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Conditions and Diseases > Back Pain Forum > Can Lyrica help Bladder Incontinence?
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Q: Can Lyrica help Bladder Incontinence?
asked by: DoctorQuestion on April 27th, 2006
I am almost 4 months out of an L4-S1 spinal fusion with titanium screws and rods and have just begun physical therapy. Ever since I got out of surgery when I am lying on my back and go to get out of bed I feel alot of heaviness in my lower back and it makes it hard to walk. It only happens if I lay on my back. My doc and therapist say that it is just weak muscles. Is this possible or should I be concered? Also I had alot of nerve damage with bladder control problems and my doc says the bladder problem is from nerve damage and has put me Lyrica 50 mg. twice a day. Can the Lyrica really help my bladder problem? It has already begun to help the nerve pain.


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Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov , MD
replied on May 26th, 2006
Back Pain Answer A973
Four months without any physical activity can cause atrophy and weakness in muscles; therefore, normal post-surgical atrophy can be the cause for your current discomfort. Lyrica is a medication used for treating neural pain. In your case, the neural pain is being caused by pressure on the spinal nerves by degenerated inter-vertebral disks. In my opinion, Lyrica will not help bladder incontinence. Bladder control is a complicated reflex mechanism that includes sensitive and motor vegetative nerves. These nerves needs at least 6 months for recovery. Sometimes, if the pressure on the nerves lasts too long, the damages are irreversible. Therefore, you can consult with your surgeon and therapist and identify solutions for bladder control.


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