Untethering of spinal cord and nerve regeneration

Hi my name is Josie. I'm a 22 yr. old female who was diagnosed with a tethered spinal cord at age 11. I had the untethering operation and unbeknowst to us it retethered. I started to lose more feeling in my left foot and I began to sometimes have bladder urge incontinence which finally prompted me to go to the doctor and get an MRI.  I just recently (10/29/07) had the untethering operation again and the operation did not go exactly as we expected.
I woke up unable to move or feel my legs from the waist down. That night, I thankfully got the movement back, but, now a month later, most of the feeling is still gone. I cannot feel my left foot and part of my right foot, or my groin/buttocks area at all. (It feels like I've been sitting in a bank of snow for several days : )  I also have to use intermittent catherization for a neurogenic bladder and I continually have bowel accidents.
I am very concerned about getting my feeling and function back (full-time nursing student).
My doctor said they "tested" all my nerves before they closed me up and all my nerves responded appropriately. He says, "hopefully they will regenerate". I have been having tingling behind my left ankle (like fizzy soda). I'm hoping this is good.
My question is:
How long does it take for nerves to regenerate?
Is there anything that will speed the process?
Also, how did they "test my nerves" during the operation to see if they still worked?
Is there any hope for me??????

As you can probably tell by the desperate edge to my voice, I am extremely worried that I made things worse by having the surgery. I would be eternally grateful if someone could answer this long-winded question. Thank You So Much!!!!!!!  
-Josie

[Caliber2005]

Hi,
You can try a Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulator, which is an electronic device that produces electrical signals used to stimulate nerves through unbroken skin. The unit is usually connected to the skin using two or more electrodes. TENS works to decrease pain perception and may be used to control acute and chronic pain.
It helps in regenerating nerve.
Nerves regenerate, or heal, at a rate 1 millimeter/day. The only nerves that can regenerate are the nerves outside of the spinal cord, or peripheral nerves. The nerves in the spinal cord, once damaged, cannot regenerate.
However, if the peripheral nerve is severely damaged or stretched it may never heal. I say give yourself 1 full year. After one year if it's still numb, that's pretty much what you will be left with.
Bye
Hope this helps you.

[Nizar]

hi my name is Nizar and I'm 37 years,I had a sleeve gastrectomy on the 16 of feb 2008, I lost about 28 kilos, I'm ahppy with the results but I still have a problem with my eating habits, I can't that much and I feel hungry and an upset stomach most of the times, my question is what is the estimated time for these symptoms to be releived and go back to my almost normal eating habits but ofcourse with less amounts.
thanks a lot for your help
Nizar

[daniele3397]

Hello my name is Daniele
i'm 32 years old and i live in Roma.
(excuse but i don't speack english well)
I am writing because 'I read what you wrote on the blog  about tethered cord.
I wanted to ask you something abaut it ?....
If you have recovered from the problems after the operation.
We ask this because i have just been diagnosed retethered a cord and i have symptoms : weakness in the legs, bladder problems and foot cable.
I was made to the birth of sacral meningocele and fortunately I have not had any serious problems.
Then at the age of 15 years have been made of tethered cord Gaslini hospital in Genoa .....
You can tell me something about it (retethered)?----
We are infinitely grateful if you can give me clarifications about ...
Good luck
Daniele greetings