dysmotility

I am 17 years old. I had a spinal fusion with instrumentation when I was 2 years ago for scoliosis. About 6 months after my surgery I started to have constipation and from then on it just stopped all together. I started seeing a specialist and was diagnosed with gastritis, esophagitis, slight signs of barrets esophagus. After many tests and many medications, I had a colonic motility study done showing that my colon does not move at all. I have been on pretty much every medication possible, but only ducolax seems to work. I also have delayed gastric emptying, and take reglan. I have been on ducolax for a year and Im afraid that it just might stop working. I really dont want to have surgery. I heard about a pacemaker that they can insert to stimulate the colon, is this something that will be available in the near future? Could these disorders be caused by my back surgery?

Thanks.

[Ratnakar Kini, MD]

Hi bostonbabi,
I cant say when the pacemaker will be available for treating constipation. There are enough studies which have proved its efficacy.

Regarding the cause-
The possibility of the surgery causing this problem cannot be ruled out.
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The information provided is for patients’ education only and is not a medical advice. Always consult your personal physician for complete evaluation of your health problem.

- Ratnakar Kini M.D.

[hypezgirl84]

i was recently diagnosed with colitis but your question triggered something i to am often constipated and i had scoliosis surgery 5 years and i always felt my back not being able to bend had something to do with it, perhaps theirs a correlation

[xobostonbabi24ox]

yeah that has to be something to do with it, because i was totally fine before. at first they told me that it had nothing to do with it, but now they are saying its a good possiblilty. they dont even know, but its pretty much obvious.