Chiropractor, Dr. Alexander Jimenez examines being able to have sex despite having back pain.
The results of SpineUniverse’s national survey on Sexual Satisfaction and Back Pain (read the article Back Pain and Its Impact on Sexual Satisfaction for survey results) indicate that back pain is ruining the sex lives of many people.
It is vital to consider that behind the numbers are real individuals, while the statistical results of the survey are very important. People who care about their partner’s and about their sexual gratification satisfaction. People who are now frustrated and even depressed regarding the impact of back pain on their sex lives.
What exactly can they do to better their situation?
Most specialists agree that three tips can allow you to have better sex� even with back pain:
Tip # 1: Talk It Out
For many people, talking about sex comes for others, their faces turn red even thinking about possibly referring to sex.
Nonetheless, you as well as your partner have to locate a method to discuss your back malady, and the way that it will impact-� or already does change�your relationship.
Take the time to talk through the five dilemmas below:
Back pain: How intense is the pain? Where does it hurt? What moves or increase or positions alleviate the pain?
Sex drive: Is your back pain killing your sex drive? Then you’ve got to discuss this, if it is. If you do not clarify why and simply begin avoiding having sex, you�re your relationship with your partner can be damaged. It’s more straightforward to identify that it is a problem, and never simply theirs �and then find a solution together.
Emotional Impact: What does back pain do to your emotions? Do you feel less appealing to your own partner? Depressed?
Physical Limitations: Living with back pain means living with physical constraints in multiple facets of your daily life. What physical constraints would you now need to work about during sex?
Intimacy: What physical and nonphysical steps can enhance familiarity? (Yes, familiarity means more than sex.) Within the limits caused by back pain, what else can you do to feel close and connected?
Tip # 2: Practical Changes
Here we go, the nitty gritty details of what to do (or not do). (It is ok in case you skipped ahead to this part, but make sure to return and browse the remaining post.)
Position Matters
It may not be the sexiest thing to think about, but you have to remember your diagnosis. Have you got spinal stenosis? A herniated disc? Degenerative changes in your spine? Because what is causing your pain affects how your body reacts to different positions, your analysis is vitally important during sex. For example:
If you have spinal stenosis, your back pain will probably get worse if you arch your back during sex.
Your pain will probably improve should you bend forward during sex when you have a disc herniation or degenerative disk disorder.
So if you’re able to identify which positions naturally lessen your back pain, you can then accommodate your position during sex to help make the experience less painful, given your specific state. For example:
Men that have degenerative disk disease may locate their back pain is decreased by lying with a pillow placed under their low back, while their partner straddles them.
Change The Place
As we’ve learned from Hollywood films, sex does not occur merely in a bed. And perhaps being out of bed will actuality help lower your back pain. For example:
In case you like lying in your back during sex, a solid surface, such as a rug on the floor, may be more comfy for you.
But remember, back pain is individual, if you are on a soft mattress, and perhaps your pain is less during sex. You are required to figure out what’s best for you and your partner.
Rest Your Back
Back pain is frequently made worse by your muscles becoming tense as well as knotted around the region that was painful. Going in a hot tub before sex, having a soothing massage, and sometimes even just using heat or ice packs on the affected region can all ease away muscle pains just before sex.
For more practical tips about sex and back pain and more details on sexual positions go to Sex & Back Pain.
Tip # 3: Speak To A Medical Specialist
We know, talking about sex together with your doctor isn’t the most appealing notion (unless your doctor is Dr. Ruth). But think of this: When Viagra first became available, many men were too embarrassed to talk about erectile dysfunction using their doctor. Subsequently Bob Dole appeared in among their advertisements, and that made it more easy to talk to your physician about sex. (Maybe the thinking was�’If Bob Dole, a politician, can declare he has a problem, maybe I can, too!’)
Besides, physicians have heard it all and they’re prepared to help. Your physicians care about all facets of your physical and emotional well-being; they won’t pity, judge or mock you. So take a deep breath, push past the potential embarrassment, and confer with your physician about how back pain is affecting your sex life. Often, physicians can give advice that is really useful. By way of example, even just a modest change in a medication can make a major difference to your pain.
Because Sex Is More Than�
Sex is more than just the sum of its own physical parts�it’s more than a formula of physical steps that lead to the “perfect” experience. Lots of that which we see in films and on TV these days makes sex the pinnacle of a relationship, the one thing that clearly defines you as a couple (think Grey’s Anatomy).
