sexual intercourse. Besides exceptionally effective treatment regimens, there are several other options that can be utilized to optimize sexual as well as spinal health.
Â
References:
Schedule your private consultation with Dr. Elist
Through experience, empathy, and patient empowerment, Dr. Elist offers a comprehensive and detail-oriented treatment plan for every patient. Schedule your consultation to discuss treatments for men in Los Angeles with premier surgeon Dr. James Elist, and begin your journey confident that your best results are just ahead of you.