EMERGENCY: Cauda Equina Advice

Waylay

Friend just called me. Her slipped disc suddenly got a lot worse today. Severe back pain, increasing numbness in one leg, starting to lose control of bladder. She's in the hospital, and the docs say she has Cauda Equina (CE). They want to operate tonight. She's alone and on a lot of pain meds, there's a 20% failure rate for the surgery, and she's a dancer, so if she has a bad outcome it would end her career. She wants me to do a bit ofof research and see if there's any other way to treat CE that has good outcomes.

I know a lot about back surgery and bad backs, and as far as I know Cauda Equina due to a slipped disc requires surgery within 24-48 hours or you risk neurological damage. I've already told her that I think she should follow the doctor's advice, but she says she'll feel less anxious if I look around a bit first. 

I'm off to read some journal papers, but if anyone has experience of CE, CE surgery, and/or other treatments fir CE, please let me know?

[Deleted User]

I'm afraid surgery is the only option 

wilko

Prayers and best wishes to your friend she is in the best place. Keep us posted on her recovery. 

Waylay

Thanks @jim1074 and @wilko. I've passed that on to her. She's pretty much decided to have the surgery, 

Waylay

She had the surgery, and she's home now. No pain!!! Unfortunately she can't feel her butt or toes on one side, which isn't good for a dancer. They've told her that it might just take time for the nerves to get over the shock...

Geoark

@Waylay I hope your friend fully recovers soon.

Waylay

Ty @Geoark

kaypink

It was her only option, I too have / slipped discs and they won’t operate unless they press against the Claudia.

crocodillie

I had CE due to a very hypermobile spine. Ended up in A&E but I refused to stay over night  (hospitals give me terrible anxiety. I'll only stay if I'm dying lol). 
I didn't get the surgery until 3 months later. Luckily it helped. I still have some nerve damage but it did improve a lot. So hopefully your friend will have a speedy recovery. I'm an ex dancer but it's not my spine that prevents me from doing that, it's my disability in general. Fingers crossed for her.