lori3234
06-08-2007, 11:48 AM
:confused:
i have spinal stenosis and am having epidurals for pain. recently i have been having problems with controling my bowels. can anyone give me any advice on this? thank you.
i have spinal stenosis and am having epidurals for pain. recently i have been having problems with controling my bowels. can anyone give me any advice on this? thank you.
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butrfligirl28
06-09-2007, 09:05 AM
Not being able to control your bowels is an extremely serious thing that can happen with your back problem. The name of it is not coming to me, but you must call your doctor ASAP! This is very serious. Please post this on any back pain board here, and do an internet search for "back pain loss of bowel/bladder control" and you will find what I am talking about. CALL ASAP!!!!
lori3234
06-10-2007, 06:23 PM
Not being able to control your bowels is an extremely serious thing that can happen with your back problem. The name of it is not coming to me, but you must call your doctor ASAP! This is very serious. Please post this on any back pain board here, and do an internet search for "back pain loss of bowel/bladder control" and you will find what I am talking about. CALL ASAP!!!!
i see my pain doctor tuesday, i will tell him what is going on, the epidurals are not helping so i know something is wrong. thank you so much.
i see my pain doctor tuesday, i will tell him what is going on, the epidurals are not helping so i know something is wrong. thank you so much.
lori3234
06-10-2007, 06:26 PM
i will let you know what i find out after my doctor appt tuesday. he is a pain management doctor so hopefully he refers me on to another specialist for help. i dont know where to go from there. any suggestions?
Laenini
06-11-2007, 01:46 AM
If you haven't already, I think you should seek a consultation with a neurosurgeon as quickly as possible. Cervical stenosis can also cause loss of bowel and bladder control. Regardless if your symptoms are being caused by the cervical stenosis, cauda equina syndrome, or some other condition, someone needs to quickly determine the correct diagnosis and then help you to secure appropriate treatment before any permanent damage occurs. Rather than waiting even an extra day to see your pain doctor, you might want to call the doctor who originally diagnosed your spinal stenosis right away in the morning. They might have the best idea who you should see and how quickly you need to see them.
Good luck and let us know what you find out!
Good luck and let us know what you find out!
feelbad
06-11-2007, 10:56 AM
Anything that is within the c spine area can effect anything below that area that is affected.was your stenosis considered "severe"?was there anything else on your MRI that showed up other than just the stenosis itself?how long ago was the Dx MRI done?if it was more than like six months ago you should probably have another one done on that same area since sooo many things within our spines can change in a suprisingly short period of time.did you actually read for yourself or did your doc tell you EVERYTHING that was actually found on your MRI?many many docs will not actually even tell you everything that it really found on any given MRI,just what 'they" feel is pertinent.this is why you always need to obtain your very own copy of any test results.what you are actually told,or even what the initial rad read is like is totally dependant upon that particular persons actual level of knowledge and experience and nothing else.if someone is not all that experienced or hasn't seen a particular issue before,they will not give it alot of weight like a more experienced doc or radiologist would,you know what i mean?believe me,i have had 16 MRIs and the things that are and are not noted and some neurosurgeons i have seen,the differences in what is and is not actually found or there are really quite scarey.so many big things missed,ya know?
anytime you have neuro or other type changes when dealing with any spinal issues,it just really needs reevaluation to see if something new or progression has been noted.do you have your own copy of that MRI?if not,get one,and also that follow up done if more than six months has passed.you had a significant sudden onset change that could be attributed to further progression of the confirmed stenosis or another totally new issue or a body system problem of some sort.you just wont really know for certain til you start looking at the most likely culprits,and in your case,that would be starting with looking at the most dangerous possibility to rule it in or out,then your doc can take it from there.but it DOES need reevaluation just to see whats up.this just really needs to be done.just let your doc know exactly what you are experiencing and any fears you have about it and tell him you WANT another MRI.you DO have cause/reason for one.and its just the right thing to do considering your current situation.i do wish you luck with this and certainly hope this symptom is not having to do with your spine in any way,but it HAS to be ruled out.please keep us posted on just what you find out,K? FB
anytime you have neuro or other type changes when dealing with any spinal issues,it just really needs reevaluation to see if something new or progression has been noted.do you have your own copy of that MRI?if not,get one,and also that follow up done if more than six months has passed.you had a significant sudden onset change that could be attributed to further progression of the confirmed stenosis or another totally new issue or a body system problem of some sort.you just wont really know for certain til you start looking at the most likely culprits,and in your case,that would be starting with looking at the most dangerous possibility to rule it in or out,then your doc can take it from there.but it DOES need reevaluation just to see whats up.this just really needs to be done.just let your doc know exactly what you are experiencing and any fears you have about it and tell him you WANT another MRI.you DO have cause/reason for one.and its just the right thing to do considering your current situation.i do wish you luck with this and certainly hope this symptom is not having to do with your spine in any way,but it HAS to be ruled out.please keep us posted on just what you find out,K? FB
lori3234
06-11-2007, 08:22 PM
i called this morning. i see a specialist at eight tomorrow. thank you very much. this is so stressful and upseting for me..
lori3234
06-11-2007, 08:25 PM
i also have a bulging disc. i have the copy of my mri. it was done october 2006 so i guess i better ask for another one? i am really scared it could be something more serious.
