i know this post is fairly old, but i have a question and wanted to know if this is the same thing. i have herniation in L5/S1 and bone spurs with spinal stenosis. i had to stop using tampons a few years ago because of the pain, and my sex life is non existent due to fear that if a tampon hurts, my DH is much larger so far more pain. only reason it hasn't hurt our marriage is he has issues too so it is seldom that he "can" due to pain, and pain meds.