However, for the vast bulk of people, sexual satisfaction depends on numerous variables, not just physical performance. Factors for example emotional connectedness, a bouquet of flowers sent for no reason, attentive listening, saying thank you for the small things, or sending the kids to Grandma can add to sexual gratification.
And your back pain limits none of those things. You can still have a satisfying, intimate relationship�back pain or not.
AUSTIN � Tobi Amusan continues to dominate in the 100m hurdles as she claims gold (12.72), while also setting a new meet record at the 90th Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays, presented by Spectrum.
�Tobi and Michael had an outstanding performance this week, breaking two meet records in a historic event like this is outstanding,� UTEP head coach Mika Laaksonen said. �We still have to work hard with most of our athletes to get them going by the championship season.�
The sophomore came into this weekend with the nation�s fastest-time after running 12.63 at Kidd field and continues her undefeated outdoor season. Amusan�s time of 12.72 sets a new meet record previously held by Ashlee Williams (12.83) set in 2005.
In the women�s 1,500m run, Lilian Koech ran a personal-best of 4:22.12 tying the seventh-fastest time in school history, earning a second-place finish. Her time registers as the eighth-fastest time in the nation. Samantha Hall garnered a sixth-place showing the discus throw tossing for 50.52m (165-9).
The 4x400m relay team of Dreshanae Rolle, Florence Uwakwe, Madison Gibson and Ada Benjamin clocked a 3:40.95
Jonah Koech earned a sixth-place showing in the mile run with a time of 4:03.75.
The UTEP track and field program returns to the track April 13-15 for the Mt. SAC Distance Carnival and the UCLA Invitational.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas � In a wild game two contest, Courtney Clayton and Cortney Smith each slammed solo home runs and Kiki Pepi gave UTEP the go-ahead lead in the 10th on a solo shot, lifting the Miners to a 7-6 victory after trailing 3-0 early in the game on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Softball Field.
�It was a battle all day and it�s one of those where after the first game we could�ve just laid down and chalked up a bad day,� fourth-year head coach Tobin Echo-Hawk said. �The kids were just resilient; kept fighting and kept coming back with their backs against the wall. That is all I ask of them and they did a great job today.�
It was a great triumph following a Miners� (9-24, 4-7 Conference USA) game one, 8-1, loss to the Roadrunners (13-22, 3-8 C-USA). With the game two win, UTEP moves one game ahead of UTSA in C-USA West and snapped a five-game losing streak in the process.
�Sometimes life doesn�t care what happens to you,� Echo-Hawk said. �It�s all about how you respond because no one will ever feel sorry for you. You just need to keep fighting because it�s easy to quit and make yourselves victims. Short-term memory also comes into play. A few of our girls were having bad games and then came up with big hits.�
UTEP racked up 26 total hits in the two games, including a season-high 17 hits in the second contest � tied most during the Echo-Hawk. Clayton went 3-for-5 as it was her 12th multi-hit game of the season and no. 54 of her career, while Pepi (3-for-4) and Taylor Sargent (3-for-6) tied their career highs in hits.
Kaitlin Fifield won her first game of the season, as she threw a career-high 10.0 innings. Fifield now has 23 wins in her career, ranking behind Kelly Curan (24) and Danielle Pearson (25) on the program�s all-time list.
The series finale is Sunday, starting at 1 p.m. CT/Noon MT.
UTEP 7, UTSA 6 [10]
The Roadrunners took an early lead, scoring three runs in the second inning. But instead of rolling over, the relentless Miners fought back.
Smith started the comeback when she connected on her seventh home run of 2017, a solo shot over right center on a 2-1 count to get within two runs (3-1). It was Smith�s first home run since March 4 at Texas Tech. Smith finished the contest 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI and two runs.
UTEP then took a 4-3 lead in the sixth on five hits. With one out, Ariel Blair used one of her two hits to single to left. Clayton and Kaitlin Ryder singled to center on back-to-back at bats to load the bases for Smith. The sophomore singled in Blair to bring the Miners within a run. Pepi, who tallied three RBI in game two, singled to right center, plating Clayton and Ryder to give her squad a 4-3 lead.
In the bottom sixth, UTSA tied the contest 4-4 after Kaley Pyles knocked in Bailee Baldwin, who led off with a single to right. Pyles, though, was thrown out at second base for the second out. Taylor Oberg doubled, but Fifield forced Angelica Nino to ground out to Smith to end the inning.
After a scoreless seventh, the runs started the cross the dish during the nail-biting last three frames.
