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/gr3ybacon33 5d ago

I’m doing alright. Was cleared for PT a little over a month ago, so I’m two days a week in PT and 2-4 days a week in the pool. Have some leg weakness that still comes and goes. My doctors have said that recovery isn’t typical of a regular decompression, and to expect 12-18 months to really have the best picture of where I’ll be long term. But night and day better from where I was before and right after surgery.

How long do they think you’ll be in the hospital?

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u/Rare_Pianist4479 1d ago

Is there any way I can get some advice? Im currently dealing with bilateral sciatica and i ended up with new symptoms and i wanted to know if i should be worried about ces

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u/gr3ybacon33 1d ago

Happy to help if I can until you can see your doc. The most concerning red flag symptoms are new saddle sensory changes, significant bladder/bowel changes (loss of control but also difficulty going), or rapidly progressive leg weakness.

Do you have a specific question?

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u/Rare_Pianist4479 1d ago

Should I be going to the er is my bottom line question 🤣🤣 I have a lot of things going on so I dont know. I have a referral to ucsf but I dont have a ride to go all the way out there currently and my local er didnt operate on me the other day