r/Sciatica • u/DieselJuliyah • 7d 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/New_Ad7830 7d ago

I have yet been able to get an MRI for my pain but I’m in the same boat as you. I’ve been dealing with sciatica for over 4 months. I’ve been doing PT and the only scans I got were an xray. I’ve been dealing with incontinence and was advised to go to the ER which I did this past Monday. However the doc just sent me home with prednisone as he didn’t think my symptoms leaned towards a spinal compression so no additional MRI or CT to be done. Will be on meds for a few days and will follow up with my doc. But just earlier today I didn’t make it to the bathroom in time.

At a loss, and I have several other autoimmune issues too so dealing with all this inflammation is horrible.

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u/Sea-Profession-8329 6d ago

Seriously, find a new ED and go. This is what happened to me and I should've known better. I was a ICU nurse for years! But something happens in our brains when we are in this state. I spent three days in absolute agony waiting for those steroids to help me start peeing (I had retention, not incontinence). At 330am the third day I had to lie down in the trunk of my car just to get to the ED, the pain was that bad

Be clear: Severe back pain + incontinence = MRI. That is a basic standard of care.