Dr. Stefano Sinicropi, M.D.

Back pain can make physical activities uncomfortable or downright painful, and that can lead you to shy away from activities you once enjoyed, including sex. Moreover, back pain that disrupts your sex life doesn’t just affect you, as a lack of physical intimacy can put strain on a relationship. In today’s blog, we take a closer look at some ways to overcome back pain that is causing issues for your sex life.

Back Pain Preventing Intimacy? Try These Tips

Like most people, you hope to maintain an active sex life as you get older, but our bodies are also more susceptible to injuries and certain health conditions as we age. Back pain is one of the more common conditions that can develop in our older years, and simply put, that can make sexual relations extremely uncomfortable or painful. So how can you overcome this discomfort and maintain that physical intimacy with your partner? Here are some tips for overcoming a back injury that is affecting your sex life.

• Talk It Out – For starters, talk with your partner about your physical limitations or how your back pain is causing problems when you’re intimate. Odds are they’ll want to be accommodating and prevent pain as best they can, but they may not even be aware that it’s bothering you during sex. Communication is always helpful in the bedroom, and that’s especially true if you or your partner are dealing with back pain.
• Talk With A Specialist – It may also be worthwhile to have a conversation with a spine specialist. We’ll be able to take a closer look at your issue and come up with a diagnosis and treatment plan to help put your back pain at ease. We can also explain why you’re dealing with pain and some specific tips for how to make intimacy a less uncomfortable experience as you work to treat your back injury.
• Consider Positioning – Certain spinal conditions are made worse by your posture and positioning, so you need to be mindful of how you move when you’re being intimate with your partner. For example, spinal stenosis symptoms tend to be worse when you arch your back, while bending forward can worsen a disc issue like a herniated or bulging disc. Talk to a doctor to learn more about the positions that could make pain worse, and work to avoid these positions in the bedroom.
• Location, Location, Location – Also be mindful about how where you have sex could affect your back. You may find that a firmer surface may actually be more comfortable on your back than an overly soft mattress, or that starting things in a warm shower or bath can help calm inflammation or help spinal muscles relax. Get creative with the “where,” especially if the bed is contributing to your spinal discomfort.
• Mind Your Medications – Finally, be mindful about how medications could be affecting your sex life. Medications could lower your sex drive or lead to other side effects that negatively impact your sex life. Talk to your doctor about how any medications you’re taking for your spine pain could be affecting your sex life. Medications can have physical, mental and emotional side effects, all of which can affect your sex life, so talk to your doctor if you have any concerns about how medications about be impacting your sex drive.

We understand that intimacy issues as a result of chronic back pain isn’t a fun topic, but ignoring the problem isn’t going to help. In fact, it will likely make things worse, so don’t wait any longer to talk to a specialist and find a solution for you and your partner. For more information, reach out to Dr. Sinicropi’s office today at (651) 430-3800.

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