Will Surgery Cure My Cauda Equina Syndrome?

Cauda equina syndrome is regarded as a medical emergency often requiring surgery within hours rather than days. But will surgery resolve your symptoms?

The impact of surgery on the symptoms of cauda equina syndrome would appear to depend on the nature of your symptoms at the time your surgery is carried out.

Cauda equina symptoms

A range of symptoms are associated with cauda equina syndrome which could include the following:

• Lower back pain
• Pain and tingling or numbness in one or both legs
• Loss of sensation in the saddle area between the legs and around the anus
• Weakness in the legs and possible foot drop
• Loss of sexual sensation and/or function
• Loss of awareness of need to urinate
• Loss of control over urination
• Difficulty urinating
• Loss of control of bowels

Timing of surgery

Early symptoms of cauda equina syndrome often relate to lower back and leg pain. A key factor which is widely regarded as crucial in the timing of surgery is the nature of the symptoms relating to urination.

When the patient is starting to experience an alteration in their urinary function, in combination with lower back and leg pain, they are likely to need an emergency MRI to confirm the cause of the problem.

If a cauda equina compression diagnosis is confirmed, the patient will probably undergo emergency surgery to decompress the nerves.

If a delay occurs at this time and the patient’s urinary symptoms deteriorate to the point where they no longer have a sensation of needing to urinate or they lose control of urination, it is believed that surgery is likely to be less successful in relieving symptoms.

A watershed moment will have passed and surgery may not be regarded as quite such an emergency as at the earlier stage when a greater degree of recovery might have been expected.

The nature of surgery for cauda equina syndrome

The purpose of surgery for cauda equina syndrome is to remove the pressure on the cauda equina nerves. It is this pressure or compression which is causing the nerves to fail to function properly, leading to the lower body symptoms.

If the pressure can be removed, it is hoped that the patient will not experience further deterioration and may even recover some of the lost function.

Medical Negligence

If the patient’s early symptoms are ignored or misdiagnosed, allowing a deterioration in function and a poorer outcome to occur, the medical professionals responsible could be considered to have acted negligently.

If this has been your experience, you may be entitled to make a claim for compensation.

Contact us to discuss your situation with a specialist medical negligence solicitor.

Please call us free on 0800 234 3300, from a mobile click to call 01275 334030 or complete our Free Online Enquiry for a no cost, no obligation opinion.

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