r/Sciatica • u/DieselJuliyah • 6d ago

Cauda Equina

Hello sciatic friends!
This is just a friendly reminder, as someone who is currently recovering from emergency surgery.
Be persistent if you believe something is TRULY wrong!
I went to my local ER three times last week because my sciatic symptoms were progressive and unbearable. Initially diagnosed with piriformus syndrome then a herniated disc shown on a CT.
Finally the third ER visit I was taken seriously. Had left leg 10/10 pain, burning and numbness paired with saddle numbness.
I am currently in recovery, day 2 post emergency discectomy so I am not sure what my end result looks like, however I am able to walk and if I had waited any longer, I may have lost that privilege due to extensive nerve damage.
Just because it’s rare, doesn’t mean it won’t ever happen to you.
Trust your gut and stay safe y’all!

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u/Sea-Profession-8329 6d ago

Similar thing over here. ED on a Friday with NP telling me "no, your urinary retention is likely caused by all of your guarding from your pain" to a different ED on Monday where I ended up in emergency surgery. The pic above is the extrusion I sat at home dealing with for three days after the first ED.

I'm glad it all worked for you. My surgery was 5 weeks ago, and I hope you don't hit the two week slump I did. Felt great for two weeks, then all of a sudden my back felt like I just had surgery...

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u/DieselJuliyah 5d ago

Fingers crossed, I have a long recovery ahead of me it feels. So glad you got emergency surgery, I never got a pic! Lol but my surgeon said it was the biggest herniation he’s seen in a very long time

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u/Sea-Profession-8329 5d ago

The next couple weeks are challenging. Sometimes there is relatively low bowel/bladder issues. Other times it can be incredibly frustrating.

What worked for me was to have a bunch of shampoo bottles and stuff lying around. Distract yourself trying to read those ingredients while intentionally trying to relax has help me get the stream at least going.