Erectile dysfunction, also called ED or impotence, is a condition that is most often caused by psychological or emotional factors. Sexual impotence is a traumatic condition for men of any age. Statistically, up to 50% of men over the age of 40 have some degree of erectile problem.
Back pain is often a contributor to ED, due to the fear of hurting oneself while performing a sex act. Back ache may also be another of the possible symptoms actually generated along with the sexual dysfunction in order to prevent the need for physical sexual expression. This is certainly the likely scenario for patients who have both performance problems and pain during sexual intercourse. However, it is not an absolute, since there are some purely structural spinal concerns which can rarely cause similar symptomatic profiles. Diagnostic evaluation of ED may prove difficult in many patients.
This essay examines the relationship between back pain, ED and the subconscious mind.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Impotence is measured in degrees, not absolutes. Some men can not achieve an erection at all. Other men can achieve an erection, but they might have trouble maintaining it. Still other men can achieve a lasting erection, but cannot achieve full size or turgidity. A few men can achieve erection easily, but can not orgasm.
The more a man notices a problem with his erection, the worse the problem will likely become. ED is truly a condition that both worsens and perpetuates itself. Regardless of whether the underlying cause of the ED is psychoemotional or physical, there are always psychological factors to consider, since this is a very sensitive issue for virtually any man.
Causes of ED
There are many physical conditions can cause or contribute to ED including: back pain, diabetes, hormonal imbalance, prostatitis, coronary artery disease, obesity or pharmaceutical side-effect.
The most common cause of ED is a modified psychosomatic pain syndrome. This is further complicated by the fact that some of these issues are conscious, while others are repressed. In other words, some men are aware of the emotional problems causing their erectile problems, while others have no idea there is a hidden psychological cause. Many cases may be simple performance anxiety syndromes. However, others are likely far more complicated, dealing with issues relating to unhappy relationships, instances of sexual abuse or concerns with true sexual identity.
Psychotherapy can often help to sort these terrible contributors out and clarify the true source of dysfunction.
Treatment of Erectile Problems
The best treatment for impotence really depends upon the causation and the particular patient’s specific condition. If there is a health problem causing the ED, the best treatment is to correct that condition and cure the ED in the process. Other common ED treatment options include:
Hydraulic pumps can artificially create and maintain an erection.
Surgically implanted mechanical or hydraulic penile implants can work well for some men.
Pharmaceutical relief using Viagra, Cialis or an alternative is the most common path to a cure.
Herbal supplements can work much like a pharmaceutical product in select circumstances, helping men to better perform to their own standards.
Knowledge therapy can route out and resolve the underlying emotional reasons for impotence.
Mindbody Erectile Dysfunction
ED can really create severe and affective psychological problems for any man. It is important to overcome both for the preservation of sexual function and the defense of the male gender identity.
It is fantastic that medical science has excelled in the treatment of ED. However, if a man is only able to function by using some mechanism, drug or apparatus, his self esteem will rarely be complete. Worse yet, he may develop substitute symptoms or symptomatic escalation if the ED is acting as a distraction mechanism generated by the mindbody processes.
Knowledge therapy is a great treatment for psychologically-motivated ED. This treatment may cure the problem and allow the man to function as natural designed completely unaided.
Back Pain > Psychologically Induced Pain Syndromes > Erectile Dysfunction
