Dear members and doctors,

Wondering if any of your experienced or heard about case of chronic bowel constipation after spinal fusion?

Regards.

Hello,
I placed a copy of this post on the spinal disorders forum also.
In case others there had similar experiences.
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum22.html

Some of them are notorious for 'clogging' things up terribly.
To help with this, start out with Colace or PeriColace and lots of fresh fruit and/or a high fiber cereal such as Fiber One http://www.fiberone.com/product/cereals.aspx -This one packs the most benefit for the least amout of cereal. I only need a half cup of the 'original version' to work things thru.
Having been on serious pain meds for extended periods of time, I have to tell you that taking such precautions are essential to avoiding other colon issues in the long term!
Avoiding this problem by starting BEFORE any procedures is pointless now? But if, in the future you are going to have more or any other type of surgery? Start a week before...just to keep things happy and life painless.
Now, if you have issues about eating some fruits or fiber cereals [diabetes or gluten, for example]? I guess you should check out Gluten issues and diabetic issues in those forums.
It's not FUN! It's worrisome and at times painful. Precautions are the best way to avoid these things... And, you need those pain meds until you are healed. I hope both will become non-issues and soon! - j 's

Please don't get me wrong, but we are sure and 100% positive this is not caused by food or meds. We are talking about neural injury or nerve manipulation during surgery which affected bowel sensation, and I am looking for people with similar experiences.

X-Ray, MRI and EMG show no visible nerve compression or disorder that would be responsible for this condition.

If you look at the vertebrae/spinal levels on this chart you will see the corresponding body part that may show affects of a injury.

What levels were fused?

you may have to save & enlarge it to read easier. Or hit Crtl & plus sign a few times to enlarge.

Sacral nerves are "in charge" of bowel. However, EMG shows minor damages. Nothing that could relate to this type of problem (severe chronic constipation).

Fusion was at L3-L4.

My uncle Ron is in agony after his spinal fusion surgery. He cant have bowel movements and the doctors dont know what to tell him. If you find any cures for this type of nerve damage please let me know...