Question
Aug. 16 2011
I'm a 40 yr old female. I took a hard fall down my steps landing on my bottom down 3 stairs (In May 20011#. I thought i broke my tail bone, so put off going to the Dr. for several weeks. Finally when I couldn't stand it any more #the pain kept worsening) I had x-rays and an M.R.I done. My findings were as follows. No break to the tail bone, but I do have allot of arthritis around the tail bone area. M.R.I. reads as follows.
L1-2 level: Normal
L2-3 level: Normal
L3-4 level: Desiccation change involves the L3 invertebral disk. The L3 disk appears intact.
L4-5 Level: Mild bulging L4 greatest in the left of midline and with possible mild encroachment upon a portion of the left neural foramen at the L4-5 level.
L5-S1 level: Normal
I went to a bone and joint specialist and was informed, everyone my age has bulging disks and to loose some weight. Since my fall i have started loosing bladder control at times. I will just stand up and, pee myself. no warning, and I can't cut off my urine flow when it starts. Twice i have lost control of my bowel. I hurt to sit or stand for any length of time. i hurt if i walk more than 4 or 5000 ft. I have stopped taking my flexeril and lortab due to stomach upset and, my bladder issuses. My G.P. said I may have a pinched nerve causing my loss of control, the bone and joint Dr. wouldn't hear of it. I am in PT 2 times a week. Do you have any ideas? I have had to quit my job due to my pain and incontinence. I am at a loss, all I am taking is naproxin, or Ibuprofen, but it is not enough. I don't know what to do. I'm miserable, and it is affecting every aspect of my life. I would really appreciate any input. Thank you

Answer

Hanna Somatic Educatio Hello, Elizabeth.

RE:  "My G.P. said I may have a pinched nerve causing my loss of control, the bone and joint Dr. wouldn't hear of it."

I agree with your G.P.

The pain of the fall triggered reflexive contraction of your spinal erector muscles ("trauma reflex")  That contraction compresses discs and causes them to bulge; and entraps nerves, causing interruption of nerve function (such as regulation of bladder control).

Please go to the following page, read to the bottom and then send for the somatic exercise offered.  Work with that (starting immediately).

If you start to get relief, as I expect you will, contact me again for a recommendation for a self-relief instructional program.

Please also see these entries:

http://somatics.com/diagnosis_and_treatment.htm
http://somatics.com/recovery_from_injury.htm
http://somatics.com/movement.htm

regard,
Lawrence Gold