Incontenence - Spinal Cord Disorders Message Board

eagle18 · 04-21-2006, 11:21 AM

Hi, everyone. Hope that recovery has found good fortune for you. I am now slightly past 2 years post -op for cervical laminectomy with fusion. Although there have been some improvements, nothing has improved in the area of walking, and lately I've begun to develop periods of incontinence. I am very troubled and quite frightened by this developement. I have to go to the toilet maybe 25 times a day. Has anyone had similar experiences ?

mb100 · 04-21-2006, 11:45 AM

Hey Eagle,

I'm 2 years post C-4/7 acdf, 4 days post C-567 posterior fusion and beginning to wonder about that, I have to go alot, but I'm drinking alot too. I also have gait issues that I've had since before the acdf, I dont expect any improvement there. The incontinence problem, I hope, is just temporary from thr surgery. Maybe you have a recurring/new problem up in the neck area. Have you been back to the Dr. lately?

Mike

sunshine221 · 04-21-2006, 02:17 PM

I'm interested in your gait problems.

I'm 7+ months post op C4-7 laminectomy - no fusion. Before surgery I was getting severe "urgent to go" issues, not quite incontinent. I noticed recently that I can't always (sometimes I can, but usually not) stop my urinary stream once it starts, I can usually slow it so there is some muscle control there. I never really tried this pre-op, my guess is this problem developed along with the stenosis and we never checked for it. (I've been doing the "keagle exercises" back from the pregnancy days to try to work on those muscles - I realize that doesn't apply to you.)

Back to the gait - my NS has referred me to a "Physical and Rehibilitation MD" - but the appointment (unless they get a cancellation) isn't until Jul 6.

bozzie · 04-21-2006, 03:24 PM

Hello!

I had a laminectomy w/out fusion and foraminotomies a little over a year ago. I have been taking Neurontin (then Gabapentin). I had bladder and sexual problems before surgery. After surgery, the feelings came back in my hands and everywhere (including bladder and sexual response). I had stopped taking Neurontin for several months. After returning to work in a grocery store with a lot of lifting, I started taking Neur. again and without putting two and two together, I started noticing the same lack of feeling again. I did an experiment and stopped taking it for three months and everything was back to normal again. Unfortunetly, I recently had to start again. I have an appt next week w/my Dr. where I will disucss an alternative!

Please let me know if there are similar experiences as I have not found anything on the internet!

eagle18 · 04-21-2006, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mb100

Hey Eagle,

I'm 2 years post C-4/7 acdf, 4 days post C-567 posterior fusion and beginning to wonder about that, I have to go alot, but I'm drinking alot too. I also have gait issues that I've had since before the acdf, I dont expect any improvement there. The incontinence problem, I hope, is just temporary from thr surgery. Maybe you have a recurring/new problem up in the neck area. Have you been back to the Dr. lately?

Mike

Hi Mike, Yes I've had an mri of my neck about a month ago, and there wern't any new problems. All the nuero's I've seen say I have cord damage. This prognosis is based on some routine physical exams they conduct. What worries me, especially about the incontinence is that I seem to be getting worse. Pain is worse too. Having to use greater amount of pain killers. I am very despondent. Thanks for your help as well as everyone else.