too much bupivacaine caused me to have problems retaining my urine***

[chynashyne]

I had surgery on my knee and was sent home with a pain pump with a constant flow of bupivacaine .. less than 24 hr. I start to show all the serious side effects hallousinations, convoltions, low heart rate w/shallow breathing ,low pottassium ect. urinating on myself repeatly   continued in an out the hospital for  3 days until they figured out it was the medication in the pump i was told all the side effects would go away 3-7 days after all the medication was out of my system when some symptoms were stiil present they told me to give it more time ... im still exp. urinary problems burning sensations in limbs .... please  respond at your earliest conv. thanks in advance!

[David A Burks, MD]

HI,  I assume that this pump was given for post-op pain control and the pump was implanted in your spine.  It is not uncommon for patients given a spinal anesthetic to have bladder control problems, especially urinary retention.  It comes from a prolonged anesthetic effect on the nerves in the lumbar and sacral spine that control the bladder (and the legs).  It is true that the effect will resolve spontaneously , but I've seen cases of prolonged retention (months).  If you are retaining significant amounts of urine in your  bladder you need to see a Urologist and be taught intermittent catheterization.  You pass a catheter into your bladder while sitting on the toilet, drain the urine and immediately take it out.  You do this 3-4 times per day until your bladder starts working again and you empty it completely. Assuming you had normal bladder function at the start bladder function should return to baseline.  Try to avoid a long term catheter in your bladder.  Good Luck.