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Original poster

Numb bum / base of spine

34 replies

CreatingHavoc · 06/02/2025 09:26

Last 2 days I have had lots of pelvic and lower back pain after a bowel movement and now my bum is numb on the top left of my buttock and around the base of my spine. Shooting pains in vagina and rectum as well. I googled and read about something called cauda equina and now panicking a bit. I can still wee and poo ok, if slightly more urgently running to the loo than normal. Bowels a bit more loose than usual but I am due on my period and have ibs so... Could it be something else not so urgent as cauda equina? The pain eases up a bit after a while but is still there a bit and the numbness is still there all the time. I really don't want to go to A&E unnecessarily. Could it just be sciatica or something? I've had pelvic pain for a long while now but it's got significantly worse these past few days.

OP posts:
MuddlingThroughLife · 06/02/2025 09:48

You need to see someone ASAP. Sounds like cauda equina.

boulevardofbrokendreamss · 06/02/2025 11:20

I hope you have seen someone, it does sound like cauda equina

EveryNightInMyDreams · 06/02/2025 11:27

The best thing to do is go to A&E and say you’re worried about CE. They can do an MRI to check.

letthemeatcakes · 06/02/2025 11:37

Op I had sciatica just like that. It went and came back a couple of times but not for a few years now.

LameBorzoi · 06/02/2025 11:37

See someone NOW.

neverthelastone · 06/02/2025 11:40

It’s likely to be a trapped nerve BUT not treating cauda equina is very serious (you can lose the use of your legs permanently if not treated promptly), so you should have yourself checked out ASAP to rule it out. Pelvic/saddle numbness is a red flag.

Original poster
CreatingHavoc · 06/02/2025 11:41

My GP has more appointments opening up at 12pm so I'm calling them then.

OP posts:
DistantSkye · 06/02/2025 11:57

Please don't waste time trying to phone for a GP appointment.

Numbness around your groin/bum and ANY bladder bowel symptoms is a red flag for Cauda Equina and needs to be investigated.

Go to A&E, be very clear that you have saddle numbness, bladder and bowel changes and are concerned about cauda equina.

QuestionableMouse · 06/02/2025 11:59

CreatingHavoc · 06/02/2025 11:41

My GP has more appointments opening up at 12pm so I'm calling them then.

Your GP will just send to to a&e anyway because they don't have the facilities to give you a scan. Sooner you get to hospital the sooner you'll be back.

iamnotalemon · 06/02/2025 12:00

I did have cauda equina and I had the shooting pains down my leg and was in agony. I eventually lost feeling in my leg and couldn't go to the toilet but thankfully I was operated on quickly and all ok now (aside from parts of my foot and leg being numb).

It may not be that but I would just go straight to A&E if I were you as if it is that, it needs to be treated quickly as it can cause serious issues.

Keep us posted.

TiramisuThief · 06/02/2025 12:00

Just go to a&e, your GP can't help.

DistantSkye · 06/02/2025 12:00

To follow this up - I currently have a bulging (or herniated? Can't remember) disc that is causing leg and foot numbness and paralysis.
Had the whole MRI and follow up. Mentioned to my GP at follow up that I was needing to pee more and got sent straight up to A&E and was seen very quickly, and discharged once they knew it wasn't CES.

Original poster
CreatingHavoc · 06/02/2025 12:46

Thanks all, gp had nothing till 5pm so called 111 who sent me to A&E. On way now.

OP posts:
iamnotalemon · 06/02/2025 22:26

@CreatingHavoc how did you get on?

Original poster
CreatingHavoc · 06/02/2025 23:39

@iamnotalemon after 11 hours in A&E and no MRI done, they sent me home with a referral to the spinal team and told me to also see gynae and maybe neurology. Not sure when the spinal team will be in touch but they will hopefully do an MRI. They said if it was cauda equina I wouldn't hardly be able to walk and I'd have lost bladder /bowel control.

OP posts:
iamnotalemon · 06/02/2025 23:41

Oh gosh, I'm sorry to hear you had such a long wait? How's the pain now? Keep an eye on things as it can change quickly (definitely go back if you do have issues with the bladder/bowel).

Original poster
CreatingHavoc · 07/02/2025 09:52

@iamnotalemon yeah the Dr said as much. I'll definitely be heading back there if anything gets worse. Bit disappointed they didn't do a scan yesterday tbh but hopefully the spinal team will be in touch soon.

