Back Pain and Bladder Control
The back is made up of vertebrae (twenty-four bones) that bear the weight of the upper part of the body and form a canal for the spinal cord. The invertebral discs serve as soft protective pad for the bones and allow the spine to bend. There are also ligaments that sustain the vertebrae and discs together. Tendons link the muscles to the bones. The spinal cord transmits signals from the brain to the different parts of the body. And the back has also muscles and nerves.
Back pain is common. The pain seems to occur anywhere in the back but usually the most common type of back pain happens in the lower part of the body. When experiencing back pain our instinct is to have bed rest. There’s a misunderstanding about bed rest and back pain. It is not usually suggested to have bed rest for a long period of time if you have back pain. When sleeping, the recommended position is the fetal position with pillows in between the legs or placed a pillow below the knees when sleeping on your back to relieve pressure.
When the symptoms involved tingling sensation in the knees into the calf or foot and there’s pain and numbness, the nerve may be affected. New complication with back pain and bladder control may increase. The problems with the back may also refer to a more severe injury in the bowel and bladder and symptoms persist even with treatment. There’s weakness of the legs and lifting of the foot would be difficult.
One problem associated with back pain and loss of bladder control is Cauda Equina Syndrome. This can lead to permanent loss of sensation in the lower spine areas. Another is tumor located near the spine can also cause back pain, loss of bladder control and changes in bowel habits. It is therefore recommended to call medical attention if you are experiencing back pain and bladder or bowel changes.
