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What Causes Difficulty In Passing Urine After A Back Surgery?

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Posted on Tue, 29 Sep 2015
Question: I had back surgery on 9/3 and couldn't urinate. A catheter was inserted on 9/4 and removed yesterday, 9/8. since then I really haven't been able to urinate much. It feels as though I have to go but only a very weak stream, if anything occurs. Is there anything that can be done to encourage normal urine flow?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Matthew J. Mangat (23 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Prostate gland enlargement is likely cause for problem.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXX and welcome to HCM.
As an Urologist, i can fully understand your concern.
An expert opinion can be given, after you reveal some essential details.
1. What was the back surgery done ? Do you mean spinal surgery.
2. Did you have a catheter after surgery. From 9.3.15. to 9.4.15, how was the difficulty in passing urine treated.
At your age, a prostate gland enlargement, causing urine flow obstruction, is very likely. You will need to do certain tests to know the cause for your symptoms.
1. urine routine and culture, and urine flow rate test.
2. blood creatinine, sugar, PSA, and ultrasound scan of abdomen.
In the meantime, you may start Tamsulosin at bedtime.
You can contact me with the reports.
wish you well.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Matthew J. Mangat (40 minutes later)
Doctor, thank you for your reply. I had microdiscectomy in the lower back on 9/3. A catheter was not used immediately after surgery. For the first 24 hours after surgery there was an increasing urgency felt to urinate, but no ability. There was no treatment during that initial period - the expectation was that normal function would return. I have some minor prostate gland enlargement, but no problems existed in the past.
XXXX
doctor
Answered by Dr. Matthew J. Mangat (14 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
You're welcome.

Detailed Answer:
Hi again.
As expected, the culprit is your prostate gland.
Go ahead and send the reports as mentioned in my earlier reply.
You're going through, what we see daily in the hospital.
Don't worry. Everything will be fine soon.
Take care.
Note: Consult a Urologist online for consultation about prostate and bladder problems, sexual dysfunction, kidney stones, prostate enlargement, urinary incontinence, impotence and erectile dysfunction - Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. Matthew J. Mangat

Urologist

Practicing since :1981

Answered : 1898 Questions

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What Causes Difficulty In Passing Urine After A Back Surgery?

Brief Answer: Prostate gland enlargement is likely cause for problem. Detailed Answer: Hello XXXX and welcome to HCM. As an Urologist, i can fully understand your concern. An expert opinion can be given, after you reveal some essential details. 1. What was the back surgery done ? Do you mean spinal surgery. 2. Did you have a catheter after surgery. From 9.3.15. to 9.4.15, how was the difficulty in passing urine treated. At your age, a prostate gland enlargement, causing urine flow obstruction, is very likely. You will need to do certain tests to know the cause for your symptoms. 1. urine routine and culture, and urine flow rate test. 2. blood creatinine, sugar, PSA, and ultrasound scan of abdomen. In the meantime, you may start Tamsulosin at bedtime. You can contact me with the reports. wish you well.