sociologygeek,
My guess is that you have neurogenic bladder. Just about any neurological disease or dysfunction can eventually affect bladder control. The problem is that medical science is not even close to solving these diseases, although it routinely cures cancers and infectious diseases, and heart surgery is commonplace these days. My guess is that, if it is a neurological dysfunction, eventually other peripheral nerves may be affected. Meanwhile, become skilled in incontinence management, and keep in touch. Good luck.

I was just diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy in both arms and legs and have to use a cane. I have had incontinence problems for yrs but it has gotten worse lately. The neurologist said incontinence is a problem that you have with the neuropathy. She said right now there is nothing they can do for me. So far 2009 is not turning out very good for me, lets hope it gets better for all of us as the year goes on.

I have neuropathy in my feet to my mid calf (idiopathic). I have bladder and bowel incontinence (not fun at all!!). I have a laminectomy and spinal fusion L4-5 and S1. I blame my neuropathy and incontinence on the surgery because that is when I first noticed the neuropathy. Which came first I do not know. The surgery was for spinal stenosis. There is not very much I have found you can do for the incontinence.

On a lighter note - I had RAI (radioactive iodine) treatment for an overactive thyroid. Because I wear pads every day I had to keep the used ones for 90 days befre disposing because when they are put in the trash they can set off detectors in the waste area!!!
Best of luck

lol Taina! That's funny.. radioactive diapers..

I have had Ploy Neuropathy for about 8 years but because I was first dx'ed with fibro my doctors don't take me serious so I come here to find out stuff I think I need to know. I had a epidurial 7 months ago and 6 months ago I got the worst stomach ache of my life. Now I have bowel and bladder problems but once again I'm not getting much help on it from these doctors. The stomach ache gets so bad I can be put in bed for over a week, the burn is awful.

I think the epidural did this to me because before this I had a few side effects from pain meds but never like this. I need to be near a bathroom 80% of my time now "just in case"....hope you feel better!!

Hugs, V

Thankfully, my bowel control is intact..at this point..it could be gone eventually too..i hope not!

I have bladder and bowel neuropathy also, I most of the time wear adult diapers. It's very inconvenient but, saves on embarrassment. I have ideopathic peripheral neuropathy from my head to my toes. I can't feel sharps or hot/cold I can feel touch. I do have numb feeling that roams from my legs to my trunk to my arms etc. Good Luck to you. Tom

Well shoot..blood tests came back normal, theres no other test the neurolgist can think of.. when asked whether my incontinence is related to the neuropathy, he said its possible. Have to go to the urologist for testing to find out for sure..

Correction, there are no more test the urologist can run that they havent run. It is confirmed that the neuropathy is the culprit behind my incontontinence, because when they did urodynamics, the nurse got the impression that i have a hypersensitive bladder. She wondered if something neruological was going on. Sure enough, there is, as we now know. Question is now, what do we do about the incontience? Drugs havent helped a whole lot.. and they suggested InterStim therapy.