It depends
James,
There really isn't a short answer to your question. However, some urinary or bowel symptoms are worse than others. As your doctors indicated, incontinence can be an indicator of a serious problem. However, difficulty starting your stream of voiding can be related to disk disease and/or nerve impingement but is not an indicator that immediate treatment is necessary. It shouldn't be ignored, though. During the last 3 months of my 2 yrs. of back pain, I started having considerable difficulty starting to void. Try 5-10 minutes in the morning trying to go. However, imaging showed no changes in my disk disease.
Since your doctor is checking your prostate, I'm guessing that you may be having the same symptoms. Keep in mind that many different medications including pain meds can cause this problem in addition to nerve impairment. Bottom line: It certainly needs to be checked out, but don't panic yet. It may be something simple. When was your last MRI?
Good luck
Tim
__________________
L5-S1 rupture 11/04, left leg pain for 2 wks
Regular exercise/pain-free until 2007
L5-S1 degen. disease w/constant pain since 6/07
PT, ESI, SI jt injections, 3-level nerve root inj. x 2
Massage, heat, ice, TENS, etc
L5-S1 Charite Jan. 19th, 2009, very happy w/decision
New back pain in upper back though.
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