Veteran son in MVA 11/11 and caths get old... his neck was rebuilt and 2 fractures in back are stable. He is regaining strength and can turn in bed, right side stronger, can sit EOB, standing is minimal so far... any advice is appreciated. Anons have proven these last several years especially, success stories often come from one another rather than clinicians. Any ideas on tibial nerve stimulation? (yes, I'm grasping at straws)
Comments (16)
sorted by:
I had neurogenic bladder after cancer treatments 11 years ago. All I can say is that it got better in time, but I had to make a conscious effort to always know where the bathroom was at any given location I went to. At first there were "surprise" episodes of urgency as my bladder was not sending messages to the brain in time, just a sudden need to go and so I WENT!! Over time such episodes stopped, and I hope your son has the same experience. It's frustrating, but for me time was the healer.
Thank you for taking the time to post. Glad your cancer treatments worked - I find your posts interesting, entertaining and honest. Nice to meet you. :)
Thank you, you are too kind.
So glad you asked the question. Many, many frens here; all eager to help. Reading these threads has given me a lifetime of experiences to draw off of.
Thank you to all the wonderous frens out there; you are helping far more people than you know.
Tens unit? We use this to control pain with my son. I know from experience that it can cause spasms. I am wondering if you can use an exterior point to create a spasm that will trigger the bladder. If nothing else it really helps with pain. I will see if I can find anything
Tens unit was where my mind was going as PT left the unit at bedside and told me 'keep sticking it somewhere to get muscles firing' (of course used a better clinical directive)... I just wonder WHERE to place electrodes for effect for this issue... do you have any idea?
This is for overactive bladder but it is a start toward finding the right cluster for application I will keep looking - I am doing research on my son’s pediatric cancer and I can definitely add this as I look through journals if I come across anything I will be happy to message you. It might take a while it is kinda hard to search specific issues in these journals. I tend to have to skim them to dig out the information I need buried under a different study so I don’t mind at all should I find something helpful.
https://ppfp.com.au/tens-a-simple-treatment-for-overactive-bladder/
Yes, GA is full of really smart and helpful frogs… but I’ve seen prayers (asked for) here move mountains.
(Have you checked into pelvic floor disorder?) Also, reddit (spit) is a great place to find medical answers, treatments, alternatives, what did and didn’t work from people who aren’t getting answers from their medical community. There is a wealth of medical information (and alternatives) there.
You don’t have to sign up to read…only to post.
And prayers up for your son.
If you haven't already looked into peptide therapy, it would be really beneficial for all the healing needed. Peptides TB 500 and BPC 157 would be my recommendation.
Thanks... I looked it up and a person using this discussed injections and po. I doubt the VA where son is going would be onboard with this treatment but if it's pills, I'd be able to get it to him.
Sorry to hear this and prayers for your son. I went through ACDF surgery back in 2020. I had Cervical radiculopathy on my left side and loss use of my left arm. I was in terrible pain months before the surgery because of the severe Impingement on the spinal cord in my neck. During that time I had a bladder issue. I would have a slight urge to go to the bathroom and by the time I made it to the bathroom it was almost too late every time. I almost pissed my pants so many times, I lost count. A few of those times I just went right into the shower because I knew I would not make it. It was like my brain and bladder were not communicating properly. It was several months after the surgery before things started to get back to normal. Is he VA? If so, keep bringing it up until it gets addressed. Unfortunately that is how the VA works sometimes. I'm a Vet as well. Had my surgery at the WPB VA in FL.
Wow...that is my sons surgery and linlmitations except he cannot void yet, just has sensation of full bladder! He is at a regular hospital now, transferring to Dallas SCI program within the next few days.
Near infrared light therapy. Can’t hurt may help. Easy to try.
Thanks...they scan his bladder before cathing so it seems similar...I'll definitely ask
Ask that he be referred to a pelvic floor physical therapist.
Is he able to sit independently or sit in a high back chair with support? It is easier to void in a sitting position. Running water-the sound, often elicits spontaneous voiding, likewise placing hands in a pan of warm water. There are external catheters that can be applied, rather than an internal. So if he is able to relax the urinary sphincter to release urine, but has zero control over when it occurs, this will at least help prevent needing an internal catheter, which is a risk for introducing infection. Down the road, he can be taught exercises to train for sphincter muscle control. When, and if he is able to sit, sitting in a sitz tub (a plastic pan which holds warm water, fits on the toilet rim with the toilet seat up, and has a bag filled with warm water for a continual 10-15 minute flow of warm water) helps to result in spontaneous urine flow. Also sitting in a shower chair in the shower with the shower running over the body helps. (I assume he is either in a skilled care facility or rehab facility that has a shower chair and a shower large enough to wheel him in.) Also trying to attempt voiding on a regular schedule every 2-3 hours during the day helps, and then use the external catheter at night. Also crede of the bladder helps release urine-gently pressing over the bladder are while trying to void. Playing an APP with rain sounds functions similar to running water in the bathroom sink or shower. The sound relaxes one and facilitates voiding. I hope you find some of the suggestions helpful. I wish your son a full recovery. It takes time, but thinking in terms of baby steps is helpful. I have seen many patients make miraculous recoveries in the right rehab facility with caring personnel from physical and occupational therapy. I will keep you all in my prayers. Years ago, in my early nursing career, we would use spirits of peppermint on a cotton ball placed in a bedpan to facilitate voiding, rather than having to catherize. It often helped.