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What Causes Urinary Incontinence, Uncontrolled Bowel Movements And Back Pain After Fall?
Question: I fell in Feb. off of a ladder. I hit my back, head/neck, upper back/between shoulder blades, my left arm and left knee. As soon as I got up from the fall, I had to go to the bathroom. Every 10 or 15 minutes after that I felt the need to go and for two days after that I had to wear a pad because I really didn't have time to get to the bathroom. Also the very next day, I lost control of my bowels and literally went all over the bed, myself and the toilet after I made it there. This has happened twice more since then. Just recently. I just feel a little pressure and almost instantly, I begin to go. It has a velocity that just sends the brown mush like poop all over the place. It is embarrassing even though I am the one who has to clean the mess and it is scary. I have never had anything happen to me like that before. Could it be connected with my fall?
Brief Answer:
Possible but other things should be checked also
Detailed Answer:
Good morning. My name is Dr. Saghafi and I am a neurologist. I am from the XXXXXXX OH area and have a private practice as well as work at the XXXXXXX VA Medical Center. We see many patients in our service with traumatic head and spinal cord injuries. There is a variety of types of injuries and transformations of organ functions when it comes to the phenomenon of TBI (traumatic brain injury) and TSI (traumatic spine injury). I certainly have seen a variety of cases of both brain and spinal cord types where incontinence of either bowel or bladder that can occur rather quickly in both men and women.
However, at the age of 72 (young lady!) and with the MRI finding of 2 bulging discs I would say that in my opinion the dyscontrol of the bowel and bladder is more likely caused by the bulging discs in the spine and not from either TBI or TSI.
And so, you must find out from a neurologist more details about the MRI findings and to look carefully at each lobe. Also, frequent urination should always trigger keeping track on a log of the episodes of bowel and bladder dysfunction.
I would also recommend that while being worked up as I've described above that you should get a GI and GU consult accomplished just to demonstrate that there is nothing really wrong mechanically with things such as your colon, kidneys, and bladder.
If any of the information I've asked or provided has been useful to further your understanding or give you ideas as to which direction to turn next and you'd like to CLOSE THIS QUERY then, could you do me a favor and leave a brief feedback report with a STAR RATING for the quality of this response with respect to what you've asked?
Please feel free to contact me at any time to ask more questions about this or any other topic you would like by using the following link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68474
This query required 21 minutes of physician specific time to review, research, and compile the final draft for envoy.
Possible but other things should be checked also
Detailed Answer:
Good morning. My name is Dr. Saghafi and I am a neurologist. I am from the XXXXXXX OH area and have a private practice as well as work at the XXXXXXX VA Medical Center. We see many patients in our service with traumatic head and spinal cord injuries. There is a variety of types of injuries and transformations of organ functions when it comes to the phenomenon of TBI (traumatic brain injury) and TSI (traumatic spine injury). I certainly have seen a variety of cases of both brain and spinal cord types where incontinence of either bowel or bladder that can occur rather quickly in both men and women.
However, at the age of 72 (young lady!) and with the MRI finding of 2 bulging discs I would say that in my opinion the dyscontrol of the bowel and bladder is more likely caused by the bulging discs in the spine and not from either TBI or TSI.
And so, you must find out from a neurologist more details about the MRI findings and to look carefully at each lobe. Also, frequent urination should always trigger keeping track on a log of the episodes of bowel and bladder dysfunction.
I would also recommend that while being worked up as I've described above that you should get a GI and GU consult accomplished just to demonstrate that there is nothing really wrong mechanically with things such as your colon, kidneys, and bladder.
If any of the information I've asked or provided has been useful to further your understanding or give you ideas as to which direction to turn next and you'd like to CLOSE THIS QUERY then, could you do me a favor and leave a brief feedback report with a STAR RATING for the quality of this response with respect to what you've asked?
Please feel free to contact me at any time to ask more questions about this or any other topic you would like by using the following link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68474
This query required 21 minutes of physician specific time to review, research, and compile the final draft for envoy.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Thank you so much. I do appreciate your quick response. I do have another question. Could the fall cause the bulging disc's? The reports says that they are bulging at L3 and S1. The S1 being the larger protrusion. My back hurts like it is going to break sometimes and other times it is a dull pain. Just bending over can set off a deep pain. My left leg hurts and seems so heavy the more I am on it.
Thank you again, XXXXXXX
Thank you again, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Unusual for L3 & S1 ONLY to bulge after trauma
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for sharing the additional information. Epidemiological studies have shown that 40% of normal people (i.e. folks who are active, without symptoms of pain or discomfort in their back or legs) can be found to have bulging discs. In other words, the presence of a bulging disc on an MRI whose prior status is unknown before the study cannot be reliably tagged as the cause of pain even if it were in the distribution or location of the complaint. In your case I'm not hearing the neurological symptoms that would make bulging L3 and S1 even relevant. Furthermore, if these bulges were in fact relevant the report would likely indicate a nerve root being pinched or compromise. In other words we do not generally believe that discs which are bulging and not pinching nerves result in back pain especially if there is a radiating component.
Also, a fall from a ladder resulting in striking the back flatly would tend not to cause bulging but rather rupture from the force of sudden impact. Bulging discs are believed to evolve not as a result of forceful impacts but rather chronic forces of stresses that are coming TOP DOWN on the spinal column. That would not describe your fall.
Bottom line is that disc bulges at L3 and S1 in your particular case are not likely to have been caused by the fall nor are they likely contributing in a significant way to the symptoms you refer.
If any of the information I've asked or provided has been useful to further your understanding or give you ideas as to which direction to turn next and you'd like to CLOSE THIS QUERY then, could you do me a favor and leave a brief feedback report with a STAR RATING for the quality of this response with respect to what you've asked?
Please feel free to contact me at any time to ask more questions about this or any other topic you would like by using the following link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68474
This query required 14 minutes of physician specific time to review, research, and compile the final draft for envoy.
Unusual for L3 & S1 ONLY to bulge after trauma
Detailed Answer:
Thank you for sharing the additional information. Epidemiological studies have shown that 40% of normal people (i.e. folks who are active, without symptoms of pain or discomfort in their back or legs) can be found to have bulging discs. In other words, the presence of a bulging disc on an MRI whose prior status is unknown before the study cannot be reliably tagged as the cause of pain even if it were in the distribution or location of the complaint. In your case I'm not hearing the neurological symptoms that would make bulging L3 and S1 even relevant. Furthermore, if these bulges were in fact relevant the report would likely indicate a nerve root being pinched or compromise. In other words we do not generally believe that discs which are bulging and not pinching nerves result in back pain especially if there is a radiating component.
Also, a fall from a ladder resulting in striking the back flatly would tend not to cause bulging but rather rupture from the force of sudden impact. Bulging discs are believed to evolve not as a result of forceful impacts but rather chronic forces of stresses that are coming TOP DOWN on the spinal column. That would not describe your fall.
Bottom line is that disc bulges at L3 and S1 in your particular case are not likely to have been caused by the fall nor are they likely contributing in a significant way to the symptoms you refer.
If any of the information I've asked or provided has been useful to further your understanding or give you ideas as to which direction to turn next and you'd like to CLOSE THIS QUERY then, could you do me a favor and leave a brief feedback report with a STAR RATING for the quality of this response with respect to what you've asked?
Please feel free to contact me at any time to ask more questions about this or any other topic you would like by using the following link:
http://doctor.healthcaremagic.com/Funnel?page=askDoctorDirectly&docId=68474
This query required 14 minutes of physician specific time to review, research, and compile the final draft for envoy.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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