Hard Flaccid ( See someone who can help)
Hard Flaccid ( See someone who can help )
Hard Flaccid: A condition we see a lot of and understand well.
( Finally see someone who understands what you are going through)
"Hard flaccid" is a condition that we see a lot in both of our male pelvic health physiotherapy clinics. Although it mostly affects younger men, we do also see older men with hard flaccid and also some who have elements of hard flaccid and pelvic pain. We also see long flaccid syndrome and soft glands syndrome.
Hard Flaccid typically involves symptoms like:
- Penis that feels firm but is not erect (hence the term "hard flaccid")
- Penile retraction
- More prominent veins in the penis
- Penis looks different.
- Cold feeling
- Disconnect: My penis doesn’t belong to me any more
- Numbness or altered sensation in the penis or groin area.
- Loss of morning erections
- Loss of spontaneous erections
- Softer erections and harder to maintain.
- Changes to ejaculation: loss of power
- Urinary issues (like urgency or frequency)
- Bowel: My penis feels different after a bowel movement
- Pelvic pain: Not as common but can occur.
- Anxiety and psychological distress and lots of it
What might cause it?
- Pelvic floor muscle dysfunction (tight or overactive muscles)
- Nerve irritation or compression especially the pudendal nerve
- Trauma or injury (e.g., aggressive masturbation, sex, or physical activity)
- Stress and anxiety which can contribute to muscle tension and nerve sensitivity.
- Gym Going to hard and heavy in the gym with weighs.
- Posture and lifestyle issues like prolonged sitting.
What do we do for Hard Flaccid?
It depends on how you present but some of this:
- But always this: A Full detailed assessment and explaining to you what is going on and what the plan is.
- Ultrasound assessment of your pelvic floor to see does it need relaxing.
- Pelvic floor relaxation and pelvic floor stretches
- Bulbo and ischio muscle relaxation (hands on release to the perineum)
- Pelvic tilt and pelvic position: Seeing is it affected and needs attention.
- Hip flexors and other big muscle groups: Do they need treatment.
- Focused Shockwave when you need it for your recovery.
- Getting you back to activity
- Helping you with your stress & anxiety management
- Lifestyle Changes – Reducing sitting time, avoiding high-impact activities, improving posture.
- Advice on sexual activity and what helps and what doesn’t.
- Access to other specialists we work with from Andrology to Urology to psychology.
