04/11/2024
A write up from one of my patients who unfortunately had early initial symptoms of cauda equina. Hopefully this post spreads awareness of the importance of recognising these symptoms which can effectively change an individual’s life.
“4 years ago I fractured my coccyx falling during a wolf run, my sciatic nerve was compressed and I spent a few weeks in hospital until it released.
No further physio was offered, but it was during the Covid pandemic so that’s surprising.
I struggled ever since with random flare ups of sciatica every few months. In the last year 3rd year onwards since the fall) the flare ups became more often and more painful. Last from 2-14 days roughly and usually consisting off initial back pain when bending, progressing to spasms in my legs that felt like shockwaves through my spine and into my hip and down my leg.
I started visiting Reece for soft tissue work regularly, to help relieve the muscle spasms that were caused and try and calm everything down so that the sciatic nerve could release. Some occasions we managed to catch it early enough that it wouldn’t progress to a full flare up. A mixture of physio massage, exercises and in bad flare ups diazepam was managing the condition.
I had been to the GP and minor injuries a few times and just told it was sciatica and sent home with an exercise sheet and strong pain relief (not helped through my allergies to all anti inflammatory medications.
My most recent flare up started like any other, tenderness in my lower back and hips when bending and twisting, it lasted longer around 2 weeks getting slowly more tender and sensitive with movement. On the Tuesday, around day 14 of the back pain starting, I went to the GP who referred me to a physio to hopefully get an MRI in the next few months.
Wednesday, Driving my car one evening I had a bad cramp down my right leg which the progressed to numbness. It returned shortly after and I managed to get home. Hobbled into the house with the help of my daughter and got into bed. I spent the next 12 hours in horrific pain with my back and shooting pain in my right leg, pins and needles I my left. Calling the GP Thursday morning I was told there was no appointments and to call back tomorrow.
I was at a loss with the pain and reached out to Reece for advise who encourage me to call 111 because worst base scenario, however unlikely it could be serious. 111 asked me to get to A & E in the next 45mins (ambulances were over run and couldn’t get to me).
I made my way to A & E and following triage was left sat in a chair, compressing my spine in agony for 5/6hours. When I tried to stand I collapsed and realised I’d lost the feeling in my right leg. It returned shortly shortly after and the doctor said he’d bring me back for an MRI the following day, I didn’t actually make it home as the pain was too intense so I remained in A & E on morphine.
After an MRI the Friday, I lost feeling in my right toes completely, sensation was weaker in my right left from the hip down and I had no strength in that leg. I was strapped to a board and rushed to the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital where the following morning I had an emergency discectomy of 2 discs (L4 & 5) and Dural Tear repair. The surgeon explained I was in the early stages of cauda equina. The discs were so pr*****ed that they were completely blocking my nerves on the MRI and were blocking the nerve to my right leg. A few hours or any sudden movements and I could have been paralysed in both legs. It was explained prior to surgery that I may not recover the feeling in my leg. The surgery was basically to stop it getting worse, the damage was effectively already done. In the surgeons words, he was putting out the fire, but couldn’t take back what was already burnt.
Thankfully a few hours after my 5 hour surgery I could feel my foot, I still can’t feel all of my toes and I am experiencing sporadic numbness in my right leg. But it’s mostly there and I can walk and will be able to drive.
I’ve been told I can never lift heavy, perform high intensity movements and that I will only be able to swim, walk and do light yoga for the rest of my life… rollercoasters are a no go.
But thanks to Reece pushing me and therefore not waiting until the GP was available I’m left with minor changes to my life following a long recovery instead of life changing complications such as paralysis.
Thank you Reece.”