Laenini
06-12-2007, 01:18 AM
I'm glad you called and got something set up so quickly! Let us all know how it goes?
/hugs
/hugs
feelbad
06-12-2007, 11:06 AM
just how severe is that bulged disc and is it in any way affecting the cord or cordspace surrounding it?it would state something like compression of thecal sac or some reference to the cord if there was some sort of actual affectation.what does it state towards the end of your report in the summary?this is where they state the most significant issues thats why i am asking.just wondering what the rad felt was your bigger problems,and also what your doc mentioned about them?
have you had any other neuro changes(or just some odd weirdness that you couldn't explain?) since that last MRI,even smaller ones?
i know it is hard but try not to worry about this unless you have to,believe me,i have spent many a night worrying about certain things with my condition and finally came to the conclusion that it was only sucking away my energy.some things are not as bad as you think they are.so don't think about it overly much as it will just make you crazy,espescially since you personally really cannot 'do' anything about things yet,and you just do not really know whats up yet ya know?your symptoms "could' be from many other things other than your spine,you just need to really find out where the trigger is,in what body area.you are in the "rule out' period here.just push for that follow up MRI with your doc just to get that place to start and work from.please keep us posted,K?hang in there,you will find out eventually whats up.FB
have you had any other neuro changes(or just some odd weirdness that you couldn't explain?) since that last MRI,even smaller ones?
i know it is hard but try not to worry about this unless you have to,believe me,i have spent many a night worrying about certain things with my condition and finally came to the conclusion that it was only sucking away my energy.some things are not as bad as you think they are.so don't think about it overly much as it will just make you crazy,espescially since you personally really cannot 'do' anything about things yet,and you just do not really know whats up yet ya know?your symptoms "could' be from many other things other than your spine,you just need to really find out where the trigger is,in what body area.you are in the "rule out' period here.just push for that follow up MRI with your doc just to get that place to start and work from.please keep us posted,K?hang in there,you will find out eventually whats up.FB
lori3234
06-12-2007, 07:04 PM
i have an mri tomorrow to see if things have changed. i was diagnosed with cervical stensis but my dr said things can change. now i play a waiting game on the results. you cant know how this board and your postings have helped me. thanks again
hugs as well...:)
hugs as well...:)
Laenini
06-16-2007, 12:25 AM
Any results from your MRI yet, Lori?
lori3234
06-16-2007, 04:53 PM
thanks for checking on me. my lumbar mri came out okay, he referred me to a gastro intestional doctor for my othre issues and i see a top rated iowa neurosurgeon for my cervical stenosis. this has been the best support i have had for a long time. this is really hard on a person, hurting all the time and having no real answers...thanks again, lori
lori3234
06-16-2007, 04:55 PM
i will get my copy of my mri out and let you know exactly what it tells me. i am not sure how serious it is, at first it was decided i had carpal tunnel, which i did after the emg, but i continue to have the numbness in my hand and arm after that surgery so i cant but wonder if it was the cervical stenosis as the cause of it all.
Laenini
06-17-2007, 11:10 AM
Hi Lori!
I'm also 42, married with kids, and live just a bit north of you in Minnesota.
It sounds like you are on the right track now though getting some answers about your condition. In regards to your carpal tunnel issue, you might want to read about something called "double crush syndrome". I don't understand all the details myself, but because the same nerve tract has been impinged upon in more than one spot (the C-Spine and then again at the carpal tunnel) it makes the surgical treatment of the carpal tunnel more problematic.
Keep us posted on how things go!
I'm also 42, married with kids, and live just a bit north of you in Minnesota.
It sounds like you are on the right track now though getting some answers about your condition. In regards to your carpal tunnel issue, you might want to read about something called "double crush syndrome". I don't understand all the details myself, but because the same nerve tract has been impinged upon in more than one spot (the C-Spine and then again at the carpal tunnel) it makes the surgical treatment of the carpal tunnel more problematic.
Keep us posted on how things go!
moderator2
06-18-2007, 09:02 AM
Please read the posting rules which explain that offering or asking off board contact is not permitted. The boards are to be used for on board sharing, only. The email and private message features are turned off so that use of the message boards remain anonymous.
intheneck
06-20-2007, 02:56 PM
I have had altered sensation on the out side of my right leg between the knee and the hip for years and did not seek treatment because it is not painful or restrictive. It is a very minor numbness and easily ignored. I finally brought it up to my Doc and was sent to get an MRI. I learned today that stenosis and lumbar bulges were detected. Is this a big deal or is this something easily managed if not cured?