If your GP did not refer you for an emergency MRI scan even though you had symptoms of cauda equina syndrome, you might wish to consider making a claim for compensation.
Cauda equina syndrome
Cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency. If you are exhibiting symptoms of incomplete cauda equina syndrome, it is imperative that you receive an MRI scan as soon as possible in order to confirm the cause of your problems. If the scan shows that your cauda equina nerves are being compressed, it is likely that you will need emergency surgery within hours to try to prevent your condition from deteriorating.
Long-term symptoms of complete cauda equina syndrome
A deterioration from incomplete to complete cauda equina syndrome can occur suddenly. Once this has happened, the chances of surgery producing much improvement in symptoms may be considerably reduced. A patient who is left with complete cauda equina syndrome can suffer both distressing and debilitating symptoms such as the following:
- Inability to control the bowels, resulting in both wind and faecal incontinence or urgency
- Inability to control the passing of urine, resulting in leakage or incontinence
- Loss of sexual sensation and performance
- Weakness and loss of motor function in the legs and ankles
An urgent MRI scan
It is clear, therefore, that a rapid diagnosis is vital if the patient may be developing or suffering with this appalling condition.
If a patient attends their GP with the possible early symptoms of the condition, an emergency referral for an MRI can make the difference between a good and a very poor long-term outcome.
Early symptoms which might indicate that the patient is developing cauda equina syndrome could include the following:
- Lower back pain
- Pain, weakness and tingling in one or both legs
- Tingling sensation between the legs or loss of sensation
- Difficulty passing urine
- Loss of feeling around the anus
- Alteration in sexual experience
Medical negligence
If a patient attends their GP or A&E service already suffering from complete cauda equina syndrome, it may already be too late for a good recovery to be possible and an emergency diagnosis and surgery may not be considered to be necessary.
Where the patient is only experiencing the early symptoms, however, it may be considered negligent if those symptoms are not investigated thoroughly and promptly, thereby allowing the patient to deteriorate.
Speak to a solicitor
If you or a loved one are suffering with the dreadful, long-term symptoms of complete cauda equina syndrome due to a failure to refer you for investigation at an early stage, you might wish to consult a medical negligence solicitor.
Contact us to discuss your experience with a solicitor with expertise in cauda equina syndrome cases.