Introduction
Many patients have a combination of back pain, leg pain, leg numbness and weakness. These symptoms can be distressing for you, but do not necessarily require emergency medical attention.
Cauda Equina Syndrome is a rare but serious back condition, can lead to permanent damage or disability and will need to be seen by an Emergency Specialist Spinal Team. The following page highlights some warning signs of Cauda Equina Syndrome.
• Loss of feeling / pins and needles between your inner thighs or genitals.
• Numbness in or around your back passage or buttocks.
• Altered feeling when using toilet paper to wipe yourself.
• Increasing difficulty when you try to urinate.
• Increasing difficulty when you try to stop or control your flow of urine.
• Loss of sensation when you pass urine.
• Leaking urine or recent need to use pads.
• Not knowing when your bladder is either full or empty.
• Inability to stop a bowel movement or leaking.
• Loss of sensation when you pass a bowel motion.
• Change in ability to achieve an erection or ejaculate.
• Loss of sensation in genitals during sexual intercourse.
IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED A NEW EPISODE OF ANY COMBINATION OF THESE SYMPTOMS ALONGSIDE YOUR BACK / LEG PAIN PLEASE SEEK MEDICAL HELP IMMEDIATELY AT YOUR NEAREST A&E DEPARTMENT
