Cauda equina syndrome

[essexgirl58]

I am so confused. I have had lower back pain for 3 weeks. My first diagnosis was sciatica. Then an osteopath diagnosed lumbar irritation. Now a physiotherapist has diagnose Cauda equina syndrome .
I am not on paiinkillers anymore. I was taking cocodamol. I am taking naproxen anti inflamatory which seem to be working. I was doing very well but had a flare up due to a bad sleeping position in bed which activated it. I am slowly recovering and not in so much discomfort. The physio saw me today and checed my relexes and leg strength and asked if I had any numbness or tingling and I said no. She finished up by saying everything is fine and you do not need to see me again and i will send you some exercises.

I get a text with what I thought were the promised exercises. What I got instead was this diagnosis and not only that she said it is a rare and severe syndrome but that I was not to worry. I do not understand why she did not tell me when I was with her and she did not send me any exercises but what she sent instead was this diagnosis and an explnation of what to do if I get tingling or numbness or weak legs. If that happens I am to go straight to A and E. I rand my osteopath and she said I have examined you an in my opinion you do not have this diagnosis. The osteopath diagnosed lumber irritation. She said you need to speak to the surgery and query this with a doctor and she said she cannot understand why this physio did not tell me at the time but sent me a text with the diagnosis. Not only that, she did not send me the exercises as promised.

I am quite concerned about this. This physio is only at my surgery once a week on a Thursday.

If she was querying cauda equina syndrome I think she should have sent to you to A & E. To confirm the diagnosis you would need an MRI scan I would have thought. From your symptoms I wouldn't have thought cauda equina tbh.

But if you do get tingling/numbness or any bladder/bowel dysfunction then get yourself to A & E ASAP.

Absolutely she should have sent you to A&E If she suspected that. It's a surgical emergency!

Do you have any bladder/bowel issues OP?

@SoMuchToBits

If she was querying cauda equina syndrome I think she should have sent to you to A & E. To confirm the diagnosis you would need an MRI scan I would have thought. From your symptoms I wouldn't have thought cauda equina tbh.

But if you do get tingling/numbness or any bladder/bowel dysfunction then get yourself to A & E ASAP.

I did ask her if a scan or xray was required and the physio said no.

Cauda equina is a clinical emergency and you would be sent straight to A&E by any healthcare professional who suspected it, certainly not told not to worry!
Could you possibly have misread her information, might it say if you develop x, y or z you could have cauda equina rather than saying you do have it? If not she is an idiot and you should raise this with someone more senior in the department or practice

@Lou573

Do you have any bladder/bowel issues OP?

No I do not. That was one of the questions the physio asked me

@QueenOfHiraeth

Cauda equina is a clinical emergency and you would be sent straight to A&E by any healthcare professional who suspected it, certainly not told not to worry! Could you possibly have misread her information, might it say if you develop x, y or z you could have cauda equina rather than saying you do have it? If not she is an idiot and you should raise this with someone more senior in the department or practice

I am looing at the text she said and it says

Please see attached informaton on cauda equina syndrome as discussed. This is a very rare condition and I dont want you to worry. Familarize yourself with the information in the lealet and if you deelop any of the symproms in the leaflet seek medical help immeidatly

Notice she say as discussed. No way did she discuss this. The only thing she said to me was do you get tingling, no.. do you get numbness.. no... are your legs weak. no

She finished up by saying do the exxercises and take naproxen and take cocodamol as and when yu need to and I do not need to see you again. I then thaned her for seeing me and left.

Then I get that frigging text which has worrie me so much I am imegining all sorts

Did she maybe mention the syndrome and what to look for not say you have it. Not being rude but one of my family has it and it’s very serious. You would be sent to hospital straight away if they thought you had it. The first symptoms are weakness, numbness and loss of Bowel and bladder control. I’d ask to speak to someone else and ask for a scan. Don’t believe that you have it as it certainly sounds like you don’t,

@CharlotteRose90

Did she maybe mention the syndrome and what to look for not say you have it. Not being rude but one of my family has it and it’s very serious. You would be sent to hospital straight away if they thought you had it. The first symptoms are weakness, numbness and loss of Bowel and bladder control. I’d ask to speak to someone else and ask for a scan. Don’t believe that you have it as it certainly sounds like you don’t,

No she said nothing about this syndrome when she saw me. I am going to complain

That sounds like she’s asking you to keep an eye out for symptoms of it and make yourself aware of it just in case, rather than actually diagnosing you with it

I had Cauda Equina Syndrome and like pp said it is considered a medical emergency and they should send you straight to A&E if it is suspected. I am pretty sure she is telling you what symptoms to look out for as it often starts out with bad sciatica. So if you have that you should understand the symptoms so you can access help straight away if you notice any of them.

I am looing at the text she said and it says

Please see attached informaton on cauda equina syndrome as discussed. This is a very rare condition and I dont want you to worry. Familarize yourself with the information in the lealet and if you deelop any of the symproms in the leaflet seek medical help immeidatly

Notice she say as discussed. No way did she discuss this. The only thing she said to me was do you get tingling, no.. do you get numbness.. no... are your legs weak. no

She finished up by saying do the exxercises and take naproxen and take cocodamol as and when yu need to and I do not need to see you again. I then thaned her for seeing me and left.

Then I get that frigging text which has worrie me so much I am imegining all sorts

From what she texted you it seems clear to me that she’s not saying you have cauda equina but rather is making sure you know what the signs of it are in case you develop it at a later stage and know to seek emergency treatment if you do.

I agree with @ScarlettDarling she isn’t saying you have it

Familarize yourself with the information in the lealet and if you deelop any of the symproms in the leaflet seek medical help immeidatly

@SoSickOfItNow

I agree with *@ScarlettDarling* she isn’t saying you have it

Familarize yourself with the information in the lealet and if you deelop any of the symproms in the leaflet seek medical help immeidatly

ok the I think she went about it the wrong way . sne should have spoken to me at the appointment .

Yes and don't worry as it says it is a rare condition, but you just need to be aware of it as if you did have it you need to get treated as fast as possible.

tbh after all the tests the physio did with me, instead of just saying ok you are fine, what she should have said to me is if you develop any symptoms go to A an E. I would have then asked a couple of questions an said how likely is it to develop these symptoms etc. Sorry but I really do not agree with the fact that she told me via text That is unprofessional and she did not even send me any exercises

I wonder why the osteopath did not mention this syndrome to me? When she examined me all she said was you have lumbar irritation and no mention of oh if you develop such and such a symptom then it could be Cauda equina

Cauda Equina syndrome is when the group of nerve roots at the base of the spine are badly crushed. This can happen if one of the discs in the lower spine almost completely herniates pushing all the disc material into the spinal cavity. When you have sciatica or a "slipped disc" it normally means the disc is slightly herniated or just protruding a tiny amount enough to touch the nerve and cause a lot of pain but not damage the nerve. It's quite rare for the herniation to be very bad, as the disc is actually quite tough, this is why they don't routinely scan people with sciatica or lower back pain. But it is good to be aware of the symptoms as fast treatment within 48 he's can save the nerves and you can recover well. So your physio was right to mention Cauda Equina but they should have explained what it is more clearly.

*48 hours

i know someone who had sciatica 3 years ago She recovered but now she has numbness all down one of her legs. She just carries on regardless and does not get it inestiated