Smith reached first after being hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Pepi advanced her teammate to second on a sac-bunt and then Sargent doubled down the left field line, plating Smith for a 5-4 advantage.
But the Roadrunners would answer in the bottom eighth. Baldwin doubled to right field off the fence with one out and Hailey Garza singled down the left line, advancing pinch runner Erica Sanchez to third. Pyles, as she did in the sixth, came up with another big hit that scored Sanchez to tie the contest 5-5.
In the ninth with two quick outs, Clayton launched a towering solo shot over left on a 1-2 pitch to give the Miners a 6-5 edge. It was her first dinger since March 11 at North Texas.
But the contest would not end there as UTSA tied the score in the bottom ninth. Lindsey Stewart led off the home half with a single up the middle, while proceeding to steal second base. Celeste Loughman reached on a bunt single and also followed by snagging a base to put runners at second and third with no outs. Rylee Rodriguez grounded out to Smith, but Randee Crawford tied the contest with a sac-fly hit to center in which Stewart scored. Fifield then forced Sanchez to pop out the second base as Clayton made an over-the-shoulder catch to halt the game-winning run from scoring.
The 10th inning drama was set up for Pepi, who had not homered since March 1 at NM State. Pepi saw seven pitches and finally connected on the eighth pitch, a liner over left on a 3-2 count that put the Miners ahead for good.
Fifield used only five pitches in the bottom 10th as the final three batters went down in order to conclude the epic contest. Fifield helped her cause on the defensive side when she recorded four assists from the circle.
The 10-inning game was the longest since the Miners fell at Florida Atlantic on April 19, 2014 in 11 frames. Saturday�s extra inning nail-biter is tied for fourth longest in UTEP history. The longest was a 13-inning affair on May 7, 2009 against the East Carolina at the Conference USA Tournament in El Paso with UTEP coming out on top 4-3. The Miners played 11 innings twice, as the second was on April 7, 2013 at UCF. UTEP and Southern Miss went 10 frames on April 16, 2011, while another 10-inning contest happened on March 20, 2007 against no. 5 Arizona State � an 8-7 Miners� win.
UTEP 1, UTSA 8
The Roadrunners scored five runs the second inning to pull away from the Miners. Crawford connected on her sixth home run of the season, a solo shot and Loughman doubled in a pair of runs in the second.
Loughman gave her squad an 8-0 lead after she hit a three-run home run over right center.
The Miners received a RBI single from Taylor Sargent in the fifth; Brianna Red scored the run in the pinch-run situation for Kiki Pepi, who drew a walk to lead off the inning. It was Sargent�s first RBI since Feb. 25 when she connected on a two-run single at UC Riverside.
The Miners connected on nine hits on the day, led by Courtney Clayton, Cortney Smith and Taylor Sargent who each finished 2-for-4. Sargent tallied her first multi-hit game since March 18 against Middle Tennessee.
Sports participation is a major cause of serious injury among youth making sports activities, the second most frequent cause of injury for male and female adolescents. According to John Hopkins Medicine, 30 million children and teens participate in some form of organized sports in which more than 2.6 million children, 19 years of age and younger, are treated annually in hospital emergency rooms for sports-related injuries. Although the majority of athletic injuries (62%) occur during practice, 50% of these injuries can be avoided.
Obviously, some sports, contact sports versus non-contact sports, are more dangerous than others, e.g., football versus swimming. Although death from a sports-related injury is rare, it does occur � the leading cause, brain injury or TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). Of all TBIs that occur among American children, including concussions, 21% involve sports and recreational-related activities. In an effort to educate parents, coaches, athletes and healthcare professionals, on injury prevention in youth athletes, the National Youth Sports Safety Foundation (NYSSF) was formed in 1989. In 2001, the non-profit foundation designated April as National Youth Sports Safety Month as a means to enhance public awareness for safety in youth sports.
We always urge residents to be vigil in safeguarding the health and welfare of young athletes. �It requires a team effort, McGee states, �it takes everyone from parents, coaches and children working together during practice and during the sporting event to prevent sports injuries.� By following these simple safety tips, adults, as well as children, can prevent sports injuries especially among children:
Parents and Coaches
Try to group youngsters according to skill level and size, not by chronological age, particularly during contact sports. If this is not practical, modify the sport to accommodate the needs of children with varying skill levels.
Match the child to the sport, and don�t push the child too hard; observe the activity and whether she/he may not like or be physically capable of doing it.
Try to find sports programs where certified athletic trainers are present. Athletic Trainers, in addition to healthcare professionals, are trained to prevent, recognize, and give immediate care to sports injuries.
