Can Lyrica help Bladder Incontinence? Posted: 04-27-06 08:49am
I am almost 4 months out of an L4-S1
spinal fusion with titanium screws and
rods and have just begun physical therapy.
Ever since I got out of surgery when I am
lying on my back and go to get out of bed
I feel alot of heaviness in my lower back
and it makes it hard to walk. It only
happens if I lay on my back. My doc and
therapist say that it is just weak
muscles. Is this possible or should I be
concered? Also I had alot of nerve damage
with bladder control problems and my doc
says the bladder problem is from nerve
damage and has put me Lyrica 50 mg. twice
a day. Can the Lyrica really help my
bladder problem? It has already begun to
help the nerve pain.
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DoctorAnswer
Doctor Answer
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Back Pain Answer A973 Posted: 05-26-06 05:52am
Four months without any physical activity
can cause atrophy and weakness in muscles;
therefore, normal post-surgical atrophy
can be the cause for your current
discomfort. Lyrica is a medication used
for treating neural pain. In your case,
the neural pain is being caused by
pressure on the spinal nerves by
degenerated inter-vertebral disks. In my
opinion, Lyrica will not help bladder
incontinence. Bladder control is a
complicated reflex mechanism that includes
sensitive and motor vegetative nerves.
These nerves needs at least 6 months for
recovery. Sometimes, if the pressure on
the nerves lasts too long, the damages are
irreversible. Therefore, you can consult
with your surgeon and therapist and
identify solutions for bladder
control.
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