Altered urinary habits are a classic sign of Cauda Equina Syndrome. If you are showing bladder symptoms, along with back pain and a loss of perineal sensation, medical professionals should immediately suspect spinal nerve compression.
Cauda equina bladder symptoms
The first symptom of Cauda Equina Syndrome is lower back pain, which may extend to one or both legs. However, this is not in itself an indication of nerve compression, as generalised back pain can be caused by any number of factors. Therefore it is necessary to watch out for the second symptom that will normally arise: altered urinary habits.
The cauda equina nerves serve the pelvic organs, including the bladder. Because human beings urinate several times a day, it is quite noticeable when the bladder begins to lose function, as will happen when the cauda equina nerves are compressed. These can include:-
- Difficultly urinating;
- Loss of urethral sensation, meaning you cannot feel when you are urinating;
- Loss of bladder sensation, meaning you do not know if your bladder is full or not;
- Urinary incontinence, where you are unable to control when you go to the toilet;
- Urinary retention, where you are unable to empty your bladder.
Diagnosing Cauda Equina Syndrome
If you present to your GP or A&E department with lower back pain and bladder symptoms such as those described above, alarm bells should start ringing in the minds of doctors. This is because these symptoms are characteristic Cauda Equina Syndrome, a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.
Due to the urgency required in diagnosing Cauda Equina Syndrome, steps should be immediately taken to confirm whether or not nerve compression is present. An examination should be performed to assess whether any other symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome are present. This might include poor rectal tone, loss of perineal sensation and bowel dysfunction. An urgent MRI scan should also be carried out to check whether the cauda equina nerves are being compressed.
Delay in diagnosis
But unfortunately all too often medical professionals dismiss a patient’s bladder symptoms for another more minor condition such as a urinary tract infection. This will lead to devastating complications, as a delay in diagnosis will cause the nerves to be placed under prolonged pressure, causing them to sustain extensive damage. The nerves will not be able to recover from such an injury, meaning a patient is left with permanent neurological problems.
Expert legal advice
If medical professionals have overlooked your bladder symptoms, causing a delay in the diagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome, you could be entitled to compensation. To find out whether you are entitled to cauda equina compensation, contact us at the Cauda Equina Solicitors.