First post -- lots of questions--need help/advice

Hi Compiler. Welcome. I'm sorry we've had to meet under these circumstances. About the bladder, please don't let that back up. Definitely have your catheter ready at all times. I used to prefer cathing every four hours, but now I just wear diapers. I still have my cathing kit nearby.

I don't take baclofen any more because I read the side effects and didn't like them. Others will be waking up soon and will greet you.

Hello compliler and welcome to our most exclusive club. At barely 3 months from your injury that sense that your nerves are sending bizarre, incomprehensible and alarming signals will be with you for awhile. For me, all the zapping, tingling , cold and numbness felt normal after, oh, a couple of years. I remember feeling deeply alarmed by it for a long time. If your 6 weeks of rehab left you unprepared and uninformed about bowel and bladder issues I wish I could say I'm surprised, yet it is also true that so close to the date of injury your nurses could not have been certain how things would settle for you. In fact, things could still change a lot.

Since you are having so many night-time interruptions with urination investigate the use of a condom catheter for night use. Someone just mentioned it in another thread today:
www.coloplast.us/freedom-clear-advantage-en-us.aspx#PRODUCTBRANDNAMEWEB=Freedom%C2%AE&PRODUCTCONDITION=&PRODUCTWOUNDCONDITION=&PRODUCTSKINCONDITION=&PRODUCTOUTPUTTYPE=&PRODUCTPREFERREDPOUCHINGSYSTEM=&PRODUCTWOUNDTYPE=&PRODUCTPURPOSE=&PRODUCTTECHNOLOGY=&PRODUCTSYMPTOM=&PRODUCTUSERPROFILE=

My dad used to just keep a plastic urinal bottle next to his bed. Heavy night time urination is not so very unusual. If the medicine is not working, get off it, though I believe that one takes a few weeks to kick in full force. I had no luck with it myself. If you can stay off intermittent catheterization that is great. You will likely suffer many fewer UTIs if your bladder is emptying fairly well. The best test is if you stay healthy! The condom cath introduces nothing to your bladder- its just a sleeve that fits over your penis with a mild 'glue' and attaches to a bag. Night-time use only seems a natural fit for you at present. You will need a urologists script, or your family practice person can prescribe it.

The problem you are having with your bowels is completely normal with spinal cord injuries. About 90% of SCIs suffer neurogenic bowel and bladder problems. Most of us reach an dependable 'accommodation' after 6 months to a year, but each of us is different. This is where good rehab is important, yet still most of us don't get it sorted before leaving rehab and learn on these internet forums. You will get it, I promise, but it will likely never be like it was before.

Things to try?

1) Go at the same time every day. A regular schedule is crucial for almost all of us. Same time every day.

2) digital stimulation. Buy some vinyl gloves, use some petroleum jelly and insert your finger about an inch into the rectum to stimulate gently. This works well for many people, especially if diet is good and stool consistency healthy. Stimulate for 15-30 seconds, then wait a few minutes. Repeat. You will need some baby wipes for this! If you get frustrated that means it is not likely to work at the moment.

3) Bisacodyl suppositories –often followed by digital stimulation. A brand called 'magic bullet' works pretty quickly and is available on the internet. 

4) Enemeez

The impairment of hand function is far and away your most severe problem, but you know that. We can’t take care of ourselves without hands. In many ways Central Cord Syndrome is one of the worse forms of SCI. That said, my own hand function was limited on the right and really bad on the left at 3 months. If I’d worked 3 times as hard on hand rehab instead of putting walking first I would have been much better off. Work your hands just as much as you can- push yourself over and over, 3 or more times a day. Do your hands claw up?

If you do not have enough hand function for the digital stim mentioned above there are a few ‘tools’ you can try that do not require finger function.
Keep working at hand function for years before you are tempted to give up, ok?

Spasms- we have a member, Moco,
inspiredsciforum.com/user/957
who may be a help to you. Her husband Pete has struggled with similar challenges and come a long way.

Can you describe the night problem you had on baclofen?
Gabapentin usually helps more with the strange nerve sensations than with spasms, per se, but it can act in tandem with baclofen to reduce spasms. One must find a balance, as you say, between reducing spasms enough to let you use your muscles voluntarily, without sapping the muscles of all strength. Experimentation is needed but to do so you have to keep good records. Make notes every day about your function. This will not only help you, but also help your doctor.
I personally do pretty well on a combination of baclofen and gabapentin, but message Moco- she and hubby Pete have worked about 5 years now fine tuning a regimen of drugs and exercise that allows Pete to continually improve.

That is more than enough from me. Welcome aboard and don’t let it get you down.
PS- for sit to stand, a few people find ways to dependably trigger spasms that actually help them stand up. You just never know what wonders lurk near your walker…

Thanks for the responses.
Outlier: what is "B and B"?
Tetra -- my problem with Baclofen is that I was having weird dreams and getting very agitated at night, scaring my wife.


We might try Baclofen again.

BUT HOW DO I GET OFF THE TIZANADINE AND ON TO THE BAC? STOP ONE COMPLETELY AND ADD THE OTHER?

Incidentally, I'm on hormone therapy for prostate cancer. Works great but lowers my testosterone. As a result, muscles have issues and that is happening here, I'm sure.

Bladder issues seem to be improving. I think using the urinal while lying down contributes to the problem. If I can climb out of bed and get to the walker and pee standing up, I empty my bladder more completely.

Mel

compiler, from a fellow Michigander. I live in the U.P. All I can add is I didn't have any luck with Gabapentin, if fact I remember thinking it made the tingling more intense. Many here have success with it, another option may be Lyrica. Congrats on the bladder coming back, thats huge

So, what is gabapentin supposed to do?

I am up to 400 mg 3 times a day, and I think it is useless.

I'll give it 10 days or so and then maybe taper down



mel