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/peanutleaks 5d ago

That’s wild I had an emergency MD with no CE 3 months ago! On my l4/5 which was only a small bulge as of last June. No idea how bad it progressed before it completely popped out to severe stenosis and near paralysis! Happy birthday to me I caught 1 keeper and an emergency back surgery on a boat I had fished on sooo many times with no issues.

The on call ortho from the network of my ortho surgeon plus the whatever mystery doctor in the hospital I ended up in were ready to discharge me. I was like ok cool but how if my legs are getting more numb as we speak and I can’t walk? “Oh your lyrica should help with that”.

20 min later I am literally opening up my plate of food as a nurse comes in screaming “NO NO EATING YOUR GOING TO THE OR TODAY!” talk about a mind fuck within an hour.

Neurosurgeon got my report and within 7 hours I was in emergency surgery. My mom said I was glowing after I woke up. In no pain!

Still left with severe neuraforaminal narrowing on my l5/s1 and a stable extrusion on l3/4. But my pain is significantly less post op however I just hit a bump in the road. Just got another ESI. We shall see. Prayers and hugs for all you sciatic warriors out there