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What Causes Breathing Problem, Back Pain And Nausea Post Intercourse?
Question: I don't want to go to emergency because they see you and tell you to go to your gp. My gp has recently retired, so I can't go to see him. The last two times I've had sex with my husband, imediately afterwards I have had trouble breathing because I couldn't support his weight and I got horrible pain in my back and terrible nausea. I am 58 years old, and slightly overweight. I'm so worried it's my heart. But, I have had chronic whiplash for years, and wondering if this could be the problem?
When can I expect an answer?
When can I expect an answer?
Brief Answer:
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
I understand your concern and would like to explain that your recent complaints seem to be related to uncomfortable physical exertion during sexual activity.
You should know that sexual stamina and overall physical performance is diminished with time and the same physical workload may produce easier and faster the feeling of tiredness and breathlessness than it could a couple of years before.
But, this is not the exact responsible factor of your disturbances.
Experiencing unfavorable positions during intercourse may lead to adverse implications like muscle and ligaments streching, nuscle spasms and sometimes even serious damages.
Being forced in a position to support your husband weight may cause excessive burden over your backbone musculo-skeletal structures.
It may also exacerbate chronic whiplash disorders and produce similar simptomatology.
Coming to this point, I would say that, as far as the above symptomatology (breathing difficulty, back pain, etc.) are not experienced during the rest of your daily activity, there is nothing to worry about.
It is unlikely to be a cardiac related disorder.
It's just a musculo-skeletal issue and you should consider some precautions in order such a simptomatology never repeat again.
First you need to discuss with your husband about considering alternative intercourse positions; of course more comfortable and relaxing for both of you, in accordance with the age-matched physical performance.
Also, for relieving your pain, you may try any inflammatory pain killer drug (like ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.).
Avoid for the moment direct massaging the affected area. An immobilizing cervical collar could be of some help.
So, you may avoid asking medical assistance to ER for the moment.
But, if these complaints persist even after taking the appropriate precautions, especially if you have difficulty walking, arm numbness, etc. then you need further medical investigation (including a backbone MRI).
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
I would explain as follows:
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Welcome on HCM!
I understand your concern and would like to explain that your recent complaints seem to be related to uncomfortable physical exertion during sexual activity.
You should know that sexual stamina and overall physical performance is diminished with time and the same physical workload may produce easier and faster the feeling of tiredness and breathlessness than it could a couple of years before.
But, this is not the exact responsible factor of your disturbances.
Experiencing unfavorable positions during intercourse may lead to adverse implications like muscle and ligaments streching, nuscle spasms and sometimes even serious damages.
Being forced in a position to support your husband weight may cause excessive burden over your backbone musculo-skeletal structures.
It may also exacerbate chronic whiplash disorders and produce similar simptomatology.
Coming to this point, I would say that, as far as the above symptomatology (breathing difficulty, back pain, etc.) are not experienced during the rest of your daily activity, there is nothing to worry about.
It is unlikely to be a cardiac related disorder.
It's just a musculo-skeletal issue and you should consider some precautions in order such a simptomatology never repeat again.
First you need to discuss with your husband about considering alternative intercourse positions; of course more comfortable and relaxing for both of you, in accordance with the age-matched physical performance.
Also, for relieving your pain, you may try any inflammatory pain killer drug (like ibuprofen, naproxen, etc.).
Avoid for the moment direct massaging the affected area. An immobilizing cervical collar could be of some help.
So, you may avoid asking medical assistance to ER for the moment.
But, if these complaints persist even after taking the appropriate precautions, especially if you have difficulty walking, arm numbness, etc. then you need further medical investigation (including a backbone MRI).
Hope to have been helpful to you!
In case of further uncertainties, feel free to ask me again.
Kind regards,
Dr. Iliri
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your answer. My question was very personal, and I appreciate your kind concideration in this matter.
When you mention numbness, I do have numbness on the outside of my whole left thigh when I sleep on it sometimes, and I have to wear splints on my wrists every night because my hands fall asleep. My hands and feet will fall asleep for no apparent reason. Is this a sign of poor circulation or could it be heart related?
My father had atherosclerosis and died of a massive heart attack at age 77. Unfortunately, I was witness to this and have suffered from PTS (untreated) and I deal with my fears daily. I never know whether I am somewhat of a hostage of my own fears, or whether I truly should worry when something like this happens.
Thank you, XXXXXXX
When you mention numbness, I do have numbness on the outside of my whole left thigh when I sleep on it sometimes, and I have to wear splints on my wrists every night because my hands fall asleep. My hands and feet will fall asleep for no apparent reason. Is this a sign of poor circulation or could it be heart related?
My father had atherosclerosis and died of a massive heart attack at age 77. Unfortunately, I was witness to this and have suffered from PTS (untreated) and I deal with my fears daily. I never know whether I am somewhat of a hostage of my own fears, or whether I truly should worry when something like this happens.
Thank you, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
You have nothing to worry about!
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
I understand the way you feel and I am sorry for the loss of your beloved father in such way.
But, you should not worry about these symptoms as they do not seem to be related to vascular problems. You should know that poor circulation is exacerbated by physical activity or walking and the symptoms are improved during sitting or lying down.
Your symptoms seem to be related to nerve compression. You should know that it is normal to have some numbness during the sleep, related to nerve compression from different wrong position during sleeping. You should know that in some parts of our limbs, our nerve are more superficial, and thus more vulnerable to compression.
Anyway, if your hands feel numb frequently during the night, it could be a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome (which is compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunel in your wrist).
The same mechanisms could explain the numbness in your leg (compression of peroneal nerve).
This is not something to be worried about. It is not a life-threatening situation. So relax!
If these symptoms are frequent and disturbing, I would recommend consulting with a neurologist and performing a nerve conduction study (electroneurography) would help examine your nerves and exclude possible neuropathy or chronic compression.
Meanwhile, I would recommend continuing to hold splints in your wrists, as they help avoid compression of the median nerve from possible flection of your wrist during night sleep.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
You have nothing to worry about!
Detailed Answer:
Dear XXXXXXX
I understand the way you feel and I am sorry for the loss of your beloved father in such way.
But, you should not worry about these symptoms as they do not seem to be related to vascular problems. You should know that poor circulation is exacerbated by physical activity or walking and the symptoms are improved during sitting or lying down.
Your symptoms seem to be related to nerve compression. You should know that it is normal to have some numbness during the sleep, related to nerve compression from different wrong position during sleeping. You should know that in some parts of our limbs, our nerve are more superficial, and thus more vulnerable to compression.
Anyway, if your hands feel numb frequently during the night, it could be a sign of carpal tunnel syndrome (which is compression of the median nerve in the carpal tunel in your wrist).
The same mechanisms could explain the numbness in your leg (compression of peroneal nerve).
This is not something to be worried about. It is not a life-threatening situation. So relax!
If these symptoms are frequent and disturbing, I would recommend consulting with a neurologist and performing a nerve conduction study (electroneurography) would help examine your nerves and exclude possible neuropathy or chronic compression.
Meanwhile, I would recommend continuing to hold splints in your wrists, as they help avoid compression of the median nerve from possible flection of your wrist during night sleep.
Hope you will find this answer helpful!
Best wishes,
Dr. Iliri
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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