OP posts:
iamnotalemon · 07/02/2025 10:46

That's understandable, I'd feel the same (at least then they'd know what they're dealing with). I'm not in the UK and pay for private health insurance so it was handled differently here. (Thankfully the surgery was considered emergency otherwise it would have been $20,000!). Weird thing to be thankful about I know 🤣

I had sciatica previously and found acupuncture really helped, so may be worth a try.

UncertainWife · 08/02/2025 22:01

The messaging around cauda equina is very confusing. I was told by a physio to go to A&E for any changes in sensation in bum or genitals or if pain down both legs and was handed an NHS card with same info.

Later I saw a spinal consultant who said you'd be in extreme pain or have lost use of legs or control of bowel or bladder.

Seems the same on MN threads, loads of people say go to A&E now for eg mild numbness, but in A&E people are told to go away unless it's severe pain or loss of function.

spikefaithbuffy · 08/02/2025 22:09

UncertainWife · 08/02/2025 22:01

The messaging around cauda equina is very confusing. I was told by a physio to go to A&E for any changes in sensation in bum or genitals or if pain down both legs and was handed an NHS card with same info.

Later I saw a spinal consultant who said you'd be in extreme pain or have lost use of legs or control of bowel or bladder.

Seems the same on MN threads, loads of people say go to A&E now for eg mild numbness, but in A&E people are told to go away unless it's severe pain or loss of function.

I've had cauda equina, I walked into a&e with total bladder and bowel control
Did have severe pain but that went to numbness and having to drag my leg to walk which was a relief from the pain
I couldn't lie on my back and lift my leg at all

My disc herniation was massive and they got a neurosurgeon as ortho wouldn't touch it, took 5hrs in theatre to sort

MrsLT84 · 08/02/2025 22:14

I had cauda equina in 2022. I was in severe pain but didn't lose control of my bowels/ bladder. I was dismissed by paramedics who didn't believe the pain I was in (even though I was crying out trying to walk with a stick). Then after 5 hours on 2 ambulances (the first teams shift ended so I got moved to another) I got dismissed by the first doctor who said "take 2 paracetamol and we will mobilise you in 2 hours". They did a urine retention test and finger up back passage and I failed both of those. They then finally got me to an MRI after 14 hours of waiting (sitting in a wheelchair chair in a&e waiting room). As I came out of the mri the lady who did it told me "do not walk) and a short time later a doctor told me I was in need of urgent spinal surgery and they were deciding if I needed transferring to a different hospital. Luckily they kept me local as I had a 4.5 month old who breastfed at the time! 3 hours later I was in surgery and I was discharged the next day, walking without the stick! The surgeon said I was a "level 3 case" and could have ended up paralysed if I hadn't had the surgery then. Awful experience but glad I went for help when I did, I just wish I had been listened to better.

Original poster
CreatingHavoc · 11/02/2025 20:56

Thanks for the info. Interesting how the advice differs. 111 advised to go straight to A&E, A&E sent me to urgent care, where the Dr laughed at the suggestion of possible cauda equina but then it was discovered my bladder wasn't functioning properly and I had loss of urge, a 'beach ball of a bladder' and retention after emptying. So it was off to orthopaedics for further assessment. Now I have to wait a month for just a telephone appointment with the spinal team, which seems sort of inappropriate. But nothing surprises me anymore with the NHS tbh.

OP posts:
neverthelastone · 11/02/2025 22:04

CreatingHavoc · 11/02/2025 20:56

Thanks for the info. Interesting how the advice differs. 111 advised to go straight to A&E, A&E sent me to urgent care, where the Dr laughed at the suggestion of possible cauda equina but then it was discovered my bladder wasn't functioning properly and I had loss of urge, a 'beach ball of a bladder' and retention after emptying. So it was off to orthopaedics for further assessment. Now I have to wait a month for just a telephone appointment with the spinal team, which seems sort of inappropriate. But nothing surprises me anymore with the NHS tbh.

I guess at least you’re in the system to see the spinal team! Are they referring you for the bladder too? Fingers crossed for you that you get answers soon, OP.

Original poster
CreatingHavoc · 11/02/2025 22:09

@neverthelastone I'm going to have to see the gp about the bladder issue. The orthopedic Dr seemed to be suggesting I may have adhesions from my 2 c-sections or possibly endometriosis. I have a gp appointment at the end of the week thankfully so will just have to push for some actual action.

OP posts:
iamnotalemon · 12/02/2025 00:34

@CreatingHavoc

That's terrible that the Dr laughed at you! FFS!