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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Is Bowel Incontinence Normal Having Undergone Spinal Surgeries?

My sister recently had 2 operations within 8 weeks on her spine. She is making a slow recovery at home but unfortunately the operation has left her with bowel incontinancy. When I spoke to her to ask if she had seen a specialist for her problem she told me that she hadnt and that when she was discharged from the spinal trauma unit in the hospital she wa told that her bowel problem was something that she would just have to live with.



Unfortunately my sister lives 350 from me so it is not possible for me to talk to her doctor. My question is...is this anormal side effect of that operation and is it something "She will just have to live with!!"



Look forward to hearing from you.



regards



Margaret Hillier
Fri, 2 Jan 2015
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Orthopaedic Surgeon,  's  Response
Dear caring brother
First I would like to know what surgery has been performed and at which level of spine. Was surgery done to treat spinal trauma and whether MRI spine was done prior to surgery and if done what was it's findings? If level of trauma was at dorsal or higher level then spinal cord injury itself leads to bowel and bladder incontinence. If bowel disturbance has occurred after surgery and not after trauma Then possibility of iatrogenic spinal cord trauma should be considered. If spinal cord has been damaged in any way either due to trauma or during surgery then bowel disturbance might be permanent. Kindly get an mri done if not done previously. .
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Is Bowel Incontinence Normal Having Undergone Spinal Surgeries?

Dear caring brother First I would like to know what surgery has been performed and at which level of spine. Was surgery done to treat spinal trauma and whether MRI spine was done prior to surgery and if done what was it s findings? If level of trauma was at dorsal or higher level then spinal cord injury itself leads to bowel and bladder incontinence. If bowel disturbance has occurred after surgery and not after trauma Then possibility of iatrogenic spinal cord trauma should be considered. If spinal cord has been damaged in any way either due to trauma or during surgery then bowel disturbance might be permanent. Kindly get an mri done if not done previously. .