Recurrent UTIs after spinal fusion surgery

  • Thread starter Thread starter jrdsgrl
  • Start date Start date
J

jrdsgrl

Guest
I had a two-level spinal fusion on April 25, 2008. Around the first week of June I got a UTI that, at the time, I thought might have been caused from taking Darvocet because the doctor had just prescribed it to me and I had been taking it for about 4 days. When reading the possible side effects of Darvocet, I saw that a UTI was one of them and that is what I contributed it to since I have only had two UTIs in my lifetime of 36 years and the last one was about 8 years ago. My doctor prescribed me an antibiotic and within a few days, the UTI was gone. Today (July 13th) I am having the major symptoms of another UTI. It has only been a month since my last one. I am just so miserable. It's bad enough having one every 8-10 years but two in a month -- UGH!!!!:( It may all just be circumstancial, but it just seems that I have been having numerous problems since the surgery. They performed the work through a large incision in my stomach and then four incisions in my back. I didn't have a lot of problems with the back, but had lots of problems from them going through my stomach. For the first two weeks my bowels would not "wake up" and since then, my perioRAB have been almost unbearable and now the UTIs. Just wanting to see if anyone else has experienced the UTIs after back surgery. If so, what did you do?? Thanks!!
 
Yes I did too , after 1 level (L3-4 fusion)...just when I returned home from surgery..But I too was also on Darvocet...I assumed it was from the catheter...Which can also be possible....Mine has not returned...

Did they give you Cipro?...My first antiboitic was not strong enough.

Hang in there..hope you are feeling better soon.
 
You could have developed a vaginal infection from the antibiotics. A lot of times they may appear as a UTI.
 
I had a 2 level fusion on 6/24. Although it was posterior I also had a bowel problem, which immediately lead to a UTI. I am assuming it was from a variety of factors - catheter, generalized irritation in the area, and, well, inability to clean the area as well as normal because of brace restrictions. I've been very careful since then. I'm not surprised your perioRAB have been more painful since the anterior surgery means lots of stuff got moved around!

It's also not unusual for a UTI to return. I also took Cipro, but it may be necessary for them to do a culture to make sure they're giving you an antibiotic that kills all the bacteria. When I was a teenager I got chronic UTI's until they finally did a culture, knew which antibiotic would specifically target it, and then they finally disappeared. Perhaps you can suggest it when you talk to your doctor.
 
The first time the doctor gave me a 5 day dosage of Bactrim RAB. This time he prescribed a seven day dosage of the same. He said if I have the 3rd one, he wants me to come in for a culture. I just know that I'm miserable!!! But I do thank each of you for our speedy replies and all the great information. I will keep you posted. Thanks!!!
 
I find these posts rather interesting as I am having problems also. I had surgery in March. Didn't take pain meRAB once I was out of the hospital. I started physical therapy a few weeks ago which included walking on a treadmill in water. The chlorine is so strong, my black shorts turned brown even though I rinsed them immediately. I developed a UTI and asked my dr if the chlorine could cause it. She said no. My dip stick was positive but the culture was negative. I was only on keflex for 3 days and it didn't wipe it out. Again, I went back to see her and again dip stick positive, culture negative. I got cipro for 10 days and I still am not right. I read chlorine can cause problems but she wants me to go to a urologist. That is fine but when I read all these postings it caught my attention. I am sure some of my back pain isn't from the surgery but from a UTI
 
Back
Top