www.incontinentsupport.org

Hello folks,
Hope you're all well. I'm doing good except for some pretty brutal low back pain. I started having some numbness in my feet which, then moved to only one foot, and hasn't gone away. It didn't start with pain, just the numbness the day after one of my migraine attacks. Some weird other transient electric shock feelings in legs, arms, and hands.
Not really sure if I was having a stroke, or a medication side effect, I headed to Urgent Care, where I was reassured I was not in immediate danger, but I may have a pinched nerve (or something). I was given steroids, and a list of things I needed to watch out for, as well as advice to follow up within a week if it doesn't go away.

It didn't go away, and my low back started hurting. I went in to see my regular doctor and he ordered some MRIs and sent me to the Neurologist. (Since there was no apparent injury, and my more recent lumbar scans didn't show anything). The Neurologist I saw was the same one who saw me for my migraines a couple years ago. She seemed concerned about the sudden severe incontinence stuff, and wants to do more testing on the back. She also didn't like the fact that my brain scan was done without contrast so I may get another one of those depending on what the back stuff shows.

It would make a lot of sense to me if there was some nerves or something jacked up in my lower back. I've had issues with my legs hurting and feeling weak, loss of sensitivity all that stuff. It could also presumably explain the weak bladder, and signal error type things I feel (or don't feel).

Idk. The thought of having my thumb on something for a cause of my problems the last year or so is strangely relieving. I can deal with the recovery part once I have something to treat. I can look positively at this.

Meanwhile the IC stuff is off the charts. I have less control than even usual. I suspect I might be not feeling all of the sensation either since I literally feel the urge nearly while I'm wetting myself and that's it. I also noticed I seem to leak without knowing. Just a few drops at a time, but I'm not sure if I've always done that or not. Pretty thankful I have lots protection choices.

Alright thanks for listening.

_________________
Thank you kindly,
CG

You will have a lot of support here as so many of us share at least some of your neurological symptoms.

Please note that pinpointing the exact "cause" may be rather difficult. Your neurological symptoms may actually be the result of several different factors.

My neurological issues affected the bladder, but primarily my bowel, mobility, and pain. I went through several doctors before narrowing down my medical condition more accurately. I finally reached a physiatrist who was able to analyze my back and pain issues and a spinal cord rehabilitation specialist who fully understood what was happening with my bowel issues. Unfortunately, you may need to be patient.

Most of my neurological problems appear to be the joint result of traumatic injury, stenosis (narrowing of the nerve channel in the spine) in several places, and sacroiliatis (sacroiliac joint inflammation). And, of course, I am no longer in my prime.

Have your MRI scans been done yet? They should at least narrow the search for the factors affecting your neurological symptoms.

The changes in incontinence may give some hints about the spinal levels possibly involved.

Good luck with all and keep talking with us.

--John
(double incontinent)

Add my best wishes for a firm resolution for your issues. If demanding an MRI with contrast is in your power, go for it. The contrast injection was instrumental for the visualization of my back issues. Keep us informed.

Thanks Patrick and JD

JD yes a few MRIs have been done. The one by the Urologist in Feb I of my lower stuff may need to be looked at by someone else besides my Urologist. Or perhaps re-done. I kind of get the feeling something is wrong in there but he seemed to comment that things were normal. He also wanted to do surgery (Innerstim) so maybe he isn't looking at everything. Idk, but I think I need more viewers in that region. If I listen to my body it says: "hey pal, you're messed up."

I guess we'll see. For now I'm hopeful and positive. To me this is a good start.

_________________
Thank you kindly,
CG