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PN
08-31-2001, 01:23 PM
carol
Spinal Cord Problem Please help

I am a female spinal cord injury, c5-6 with sensation.

I have had a vaginal burning problem for the last ten years. It was occasional but is now daily. Gynecologists have been putting me on vaginal creams. They have also been putting me on antibiotics since my urine cultures show bacteria (common for spinal cord with a catheter).

My doctor says my vaginal problem is related to the catheter. The creams and antibiotic's use to work for a few days, now nothing works to stop the pain.

I have had other doctors tell me the problem is neurological .I took Elavil, which is an antidepressant. It put sediment in my urine .I took Diflucan to stop the sediment in the urine. I have been having a reaction of high blood pressure to the diflucan and antibiotic's. My blood pressure has been as high as 150, norm for me lately is 60-70 range. The catheter due to sediment now only drains while lying in bed and sitting up in a commode chair. It won't drain sitting up in my regular chair. I started taking adophilus and my urine is clear lying in bed, but still drains slow sitting up in my Jay Quicke chair.

I haven't been able to get out of my apartment or go outside for almost a 9 months now with but a few exceptions.

I had the same problem back in April and May of 2000 and was stuck in bed for 6 weeks that time. I went to an Urologist and he did a cystoscopy exam for stones, the test showed none. He then told me that my problem was positional and to go home and stay in bed.

It took my family doctor 6 weeks later to find out I had yeast in my urine from all the antibiotic's I was on and prescribed 150 mg. of Diflucan for 5 days. It cleared the sediment and I was able to get up and go out again. However this weakened me and I have had what is believed to be muscle tension headaches every day since August 1st ,2000.

I go for my yearly check up at Craig, Spinal Cord Hospital in Englewood, Colorado, and have been going there since 1980 when I was injured in a car accident. They always told me to call whenever I had a problem. Back in April 2000 they said they have never heard of my problem and to give them a call when I figured out what it was. I realize it is hard to treat someone 2000 miles away. They are the specialists who have been treating me for 20 years. I didn't know who else to turn to as the local doctors are passing me around and have no idea what's really wrong.

My gynecologist here, called the urologist at Craig when I started having the problem again in november of 2000 . My personal attendant and I harassed him until he did call. I was told to get off the antibiotic's, since I will always show a bacterial infection with a catheter. As long as I'm not running a fever I don't need to be on them. The only thing the urologist at Craig can suggest is to get another cystoscopy exam for stones. I'm sure the test will not show any stones and leave me right where I was before.
The doctor saying it is a mechanical positioning problem - and me in bed with no help again.

I NEED HELP PLEASE. Is their anyone who is a spinal cord injury who has heard of this problem or who has had something similar and has found a solution? Please email it to me at: mailto:therose11@juno.com

Carol

SCI-Nurse
08-31-2001, 05:03 PM
This is an identical post to one that was put on the old Spinewire board about 1 1/2 years ago, except the dates are changed. There were many suggestions made at that time. Do we know that this person is actually a user of this new board and if these problems are still unresolved? (KLD)

PN
09-01-2001, 05:44 PM
Thanks KLD I put all of the information to Carol in an E-mail and I have sent it to her. This letter from Carol was brought to my attention last Monday. In the E-mail I have suggested to her that if this is a re-occurring problem to post her issues on Carecure.

PN

therose11
09-06-2001, 08:29 PM
Hi KLD,

Yes I am still having the same problem. I am looking into seating positioning as the 3 uroligists have been no help at all.I am going to a local therapist at Allied Sevices in Scranton,PA. She at this point doesn't know what will help but is trying to come up with some solutions for me, since I've been in bed 9 months now and getting weaker.

If you could refresh me on some ideas I could pass on to her it might be a help.

Thank you,

carol

SCI-Nurse
09-07-2001, 05:50 AM
To determine if the pain is related to mechanical irritation due to the catheter, you may want to investigate having a suprapubic tube placed. A S/P tube drains your bladder through your abdomen, getting the tube away from your groin. This may help to separate the possible cause of pain - mechanical vs. neurological. Additionally, many people find a S/P tube to be a preferable method of bladder managment.(jah)