Suggest Treatment For Erectile Dysfunction After Treating A Stroke

Brief Answer:
Physio and psychotherapy, consider medication side effects.

Detailed Answer:
Hello. I read your question and I understand your concern.

Both balance problems as well as sexual dysfunction are a common complication of stroke.

Balance is usually because of the neurological deficit. The nature of the deficit depends on the damaged area, many types of deficits could affect balance like weakness of the body on one side, loss of sensation, damage to the cerebellum which controls balance etc. Of course one should keep in mind factors not related to stroke like middle ear problems or dizziness as side effect of certain medications.

The management of balance issues related to stroke is through physical therapy. Physical therapy in your case should be directed towards balance training exercises. The type of exercises should be evaluated and supervised by a physiotherapist according to your deficits.
There are also suggestions that disciplines like Tai-Chi could improve balance even some console games like Wii.

Regarding the sexual dysfunction, while it can be directly related to damage to the brain, that is very rare and usually improves after some months. More often though it has been shown by many studies that the main component consists in psychological factors related to affection of self esteem, lack of mobility and depression. For that reason management consists in communication with your partner and counseling (sex psychotherapy).

Also other factors should be considered such as side effects of some anti-depressants (mostly SSRI group), some antihypertensives (propranolol, thiazide diuretics), anti-convulsants or other drugs affecting sexual function (or balance). You don't mention your current treatment after stroke, if you are taking medication, that possibility should be evaluated. Another cause could be other conditions like diabetes which you don't mention.

A word of caution, drugs like Viagra which you mention to have taken are cautioned against in people with cardiac and vascular disease (like stroke). If you have coronary heart disease they are contraindicated.

I hope to have been of help.

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Brief Answer:
Treatment side effects possible.

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for providing some more information.

First, while age is not necessarily a limitation for physical and sexual activity, is the provided age of 69 correct? I don't get many 69 years old, post stroke patients working medium heavy work honestly.

Judging by the way you describe your activity it doesn't seem likely that it has been the case of a big size stroke, so that renders even more probable that your sexual activity issues have a psychological component.

However in addition to seeking psychotherapy the possibility of medication side effects should be taken into consideration. Basically all the drugs you take could influence both your sexual function as well as cause dizziness (balance issues). If your blood pressure values are well controlled I would discuss the possibility of changing regimen with your doctor.

Of course the frequency of side effects is not the same for all of them. The drug most linked with erectile dysfunction is dithiazide (thiazide diuretics class in general), so that might be modified or interrupted first. Dizziness is most common with Prazosin.

Since you've had a stroke though you should be extra careful and not change the medication yourself, but only consulting your doctor. It requires follow up monitoring and evaluation of blood pressure values and different dosages effect. As I said before whether treatment can be changed or not depends on current blood pressure values, sometimes it's about finding the best compromise.

Wish you good health.

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