Slipped disc query

[ThePensivePig]

I'm writing this from A&E. Yesterday I stood up from a sitting position and my back did something very strange.
Since then, I've been in agony.

I called 111, who advised a trip to A&E because all morning I'd been unable to wee. After three cups of tea and a litre of water, I finally managed to produce a sample for the doctor. It wasn't easy though!

Doctor says I've most likely slipped a disc in my lower spine. I need an MRI, but the hospital wait is 6-8 hours, so I've been advised by the doc that she'll refer me urgently and I'll hear via my GP. In the meantime I'll be getting some stronger painkillers.

I'm a bit worried about not weeing - is this common with a slipped disc?

DO NOT LEAVE A&E WITHOUT AN MRI

Ask about caudia equina - serious red flags if you're struggling with bladder control

(I've been in A&E a few times for sciatica and loss of bladder/bowel function needs to be investigated urgently, not sent home and waited on for gp intervention)

Do NOT leave without having an MRI.

Yes it's very important to be checked for Cauda Equina (crushed nerves in the spinal column) if treated within 48hrs your chance of recovery is good if not it can lead to paralysis, ongoing pain and incontinence amongst other things.

Yes it's very important to be checked for Cauda Equina (crushed nerves in the spinal column) if treated within 48hrs your chance of recovery is good if not it can lead to paralysis, ongoing pain and incontinence amongst other things.

You need to go to a&e

By the way the Sciatica doesn't have to be on both sides, it can occur with Sciatica on only one side as well.

I know it's hard to wait for 6-8hrs in A&E with severe back pain so if they do have a system where you could wait at home and be called in that would be ideal but don't let it delay your treatment.

Hopefully you get an MRI soon. Don’t be shy about asking for painkillers and if there is somewhere more comfortable you can wait.

I ended up in A&E 10 days ago with suspected Cauda Equina, which the MRI confirmed. The sooner they operate, the better. I’m now weeing almost normally and can walk. Hopefully things work out quickly for you 💐

No - don't go home - stay put. If your bladder has been affected by the disc problem then it needs looking at straight away - stay put and wait for the scan.

Thank you everyone, I'm waiting for the MRI. In agony though, so I'm going to ask for painkillers! I'd never heard of cauda equina, so thank you for highlighting this horrible sounding condition.

Also sorry for the huge delay, believe it or not we had a fire alarm in the hospital and all had to evacuate the building! False alarm thankfully.

Insist on pain killers as you'll have to lie still for the scan. Best of luck.

It is Cauda Equina and I'm having surgery tonight. Thank you everyone for the thoughtful and kind messages.

Good luck I hope they fix it for you

I had this. Good luck. Onwards and upwards. Thank god you persisted

Phew! As soon as I saw the post I was worried for you. Glad that you are getting it sorted.

Gosh, so glad you checked here for advice. Good luck with surgery.

Absolutely! And I wouldn't have if Mumsnet hadn't told me to. So thank you everyone.

Oh my it's updates like this that make me love mn

So glad you stayed for the mri op I hope you feel better soon xxx

Hope all goes well and you are in less pain soon. So scary the Doctor thought you could just go home and get a referral via your GP. You probably should report this. It shouldn’t be down to you to insist on staying and asking about Cauda equina

Thank goodness they (eventually) took it seriously. Ended up in A & E with suspected C.Equina myself, thankfully in my case it wasn’t. Hope everything goes well for you.

I second making a report about being told to go home and await gp response. CE is a time sensitive diagnosis with awful outcomes if not caught in time. Should be a primary consideration with your symptoms.

Glad you were diagnosed properly op and on the road yo recovery soon.

So happy you stayed and got treated, it's not easy recovering from surgery but the outcomes are very good if caught in time for the nerves to recover.

It makes me despair to think they were contemplating sending you home to await an appointment for a scan. It is negligence.

I am so glad you stuck to your guns - and your seat! - and are getting the right treatment. I have had disc surgery and it transformed my life. I am sure that all will go fine.