chronic constipation

[martyo]

ever since I had back surgery at the L4/L5 &  L5/S1 level, I find it almost impossible to move my bowels normally.  I need some sort of stimulant such as a suppository. Milk of Mg or other water withdrawing substances are not very effective. Is ther any chance of nerve involvement?

[Conch1]

Meanwhile...............you might want to try Lucy's Labueo Dieters Tea. One cup at night and you'll be ok by morning. My spelling if off but they sell it at the Health Food store and the clerk will know. I've been on it 15 years with no adverse effects and still only one tea bag is needed.

[stormcloudfyre]

Constipation  associated to a diskEctomy at L4/5.  Can be neurological. However, many  pain medications  commonly used to trereat residual pain are opiat in base  Codeine and Morphine  base are in themselves seriously constipative.  
I have had diskectomies  L4/5 L5/S1.  Recovered very well with  some Seriously  strenuous  Physical  exercise heavy weiht liftin and  cycling. On;ly to  destroy it all in a  Fall where I  Fractured  L1,2,3,4,5  and   ruptured T8/9 Disk. the use of  opiate drus to control pain  was   devestatin and caused serious  constipation.  
Resolution came when I was  treated for a serious headache that wont go away. I was put on  Gabbapentin and given  a maximum dose to work up to to control the headache of  3600 MGs a day  Max.  at 1200  Mgs a day  I was  recieveing   relief of the headache  and I was reducing my intake of   Codiene From 400 mgs a day gradually down to  0  and now 1t 1600  Mgs a day of Gabbapentin.  My back pain wasa  reduced to an occaisional  Tylenol 3 for  that   ONE BAD MOVE you make.
This WAS MY  WAY out of CONSTIPATION AND PAIN.  
VITAL::
SHOULD you discuss this with your Doctor  I recomen d you give the Gabbapentin 30 days to work  It is NOt a  typicla pain  reliever it is a PAIN BLOCKER or  preventitive. It must be taken  on schedule each day  the same as antibiotic.  IF you miss a dose you wil be in pain.  and it wil take several days to  return to control.
Taking Such  pain  treatments requires diligence and  patience for it to begin to work.  Many people Failt o realize the  process by which this  method of pain control works.  
This is a thought and it may  be the root cause and  cure of your  Constipation

  Best of luck  
http://brainchat.org     for some fun

Peter.

[CCF-Neuro-M.D.-JT]

Possible, but usually there are other symptoms like bladder involvement and impaired sexual function (erectile dysfunction if you're a man). Depending on where the problem is, sometimes there is also associated pain. Talk to your neurosurgeon and consider seeing a neurologist for a formal examination. In the meantime, there is what's called the "rancho recipe" for constipation in neurological patients. It's a cup of bran, a cup of prune juice, and a cup of applesauce mixed together. Refrigerate and take 2 tbsp every morning. Keeps for 2 weeks. Good luck.