Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Neurology (Expert Forum)
tethered cord operated
This forum is for questions and support regarding neurology issues such as: Alzheimer's Disease, ALS, Autism, Brain Cancer, Cerebral Palsy, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, MS, Neuralgia, Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, RSD, Sleep Disorders, Stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury.
Doctor's Answer
by CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT, Dec 08, 2002 12:00AM
One study reports that this is dependent on a number of factors, with the main ones being:
1) how long she had the problems with her bowel and bladder, if it's less than 5 years then there's a good chance it will come back
2)extent of untethering, meaning if it was complete or partial untethering (complete is better)
Surgery has been to shown to be helpful in both adults and children. In one pediatric studym 4/25 kids had return of bladder/bowel function and in an adult study 44% had improvement in their bowel and bladder function at 6 months. One hopeful bit of news is that at 8 years after surgery, 85% were in stable neurological condition. Talk to the surgeons and find out exactly how the surgery went, ask if it was partial or complete and discuss what the surgeon's own personal success rate is with tethered cord syndrome and bowel/bladder function. She should start to show some improvement within 6 months. GOod luck.
1) how long she had the problems with her bowel and bladder, if it's less than 5 years then there's a good chance it will come back
2)extent of untethering, meaning if it was complete or partial untethering (complete is better)
Surgery has been to shown to be helpful in both adults and children. In one pediatric studym 4/25 kids had return of bladder/bowel function and in an adult study 44% had improvement in their bowel and bladder function at 6 months. One hopeful bit of news is that at 8 years after surgery, 85% were in stable neurological condition. Talk to the surgeons and find out exactly how the surgery went, ask if it was partial or complete and discuss what the surgeon's own personal success rate is with tethered cord syndrome and bowel/bladder function. She should start to show some improvement within 6 months. GOod luck.
Good luck,
Annika
I hope it's okay to pass on references to other websites one has found helpful as a patient. I'm not involved in running this group, but simply have found it to be a good meeting-place to share information about this disorder. If there's a proscription against posting other links on this site, I hope someone will let me know so I don't unwittingly violate a rule.
Thanks,
Annika