Although owing to breast cancer I can't proceed with active planning for spinal surgery for the foreseeable future (the cancer is to be staged within weeks, after surgery), I am still investigating aspects of what I can do for my spine.
Consulting with an old friend I just tracked down, reinforced me in my sorrow and concerns about the neurological deficits resulting from my spinal problems (This friend is a dual-certified psychiatrist and internist, thus in a unique position to advise me). When I confided in him that I suffer from both urinary and fecal incontinence ("mild" cauda equina syndrome) as well as colonic hypomotility (from nerve damage), he was horrified. Apart from the mortality risk of the cancer, he reinforced my sense that the nerve damage was even "more important" to deal with.
Even though it is impossible to fully separate the effects of the spinal stenosis and Tarlov cysts (large fluid filled sacs in the sacrum) in causing these social catastrophes, they are a fact of life and require constant coping of the most delicate kind (variable narcotic consumption for pain, complicated this). "Only" intermittent though worsening, I am in despair about them especially as I was unable to pursue spinal surgery because of family dysfunction (how to undergo it without help, at least in the immediate recovery period?).
I seem to recall Linda Racine's stating that patients suffering from spinal deformities (scoliosis and/or kyphosis) could not undergo spinal stenosis surgery for fear of destabilizing their spines. The longer I wait for deformity surgery, the longer the involved nerves are pinched and the less chance there is of their recovering any of their function (and relieving the elimination problems which for me are as bad as my physical pain). Christopher Shaffrey of UVA (dual certified in neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery) stated in 2010 that he would only operate on me if I could demonstrate that my incontinence issues were spinal in origin. Elaborate urological and ENT work ups satisfied him on this score, but I wasn't able to proceed then as described.
I am wondering if anyone (Linda?) has any idea about whether micro-invasive surgery (I had such decompression surgery on my cervical spine in 2007) MIGHT be undertaken to relieve at least in part, the nerve impingement (L5-S1?) causing the incontinence and colonic insufficiency - as well as foot drop, which began two years ago. That might, I hope, prevent the neurological deficits from worsening while waiting to attempt a more comprehensive surgical solution.
I know this is a very technical question, but I hoped maybe someone else will have had experience with such problems. I assure you that even on this specialized board, I feel deeply embarrassed to discuss them, especially the effects of the spinal cord damage on colonic cleansing.
Consulting with an old friend I just tracked down, reinforced me in my sorrow and concerns about the neurological deficits resulting from my spinal problems (This friend is a dual-certified psychiatrist and internist, thus in a unique position to advise me). When I confided in him that I suffer from both urinary and fecal incontinence ("mild" cauda equina syndrome) as well as colonic hypomotility (from nerve damage), he was horrified. Apart from the mortality risk of the cancer, he reinforced my sense that the nerve damage was even "more important" to deal with.
Even though it is impossible to fully separate the effects of the spinal stenosis and Tarlov cysts (large fluid filled sacs in the sacrum) in causing these social catastrophes, they are a fact of life and require constant coping of the most delicate kind (variable narcotic consumption for pain, complicated this). "Only" intermittent though worsening, I am in despair about them especially as I was unable to pursue spinal surgery because of family dysfunction (how to undergo it without help, at least in the immediate recovery period?).
I seem to recall Linda Racine's stating that patients suffering from spinal deformities (scoliosis and/or kyphosis) could not undergo spinal stenosis surgery for fear of destabilizing their spines. The longer I wait for deformity surgery, the longer the involved nerves are pinched and the less chance there is of their recovering any of their function (and relieving the elimination problems which for me are as bad as my physical pain). Christopher Shaffrey of UVA (dual certified in neurosurgery and orthopedic surgery) stated in 2010 that he would only operate on me if I could demonstrate that my incontinence issues were spinal in origin. Elaborate urological and ENT work ups satisfied him on this score, but I wasn't able to proceed then as described.
I am wondering if anyone (Linda?) has any idea about whether micro-invasive surgery (I had such decompression surgery on my cervical spine in 2007) MIGHT be undertaken to relieve at least in part, the nerve impingement (L5-S1?) causing the incontinence and colonic insufficiency - as well as foot drop, which began two years ago. That might, I hope, prevent the neurological deficits from worsening while waiting to attempt a more comprehensive surgical solution.
I know this is a very technical question, but I hoped maybe someone else will have had experience with such problems. I assure you that even on this specialized board, I feel deeply embarrassed to discuss them, especially the effects of the spinal cord damage on colonic cleansing.
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