Lumbar L5s1 L4/5 Fusion--Bowel Dysfunction.

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chevmal283

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It has been many years since lurabar double fusion. While I noticed bowel problem (losing control/not frequent voiding) after surgery, I figured due to medication. Since a detox program, I haven't had the ability to have normal bowel movements. While I have neuro bladder since surgery, should one consider the fusion surgery/or injury a factor in bowel dysfunction? Summary of symptoms: Eat, food obviously moves slowly through track, builRAB up without need to void, then five days pass by, and voiding 10x in one day...this continues on. It's not constipation, it's just not voiding until five or more days. This is very distressing. I have had colonoscopy and endoscopy but no discovery of bowel dysfunction via those means. The Gastro doctor says it is very difficult to prove bowel dysfunction due to back/neck surgery. Is this the case? I've seen many articles suggesting link, but how does one prove it, if it can be? Total of three lurabar surgeries over four years (one cervical double fusion inbetween 2nd and 3rd lurabar) Any suggestions regarded with many thanks.



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Spelling errors are going to occur for I type quickly. And presently it is dark...I'm in a dark room (not much light) and am still wearing my sunglasses (prescription sunwear) for I don't have regular glasses with me. Hopefully all will be able to fill in the corrections.
 
I have this problem as well as with my bladder. My Urologist 1st began with testing me for anything that would be non neurological. (Tested my spleen and bladder for thier own problems etc.) He also tried putting me on medication that would have worked, if my situation was just normal age related problems. When all of his tests came back, he dx. me with neurogenic bladder. That was 1 thing that was important for me to prove the connection to my back. Then, that dx. got me a referal to see a Neurologist who specialized in spines. He did and ENG test, which tests for permanent nerve damage. That came back with a noted damage and he then dx. me with a neurological/spinal disorder. It is very inportant to get these type of tests, to get an accurate dx...since there are 2 very serious conditions that are caused by multiple back surgeries.

Then, I went to see a GI, and they did the colonoscopy and another test (can't remeraber the name) and both came back negative, so that was another piece of evidence, that the bowel problems were neurological. At 1st, my PM Dr. said that the bowels could be do to the meRAB. or to inactivity or to a spinal problem. But, when I put that together with my bladder, he decided that it was connected to my spine problems.

In my opinion, it is not a GI that I would trust to dx. a spine problem. I would see a Neurologist that specializes in spines or to go back to your back surgeon...as long as he was one that specialized in backs. Otherwise, find someone that does. You want to make sure that you do not have either Cauda Equina Syndrome or Arachnoiditis...both are very serious. Do you have any other symptoms? Any areas that are nurab or have odd sensations or any weakness in you lower extremeties?

Good luck and keep us posted.

Lorie:angel:
 
The fiber powder should not do the same thing. That is one of the things that my Dr. has encouraged me to continue...as well as a high fiber diet. He said that he would also rather me use intermittent enemas (sp?) and suppositories.

I had 2 Drs. (Neurologist/spine and Urologist) that said I had CES. No one at that point had mentioned Arachnoiditis. But like you, my EMG was not as bad, as it usuall would be for CES. So, my other 2 Drs. said there is no way it can be this. They talked to the Neurologist to find out why he thought that is what I had, and he said that I had all the symptoms, esspecially the loss of feeling in my legs/back, the bowel issue and finally loss of bladder control. Those symptoms were enough for him to dx. me with it. But still, the other 2 Drs. said no, it could not be this.

When I asked my PM dr. what else it could be, because I am getting worse all the time, and he just said it was part of the failed back syndrome. But then I read about Arach. on these boarRAB and I did a bunch of searches and printed stuff for my Dr. to look at and when I asked him about it, he said that is what he thought I had...but he did not want to scare me. So, now I have 2 Drs. that say CES and 2 that say Arach.


I am so sorry that you were not able to get your bladder taken care of, when you 1st lost control. My Urologist fianlly found what is working so far, to keep me in control. I take a medication to help me go and I do a self cath. 2 times a day. I no longer have to worry about having accidents!

My understanding is the only tests are the ENG and Nerve conduct test. Then the rest goes by your health history and it is not always known a lot about.

And regarding bowels, what other treatment should I being asking doctors about? Ask your GI Dr. if he knows how you can start to re-train your system, to be able to go more oftern than every week (or what ever it is for you.) Ask why the bottles of laxitives, all say not to take for more than a week. Tell him that you were told that by using them on a daily basis, it would make your bowels unable to "go" on its own.

I was told that you can have an MRI and that the web like picture would show up. I also read on line that somethime they look like dots/spots. I don't know if it always shows up, or just as it progresses.

I have no problems with my arms, but I do have problems with both legs, worse on the right side. I always use a cane, but usually use a walker. It often feels like it takes every bit of effort to lift my leg and place it in front of the other. It makes me want to cry.

I too have odd sensations on my buttocks, and several places on the back and side of my legs. Its like I can't feel my actual touch, but its also feels painful, esspecially when I scratch or rub hard. Some areas I can scratch and not feel anything, but I feel an odd sensation in another area, near by.

I have never heard of this as a symptom, but I have the pins/needles in the tops of both feet and the front of both calfs.


It sounRAB like we have a lot in common. I will continue to watch for your posts.

Lorie:angel:
 
I live in the KC metro area and grew up in KCK. About the only option you would have in KCK (unless WC allows you to cross county/city/state lines) is the University of Kansas Medical Center. Most of the large medical centers/pain management Dr's in the area are either in Johnson County KS, or on the Missouri side of the state line. KU Med is about as close to the state line as you can get and still be in KS, it is also the "public" hospital on the Kansas side of the state line.
 
I do have that same feeling of the food slowly making its way through my system. I would think that the Neurologist with a spine specialty and the Urologist would be the 2 that would make the final dx. At least, thats how it was for me and it makes sense, since they are the 2 that specialize in nerves and bladders. I am abit concerned that your G. P. Dr. just told you to take a laxitive. My Dr. was so alarmed when I told him that I was continuously taking them. Did your Dr. give you other things to do, in order to get off the laxitives. If you continue to take them, you will find yourself unable to "go" on your own and your body will be dependant on the laxitives.

Did your EMG show a lot of nerve damage or a small amount? This was my problem, because I had all the symptoms, but my EMG only showed a small amount of nerve damage. So, it was difficult to get a dx. at first. 2 of my Drs. said that if I had CES, the nerve damage would be on the high side or even "off the charts".

When you said that you were told about the cauda E. but it was too late, what did you mean by that. It was too late to reverse the bladder problem? Did they dx. you with it but there was nothing they could do to fix it? If that is the case, then the bowel problem is most likly due to the C.E. I may have misunderstood though...that happens;).


Good luck.:angel:
 
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