Can back injuriesaffect my bowel and bladder function?

[Alastair]

Yes damage to the Pudendal nerve can do this , see below.

Pudendal nerve
This nerve arises from the sacral plexus within the pelvis, it must go around the pelvic floor to reach the ischioanal fossa. In the pelvis it runs on piriformis and then passes laterally through the greater sciatic foramen to enter the gluteal region. Here it lies inferior to piriformis as does the sciatic nerve, the inferior gluteal neurovascular bundle and the nerve to quadratus femoris .

The pudendal nerve curls around the spine of the ischium lying superficial to the sacrospinous ligament and then passes into the lessor sciatic notch to enter the ischioanal fossa .
This nerve then divides into the inferior rectal, the perineal and the dorsal nerve of the penis (clitoris).

The inferior rectal nerve supplies the external anal sphincter and perianal skin.
The perineal nerve supplies ischiocavernosus, bulbospongiosus, superficial and deep transverse perinei, sphincter urethrae and skin over the posterior two-thirds of the scrotum (labium majorum) and the mucous membrane of the urethra (labia minoria).

The dorsal nerve of the penis (clitoris) supplies most of the skin of the penis (clitoris) a patch of skin on the dorsum of the penis is innervated by the ilioinguinal nerve.

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University of Newcastle Upon Tyne, England - Dr Donal Shanahan PhD Prosector

Translation:- The Pudendal nerve passes round the pelvis area and lower spine. Some times pressures or damage to it can cause bladder or bowel problems (incontinence etc), it needs to be addressed urgently