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Suffer From Spondylolis, Thecal Sac Compression. Bladder Seems Full, Urinate On Own After Lying Down At Night. How To Fix It ?
I suffer from spondylolisthesis and have thecal sac compression along with no discernible disc material from my lumbar spine xrays, mri's and cat scan. my bladder feels extremely full all the time and I need to catheterize myself, but rarely get much out. I urinate on my own mostly at night after I lie down. is there any hope to fix this?? neurosurgeon says as long as I am not in excruciating pain he will not operate as I have had a previous laminectomy and he says I need spinal fusion now, which would not be a guarantee of fixing my bladder problems. is there a way for my bladder to funcition normally without an operation????
Fri, 2 Aug 2013
Hello and welcome to HCM,
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which the vertebrae slides over the underlying vertebrae or underlying vertebral column.
This displacement causes compression of nerves emanating from the spinal cord.
Urinary bladder is supplied by nerve roots S1-S3.
If the displacement is at the level of S1-S3, bladder will be affected.
The symptoms that you have mentioned are of neurogenic bladder.
The bladder function is controlled by voiding pressure, amount of stretch in the bladder and wall, and sensation of the stretch.
Failure in any of these function will result in abnormal bladder functioning.
Your history suggests that your bladder has lost the ability to sense the voiding pressure and along with it there is stress incontinence.
The displacement of the vertebrae has to be fixed surgically.
Decompression of the nerves will revert the functions of the bladder.
However, improvement will depend on the degree of damage caused.
If the damage is irreversible, the bladder symptoms may not revert completely.
Follow your neurosurgeon for further management.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which the vertebrae slides over the underlying vertebrae or underlying vertebral column.
This displacement causes compression of nerves emanating from the spinal cord.
Urinary bladder is supplied by nerve roots S1-S3.
If the displacement is at the level of S1-S3, bladder will be affected.
The symptoms that you have mentioned are of neurogenic bladder.
The bladder function is controlled by voiding pressure, amount of stretch in the bladder and wall, and sensation of the stretch.
Failure in any of these function will result in abnormal bladder functioning.
Your history suggests that your bladder has lost the ability to sense the voiding pressure and along with it there is stress incontinence.
The displacement of the vertebrae has to be fixed surgically.
Decompression of the nerves will revert the functions of the bladder.
However, improvement will depend on the degree of damage caused.
If the damage is irreversible, the bladder symptoms may not revert completely.
Follow your neurosurgeon for further management.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
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