Lumbar disc herniation and sexual function

As the way we work changes, more and more people are now sitting for long periods of time and not exercising. This will cause problems with our lumbar discs. Lumbar disc herniation can be said to be a chronic disease. After the disease occurs, the patient will experience pain in the lower back. Although middle-aged and elderly people are more likely to suffer from lumbar disc herniation, more and more young people are also beginning to show symptoms of lumbar disc herniation. So, will lumbar disc herniation affect sexual function?

Lumbar disc herniation is mainly caused by long-term compression of gravity or incorrect sitting posture, which leads to local metabolic obstruction and aging of the fiber ring, which loses its elasticity and toughness.

If you apply a little force, the annulus fibrosus will rupture, the nucleus pulposus will flow out and compress the surrounding nerve roots, causing a series of symptoms such as low back pain, sciatica, or pain and numbness in the lower limbs.

Lumbar spondylosis is not as terrible as patients think. It is not an incurable disease. The main thing is to adopt effective treatment methods. If the treatment method is appropriate, it can be cured. The treatment mainly focuses on restoring the elasticity and toughness of the annulus fibrosus and softening and decomposing the protruding nucleus pulposus. This treatment can cure it.

Is there a relationship between sex life and lumbar disc herniation?

Modern medical research has found that a happy sex life not only helps to maintain harmony between couples, but also helps prevent diseases. It can reduce the occurrence of breast hyperplasia, breast fibroids, uterine fibroids, and also reduce the occurrence of prostate diseases in men. However, in clinical work, we often see patients who cannot have normal sexual life due to lumbar disc herniation, and even couples become enemies, leading to the breakdown of marriage. In fact, mild lumbar disc herniation has little to do with sexual function. It will not affect the sexual activity nerve center in the spinal cord, nor will it compress the peripheral nerves that control sexual activity, so the patient's sexual function can remain good. However, in cases of moderate to severe lumbar disc herniation, the movement of the waist will be restricted, and the lifting of the legs will also be restricted. Improper sexual posture, too frequent sex, or excessive movements can not only cause low back pain, but also induce lumbar disc herniation, especially for people with a history of lumbar disc herniation, which can aggravate the condition.

During sexual intercourse, especially when the partner is in the superior position, sexual intercourse requires extensive and intense waist movements, which makes it difficult and aggravates the symptoms of low back pain. What is the reason for this?

(1) First, it occurs in some patients with central lumbar disc herniation. The protruding nucleus pulposus compresses the cauda equina nerve, causing numbness in the perineum, weak defecation and urination, sphincter dysfunction, and even male impotence and premature ejaculation, and female pseudourinary retention, labia and clitoral numbness, decreased sexual pleasure, and menstrual disorders.

(2) Due to the compression of nerve roots by the protruding nucleus pulposus, low back pain and fear of movement

(3) Compression of the lumbar nerves, muscle atrophy, and pelvic muscle weakness affect pleasure.

According to traditional Chinese medicine theory, excessive sexual activity can cause kidney deficiency. The waist is the home of the kidneys. Kidney deficiency manifests itself as soreness in the waist and knees, and in severe cases, low back pain. Low back pain caused by sexual intercourse can occur on one side of the waist, or on both sides; or only in the center of the lumbar spine. It may also be intertwined or combined with pain in the back, legs, knees, abdomen, and flanks, which can be called "lumbar sacral pain" or "low back and leg pain".

Modern medicine believes that the main component of semen is a small amount of protein, and more sexual life will not have much effect on the body. Actually, it is not. Analyzing the physiological reaction process of sexual life, most organs of the body are involved in the whole process. Although the specific mechanism is not yet clear, the excitement and inhibition of the sympathetic and parasympathetic nerves in the waist, the accumulation and dissipation of blood, and the contraction and relaxation of muscles have a great influence on the waist tissue. If this influence occurs frequently, it can cause the blood circulation of the lumbar muscles to slow down, the water content of the lumbar intervertebral disc to decrease, the waist will be sore and cold, and then the lumbar muscles will be strained and the intervertebral disc will become thinner, leaving hidden dangers for lumbar disc herniation. Therefore, patients with a history of chronic low back pain or lumbar disc herniation should choose appropriate sexual positions according to their physical condition, avoid positions that overstrain the waist, and arrange the frequency of sexual intercourse appropriately.