See that all children get a preseason physical exam.
Don�t let (or insist that) a child play when injured. No child (or adult) should ever be allowed to work through the pain.
Get the child medical attention if needed. A child who develops any symptom that persists or that affects athletic performance should be examined by a healthcare professional. Other clues that a child needs to see a healthcare professional include inability to play following a sudden injury, visible abnormality of the arms and legs, and severe pain that prevents the use of an arm or leg.
Provide a safe environment for sports. A poor playing field, unsafe gym sets, unsecured soccer goals, etc., can cause serious injury to children.
Children
Be in proper condition to play the sport. Get a preseason physical exam.
Follow the rules of the game.
Wear appropriate protective gear.
Know how to use athletic equipment.
Avoid playing when very tired or in pain.
Make warm-ups and cool-downs part of your routine. Warm-up exercises, such as stretching or light jogging, can help minimize the chances of muscle strain or other soft tissue injury. They also make the body�s tissues warmer and more flexible. Cool-down exercises loosen the muscles that have tightened during exercise.
If your child is involved in youth sports, the National Athletic Trainers Association (NATA) advises parents to become educated about the risk of injuries, especially concussions and any other injury that is particularly associated with your child�s chosen sport to include meeting the Athletic Trainers on staff. If there are no Athletic Trainers available, advocate for one.
For more information on how to prevent sports injuries, visit John Hopkins Medicine hopkinsmedicine.org/, Center for Disease Control and Prevention cdc.gov/, Safe Kids Worldwide safekids.org/, American Academy of Pediatrics aap.org/, National Institute of Health Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) niams.nih.gov/, and Stop Sports Injuries stopsportsinjuries.org/.
Sprains, strains and tears are different types of injuries, and it’s important to know how they differ, a sports massage therapist says.
A sprain is the overstretching or tearing of ligaments, which are the tissues that connect bones to each other and stabilize them.
“Sprains occur when the joint is forced into an unnatural position. They happen most often in the ankle but can occur at any joint, such as the wrist or knee,” said Martin Mufich. He is also a clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M College of Nursing. Symptoms of a sprain include joint or muscle pain, inflammation, hampered movement, tenderness and bruising. “A mild sprain should take approximately seven to 10 days to heal,” Mufich said in a university news release.
“A torn ligament is considered a severe sprain that will cause pain, inflammation, bruising and result in ankle instability, often making it difficult and painful to walk. Recovery from a torn ligament may take several weeks, and should be done under the supervision of a health-care provider,” he explained.
A strain is the overstretching or tearing of a muscle or a tendon, which connects the muscles to the bones. It can occur from a single incident or over time. “An acute strain is an instantaneous stretch or tear of the muscle or tendon, whereas, a chronic strain stems from repetitive motions over time that place stress on the muscle or tendon,” Mufich said. Symptoms of a strain include muscle spasms, weakness, cramping, immobility, pain, bruising and swelling. It can take a few weeks for symptoms of a mild-to-moderate strain to ease, he explained.
A tear is the ripping of tissue in ligaments, muscles or tendons.
“Typically, the worse a tear, the more inflammation and pain a person will experience, and the longer it will take for the injury to heal,” Mufich said. In general, the treatment for sprains, strains and tears involves a plan called “RICES” — Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation and Stabilization. However, for some severe tears, such as those of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in the knee, surgery may be needed.
Mufich said that it is normal to experience some discomfort during the healing process from any of these injuries, but there should not be any sharp pain. “If you are not seeing improvements within 24 hours or it is getting worse, contact a health-care provider,” he advised.
SOURCE: Texas A&M, news release, Feb. 23, 2017�
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Preventing Sports Injuries
Many athletes largely depend on chiropractic care to enhance their physical performance. New research studies have determined that aside from maintaining overall health and wellness, chiropractic can also help prevent sports injuries. Chiropractic is an alternative treatment option utilized by athletes to improve their strength, mobility and flexibility. Spinal adjustments and manual manipulations performed by a chiropractor can also help correct spinal issues, speeding up an athlete’s recovery process to help them return-to-play as soon as possible.
Whether your doctor recommends surgery for a ruptured Achilles tendon may depend partly on your age and activity level, foot experts say.
The Achilles tendon is a band of tissue that runs down the back of the lower leg and connects the calf muscle to the heel bone. A rupture is a complete or partial tear of the tendon that leaves the heel bone separated or partially separated from the knee.
