Online ISSN: 2515-8260

Thoracolumbar disc herniation: a hidden cause of monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis

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Eric Chun-Pu Chu, Patrick Sim

Abstract

A 30-year-old male with a 4-year history of chronic back pain complained of recent episodes of sharp mid back pain referred to his right sacroiliac joint and gluteal area, presumably resulting from twisting injury occurred while playing basketball one week prior. Magnetic resonance imaging showed obvious intervertebral disc degeneration and a right paracentral soft disc herniation compressing the spinal cord at the T12/L1 level. The patient experienced significant pain relief and was able to regain significant mobility of his mid back within two weeks after starting chiropractic care. Moreover, the patient also reported a multi-year history of nocturnal enuresis without daytime symptoms. He unexpectedly found that the symptoms of enuresis spontaneously resolved during the course of treatment. Monosymptomatic nocturnal enuresis under discussion was an uncommon consequence of spinal cord compression (conus medullaris syndrome) caused by thoracolumbar disc herniation.

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