So what issues should patients with lumbar disc herniation pay attention to when engaging in sexual intercourse?

1. Not too frequent: Because most organs of the body are involved in the whole process of sexual intercourse, the excitement and inhibition of the lumbar nerves, the accumulation and dissipation of blood, and the contraction and relaxation of muscles have a great impact on the lumbar tissue. If sexual intercourse is too frequent, it can cause the blood circulation of the lumbar muscles to slow down, the water content of the lumbar intervertebral disc to decrease, and the waist will be sore and weak, afraid of cold, and then the lumbar muscles will be strained and the lumbar disc will become thinner, leaving hidden dangers for lumbar disc herniation.

2. Massage before sexual intercourse: Appropriate waist massage should be performed before and after sexual intercourse. Use your hands to quickly massage both sides of the waist up and down for 1-2 minutes to relieve the symptoms of low back pain aggravated by sexual intercourse.

3. Choose a suitable posture: For mild patients, it is best to adopt the lower sexual position during sexual intercourse. If the upper sexual position is adopted, attention should be paid to the stability and smoothness of the sexual intercourse. It should not be too intense, and there should be no strong rotation and bending of the waist.

For moderate to severe lumbar disc herniation, when symptoms are obvious, it is advisable to stop sexual life for a period of time. If sexual life is strongly desired, the patient should adopt a lower sexual position, which can minimize the chance of sudden and strong rotation and bending of the waist.

Patients with lumbar disc herniation should choose appropriate sexual postures and positions. Female patients can adopt a posture with hip and knee flexion, and male patients can change positions, with the woman on top and the man on the bottom, with hip and knee flexion, to prevent lumbar strain.

4. When mild symptoms occur, try conservative treatment. You can go to a regular medical institution and use conservative treatment methods such as physical therapy, massage, and acupuncture. You can also choose a pure Chinese medicine plaster to apply to the affected area and related acupoints. The medicinal power of the plaster can penetrate directly into the bone under the skin, and through a chain biochemical reaction of traditional Chinese medicine, it causes the vertebral soft tissue protrusion (78% of which is water) to lose water, shrink and become smaller in size until it dissolves and disappears, thereby relieving the pressure on the nerves and promoting functional recovery. At the same time, it can inhibit the development of calcification and hyperplasia, loosen the adhesion of blood vessels and ligaments, eliminate aseptic inflammation, promote the absorption of nutrients by soft tissues, and enhance elasticity, ultimately achieving the goal of eliminating symptoms, relieving pain, and complete recovery. Recommended application

Lengxiaotai Shennong Pain Relief Patch

It is a national intangible cultural heritage. It is made from pure Chinese medicine with an ancient recipe and has a history of more than 100 years. Its effectiveness in treating lumbar disc herniation and cervical spondylosis is over 95%. Generally, after one month of application, the symptoms can be completely relieved and are less likely to recur. */ There are also

5. Stop sexual intercourse when symptoms are obvious: Patients with moderate to severe lumbar disc herniation should stop sexual intercourse when symptoms are obvious. If they strongly desire sexual intercourse, they should avoid the lower sexual position to minimize sudden rotation and bending of the waist.

6. Severe symptoms require surgery as soon as possible: If numbness of the perineum, sphincter dysfunction, premature ejaculation, or insensitivity to the labia or clitoris occurs, surgical treatment should be performed promptly. If plaster is not used for postoperative fixation, the patient can get up and walk after 2 weeks, but sexual intercourse must be resumed after at least 2-3 months. If plaster is used for postoperative fixation, the fixation period is 4 months, and sexual intercourse can be resumed 2-3 months after the removal of the plaster.

7. Some Western medicines can affect fertility: some painkillers such as phenacetin and phenazone, when taken for a long time, can inhibit sperm formation and have a certain impact on fertility.