Anyone experienced cauda equina symptoms and how quickly did they develop?

[Lilxa89]

Hi all, any one thats experienced this and what were your symptoms please? Did it slowly lead up to this over time or happen really quickly out of nowhere? Anything that specifically caused it like disc bulge etc ? I have axspa so always deal with back pain footdrop etc. Had few more issues so was sent for mri in april to rule this out and was told i had a disc bulge sitting on keft nerve root. Think was l5 s1 and some other things. Well few weeks ago, had a football kicked at back hard and having few issues sinxe then. Spoke to the physio etc at hospital and wasn't concerned just said see how I go.

I believe Cauda Equina is an emergency so you would need to go straight to A&E if you suspect you have it to get it confirmed and then get the appropriate surgery.

Most back pain is unlikely to be as serious as CE, and I think you would know if you had it as it causes loss of control of the bladder or bowels, etc.

That sounds really worrying, especially with your existing back problems. If your symptoms have changed since the football hit your back, it's definitely worth getting checked again rather than assuming it's just the disc bulge.
If you're developing new weakness, numbness around the saddle area, or any changes with your bladder or bowel, it's better to seek urgent medical advice rather than waiting to see if it settles.

@BetweenTheThoughts thankyou for the comment. I have no other issues other than the constant pain still but the one thing I have noticed is when going to the toilet (no2) sorry tmi but I know when I need to go but its like I cant properly finish. Also I constantly feel like I need a wee Also and always a pressure yet tiniest amounts everytime. Had urine samples swabs etc all normal, and had the urine side of it on kats mri which ruled out ce but the no 2 is the new one

Cauda Equina is an emergency and needs to be operated on asap.
My SIL had it and so did my BIL. I'm also at risk of it due to having Spinal Stenosis.
My SIL's first symptom was a constant feeling of glass in her foot.

My BIL felt wobbly in the legs on Christmas Eve and had such bad backache that he couldn't rest in bed and had to sleep on a chair. On Christmas Day he was in pain and said his legs "didn't feel right" and he couldn't walk without support - later on Christmas evening, his legs suddenly stopped responding to how he wanted them to and he was admitted into hospital on Christmas night and given immediate tests and was operated on Boxing Night - his base of his spine had crumbled and the nerves had knotted around it.
Thankfully, thanks to the amazing medical team, he is now walking and driving as normal.