5 yr. old w/diminshed sacral nerve responses, mom(thats me!) needs HELP!

Nurses General Nursing

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Hey all

This is very surreal to me, i took my son (he's 5) to the Dr. on Tuesday because he has suddenly become incontinent. Wetting himself several times a day. The Dr. checked sacral nerve reflexes and they were severly diminished which got us a trip to radiology thinking maybe he had a bowel obstruction, (leaving me to wonder whether I was really cut out to be a nurse since I missed something that major in my own child!) anyway, the x-rays were normal so we have to go for an MRI on the 19th to see if there is a growth or a possible alternate reason for this nerve damage. Have any of you ever seen anything like this before? I know I shouldn't even be asking because its projecting but as a student nurse my knowledge is working aginst me here. When they said the x-ray was normal I got very upset because I know what the alternatives are. BUT I don't know all of them and I don't know all of the physiological etiologies either. I need your experience and expertise, please help me.I am very worried that my child may be incontinent for the rest of his life, or worse...anything info. you guys can provide would be great. thanks

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Specializes in Family.
Hey all

This is very surreal to me, i took my son (he's 5) to the Dr. on Tuesday because he has suddenly become incontinent. Wetting himself several times a day. The Dr. checked sacral nerve reflexes and they were severly diminished which got us a trip to radiology thinking maybe he had a bowel obstruction, (leaving me to wonder whether I was really cut out to be a nurse since I missed something that major in my own child!) anyway, the x-rays were normal so we have to go for an MRI on the 19th to see if there is a growth or a possible alternate reason for this nerve damage. Have any of you ever seen anything like this before? I know I shouldn't even be asking because its projecting but as a student nurse my knowledge is working aginst me here. When they said the x-ray was normal I got very upset because I know what the alternatives are. BUT I don't know all of them and I don't know all of the physiological etiologies either. I need your experience and expertise, please help me.I am very worried that my child may be incontinent for the rest of his life, or worse...anything info. you guys can provide would be great. thanks

I'm praying it's not anything serious. I wish I knew more about this to give you some advice. I have only heard of children becoming incontinent of feces from holding it in all the time, but nothing involving urine.

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Hey all

This is very surreal to me, i took my son (he's 5) to the Dr. on Tuesday because he has suddenly become incontinent. Wetting himself several times a day. The Dr. checked sacral nerve reflexes and they were severly diminished which got us a trip to radiology thinking maybe he had a bowel obstruction, (leaving me to wonder whether I was really cut out to be a nurse since I missed something that major in my own child!) anyway, the x-rays were normal so we have to go for an MRI on the 19th to see if there is a growth or a possible alternate reason for this nerve damage. Have any of you ever seen anything like this before? I know I shouldn't even be asking because its projecting but as a student nurse my knowledge is working aginst me here. When they said the x-ray was normal I got very upset because I know what the alternatives are. BUT I don't know all of them and I don't know all of the physiological etiologies either. I need your experience and expertise, please help me.I am very worried that my child may be incontinent for the rest of his life, or worse...anything info. you guys can provide would be great. thanks

Hello, skimamatootsie,:balloons:

The only experience I have had with this is in individuals who have received trauma to the lower back (resulting in disc herniation/rupture) or chronic and extreme low back pain, etiology unknown, or imperforate orifice. It usually results in fecal incontinence, not urinary. This was improved with anal electrode stimulation.

I wish I had a better answer for you that related exactly to this issue. I will keep you and your son in my prayers.

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Specializes in Surgical Intensive Care.

You and your son are in my thoughts and prayers, please keep us posted and educate us further. God Bless.

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Hi skimamatootsie,

I'm sorry that you are going through this. I'll be praying for you and your son when you have the MRI on the 19th. I hope that they find something that can be treated relatively easily. Sorry I can't offer more than that... ((hugs))

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Specializes in Case Management.
Hey all

Hugs and prayers for you and your little boy :icon_hug:

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Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

My wish for you is that all comes out well.

I sure hope that some miracle happens that you guys can get that MRI before the 19th. I am sure that seems like an eternity for you.

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Thank you all for your encouragement and prayers. It really means the world to me. The 19th does seem like an eternity but I am thankful that my son isn't in any pain, he just gets embarrassed about his wet pants at school but other than that he hasn't been afftected much ( not that embarrassment isn't enough!). I'm just thankful that hes able to run and play and be happy, wet, but happy! I did read up on sacral nerve damage and I did find a Dx of reflex incontinence (primarily unrinary) and wahlah its due to lesions on the spinal cord above S2. I hope that isn't what is going on but at least thats a possible explanation...anyway, thank you all for your kind words and I'll keep ya posted on the verdict!

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
thank you all for your encouragement and prayers. it really means the world to me. the 19th does seem like an eternity but i am thankful that my son isn't in any pain, he just gets embarrassed about his wet pants at school but other than that he hasn't been afftected much ( not that embarrassment isn't enough!). i'm just thankful that hes able to run and play and be happy, wet, but happy! i did read up on sacral nerve damage and i did find a dx of reflex incontinence (primarily unrinary) and wahlah its due to lesions on the spinal cord above s2. i hope that isn't what is going on but at least thats a possible explanation...anyway, thank you all for your kind words and i'll keep ya posted on the verdict!

you will be in all of our prayers, mom.:balloons:

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Specializes in home & public health, med-surg, hospice.

You and your boy are both in my prayers. :icon_hug:

This has got to be hard on you.

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Specializes in Med-Surg, Wound Care.

If it gives you any comfort, I had urinary incontinence as a child. They had no idea why until they did a myelogram(pre MRI's). It was discovered I had Occult Spina Bifida(one instance of bone deformity, not progressive) But it effected the sacral nerves. Poor bladder control was the result. NOW the good news is that as I grew older bladder capacity improved and control improved. By time I was 9 it was not longer a problem. Best of luck to you and your son.

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If it gives you any comfort, I had urinary incontinence as a child. They had no idea why until they did a myelogram(pre MRI's). It was discovered I had Occult Spina Bifida(one instance of bone deformity, not progressive) But it effected the sacral nerves. Poor bladder control was the result. NOW the good news is that as I grew older bladder capacity improved and control improved. By time I was 9 it was not longer a problem. Best of luck to you and your son.

That does make me feel better, thank you!

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