Length of recovery from this type of injury varies depending on whether a patient undergoes surgical or nonsurgical treatment.
“Treatment processes are dependent upon a patient’s overall health, activity level and ability to follow a functional rehabilitation protocol,” said Dr. Jeffrey McAlister, a foot and ankle surgeon in Sun City West, Ariz. Advances in treating Achilles tendon rupture were discussed by McAlister and other specialists at a recent meeting of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, in Las Vegas.
Typically, less active and unhealthy patients receive nonsurgical treatment, since they are not trying to return to active sports, McAlister said in a college news release. But this approach usually involves a long rehabilitation/recovery period (9-12 months). Also, these patients may be at increased risk of potentially dangerous blood clots due to inactivity during this period.
“For more athletic and younger patients, the surgical option may be best,” said Dr. Michael VanPelt, a Dallas foot and ankle surgeon. “We anticipate these patients have shorter healing times.”
But because there is low blood flow to the Achilles tendon, healing after surgery can be tricky.
“Advances in surgical techniques to repair Achilles tendon ruptures include limited incision, or smaller incision, surgical approaches to help patients have smaller scars, and less of a chance of wound complications,” said Dr. Jason Kayce, a Phoenix foot and ankle surgeon.
For more information, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .
Preventing Sports Injuries
Many athletes largely depend on chiropractic care to enhance their physical performance. New research studies have determined that aside from maintaining overall health and wellness, chiropractic can also help prevent sports injuries. Chiropractic is an alternative treatment option utilized by athletes to improve their strength, mobility and flexibility. Spinal adjustments and manual manipulations performed by a chiropractor can also help correct spinal issues, speeding up an athlete’s recovery process to help them return-to-play as soon as possible.
Cancer isn’t inevitable, but many Americans don’t know that several lifestyle factors affect their risk of developing the disease, a new survey finds.
Only one in two Americans is aware that obesity can raise the risk of cancer. And fewer than half understand that alcohol, inactivity, processed meat, eating lots of red meat and low consumption of fruits and vegetables are linked to cancer risk, the researchers said.
“There is a clear crisis in cancer prevention awareness,” said Alice Bender, head of nutrition programs at the American Institute for Cancer Research.
A larger percentage of Americans mistakenly believe that stress, fatty diets and other unproven factors are linked with cancer, according to the institute’s 2017 Cancer Risk Awareness Survey.
“It’s troubling that people don’t recognize alcohol and processed meats increase cancer risk,” Bender said in an institute news release. “This suggests the established factors that do affect cancer risk are getting muddled with headlines where the research is unclear or inconclusive.”
Factors Affecting the Risk of Cancer
Highlights of the survey findings include:
Fewer than 40 percent of Americans know that alcohol affects cancer risk.
Only 40 percent know that processed meats are also associated with cancer risk.
Fifty percent of Americans are aware that being overweight spurs cancer risk, up from 35 percent in 2001.
Nearly one-third of common cancers in the United States could be prevented through diet, weight management and physical activity. That increases to half when factors such as not smoking and avoiding sun damage are added, according to the institute.
Research has linked alcohol to at least six cancers, including colon, breast, liver and esophageal. Studies have also shown that bacon, hot dogs and other processed meats may raise the risk of colon and stomach cancers.
Only half of Americans know that obesity increases the risk of several cancers and that a healthy weight is the second most important way — after not smoking — to reduce cancer risk, the researchers said.
“We know a lot of healthy people do get cancer and sometimes it’s easier to worry about genes or uncontrollable things rather than your everyday choices,” said Bender. “But the research says that being physically active, staying a healthy weight, and eating a plant-based diet has the potential to prevent hundreds of thousands of cancer cases each year,” Bender aded. “It’s a powerful message.”
SOURCE: American Institute for Cancer Research, news release, Feb. 1, 2017
News stories are written and provided by HealthDay and do not reflect federal policy, the views of MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health, or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The scope of our information is limited to chiropractic and spinal injuries and conditions. To discuss options on the subject matter, please feel free to ask Dr. Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900 .�
Additional Topics: Whole Body Wellness
Following a balanced nutrition as well as engaging in regular physical activity and sleeping properly are all proper lifestyle habits which can help increase and maintain overall health and wellness. Many common complications associated with improper lifestyle habits, such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease and cancer, however, the risk of developing these can be prevented with a few lifestyle changes. In addition, visiting a chiropractor and receiving chiropractic care can help maintain and improve the overall health of the spine as well as its surrounding structures.
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