What Causes Urinary Retention Post A Back Surgery?

Posted on Thu, 28 Jan 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Thu, 28 Jan 2016 Answered on

Thu, 31 Mar 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : I recently had back surgery and surgery went well but I can no longer urinate and am wearing a cather is there help for this . thank you
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Answered by Dr. Shoaib Khan (1 hour later)

Brief Answer:
Requesting operation details please

Detailed Answer:
Hello sir and welcome.

Thank you for writing to us.

I have gone through your query with diligence and would like you to know that I am here to help. Surgery to the back is indeed quite intricate and complicated. There are numerous innervations that need to be taken care of while operating, and some reflexes can take time to return to normal even a while after surgery.

Normally, after each surgery the first few days patients do remain on a catheter until they can urinate on their own. But as yours was surgery on the back (although it would help to know what kind of surgery it was exactly, and to which part), it may take some more time until your micturition returns to normal. But then there also exists a possibility that the reflex may be lost (I cannot be sure, as I have absolutely no information on the type of surgery conducted).

May be if you can share more details on the surgery, site, type of surgery, success rate, diagnosis, etc; I can provide a more accurate comment and/or guidance on the topic.

I hope I have explained things in a manner best understood by you. Please do not hesitate to write to me for any further clarifications, I am always here to help.

Best wishes.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar