Introduction
At MDS, we understand that life can change in an instant, particularly if you or a loved one has been affected by medical negligence.
As specialists in medical negligence, we are committed to supporting people who have been affected by serious medical conditions like Cauda Equina Syndrome.
Cauda Equina Syndrome is a rare but extremely serious spinal condition that can have devastating consequences if it is not diagnosed and treated quickly.
Cauda Equina Syndrome can affect every aspect of someone’s life, including physical, emotional, psychological, and financial, and this can be overwhelming.
If there was a delay in diagnosing Cauda Equina Syndrome and this was negligent, you may be entitled to compensation. This article will explain:
- What Cauda Equina Syndrome is.
- Its symptoms and how it is diagnosed.
- The potential long-term impacts of the condition.
- How to pursue a claim for Cauda Equina Syndrome compensation.
- The legal hurdles that may arise in the process.
- Places where you can obtain support if you have been diagnosed with Cauda Equina Syndrome.
We will include real-life case examples and testimonials from our clients to demonstrate the impact and importance of obtaining expert legal advice if you believe that you may have a claim for Cauda Equina Syndrome compensation.
Click here to read more about our experience of Cauda Equina Syndrome medical negligence claims.
What is Cauda Equina Syndrome?
Cauda Equina Syndrome is a rare but severe medical condition that arises when there is pressure put on the bundle of nerves at the base of the spinal cord (the cauda equina). The pressure can be caused by a prolapsed (slipped) disc in the spine, a bleed, trauma, a tumour, or an infection. If the pressure on the nerves is not relieved quickly, permanent damage can occur.
These nerves are responsible for controlling the lower limbs, bladder, bowels. They also control sexual function. Any damage to the cauda equina nerves can lead to very serious neurological problems.
Click here to read more about Cauda Equina Syndrome.
Symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome
Cauda Equina Syndrome is often associated with lower back and leg pain. Not all cases of lower back and leg pain will be Cauda Equina Syndrome, but there are some important key symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome to look out for. These are called “red flag symptoms”.
The onset of Cauda Equina Syndrome red flag symptoms can be quick in some cases, or gradual in others. It is important that the red flag symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome are identified early so that treatment can be provided as quickly as possible to reduce the chance of permanent damage.
The red flag symptoms include:
- Loss of sensation: People with Cauda Equina Syndrome often notice numbness or loss of sensation around the inner thighs, buttocks, and genitals, or the “saddle”. This symptom can be noticed after going to the toilet if there is a change of sensation on wiping.
- Bladder and bowel dysfunction: Changes in bladder or bowel function are also common in cases of Cauda Equina Syndrome. People can have problems such as difficulty urinating, incontinence, or an inability to control bowel movements. Changes of sensation associated with bladder and bowel movements are also common.
- Weakness or paralysis and pain: People with Cauda Equina Syndrome can have difficulty walking due to loss of power and sensation in one or both legs. They can also experience pain in one or both legs or hips, which is sometimes called sciatic pain. They may have loss of reflexes in the lower limbs, or paralysis.
- Sexual dysfunction: People with Cauda Equina Syndrome can develop loss of sexual sensation or the ability to sustain an erection or orgasm.
Click here to read more about Cauda Equina Syndrome.
Diagnosis and Treatment of Cauda Equina Syndrome
If you or a loved one has any of the symptoms listed above, you should seek medical advice immediately.
Cauda Equina Syndrome is usually diagnosed by way of:
- Physical Examination: Your motor and sensory function will be assessed, and you will be checked for signs of weakness or abnormal reflexes. You may have to have a rectal examination to assess your saddle sensation.
- Radiology: Scans (usually an MRI scan) are essential to identify if there is pressure on the cauda equina nerve roots.
- Bladder Scan: A scan of your bladder may be performed to check your bladder function.
If Cauda Equina Syndrome is diagnosed and treated quickly, many patients can avoid permanent damage. However, delays in diagnosis or failure to act on red flag symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome can lead to irreversible nerve damage.
The treatment for Cauda Equina Syndrome is usually urgent surgery to relieve the pressure on the cauda equina nerve roots.
Click here to read more about Cauda Equina Syndrome.
Impact on Patients
For people diagnosed with Cauda Equina Syndrome, the impact can be life changing. The physical symptoms can be debilitating, and the emotional and psychological effects can be just as severe.
Common long-term consequences of Cauda Equina Syndrome are:
- Chronic Pain: People may experience long-term pain in the lower back and / or legs. The pain can be hard to control and may require life-long treatment or medication.
- Permanent Paralysis: In the most serious cases, Cauda Equina Syndrome can lead to permanent paralysis of the lower limbs, which significantly affects mobility and quality of life. This is a rare but devastating outcome of the condition.
- Incontinence: The cauda equina nerve roots control the function of the bladder and bowel, so any damage to those nerves can cause loss of bladder and bowel control. This may mean that someone is no longer aware when they need to open their bladder or bowels or that they cannot hold the urge for very long. In the most serious cases, Cauda Equina Syndrome can cause full incontinence of the bladder and bowel. These symptoms are physically and emotionally challenging and can be very restricting for people who have them, as well as causing emotional distress and embarrassment.
- Sexual Dysfunction: Cauda Equina Syndrome can result in sexual dysfunction, including loss of sensation and the inability to have an erection or orgasm. These problems can be extremely distressing and isolating and can place strain on relationships.
An impact of Cauda Equina Syndrome that is often not discussed is the financial strain that it places on patients and their families. The long-term problems caused by Cauda Equina Syndrome can mean that people are no longer able to work or cannot work as much as they did before the diagnosis. This can cause significant financial problems.
Many people with Cauda Equina Syndrome need care and assistance with daily tasks that they can no longer do because of their permanent symptoms. This can place a strain on family members or can mean that household tasks no longer get done.
A lot of people with Cauda Equina Syndrome may benefit from medical treatment or rehabilitation to treat or try to ease the problems that they are left with after surgery. This is often expensive and for many people it is unaffordable.
Click here to read more about Cauda Equina Syndrome.
Pursuing a Claim for Cauda Equina Syndrome Compensation
If believe that you or a loved one has experienced medical negligence in relation Cauda Equina Syndrome, you may be entitled to compensation.
Medical negligence occurs when the standard of care provided by a healthcare professional falls below what is expected of their field, and avoidable harm occurs as a result.
Cauda Equina Syndrome medical negligence claims may arise because of:
- Failure to diagnose: If the red flag symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome are not identified in a timely manner, this can lead to treatment being delayed and this may cause permanent harm.
- Failure to act on red flag symptoms: If Cauda Equina Syndrome is suspected, healthcare professionals are expected to take appropriate action. If this does not happen, the diagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome can be delayed, and this may lead to permanent harm.
- Mistakes during surgery: If spinal surgery is performed negligently and causes Cauda Equina Syndrome, this may lead to permanent harm.
Click here to read more about the common failures which can result in Cauda Equina Syndrome claims.
What Should You Do If You Think You Have a Cauda Equina Claim?
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of Cauda Equina Syndrome, you should seek medical advice from your GP or local A&E department immediately, so that you can have treatment as soon as possible if you need it. Delays in diagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome can significantly worsen your outcome.
If you believe that you may have a claim for medical negligence in relation to Cauda Equina Syndrome, then you can do the following:
- Consult a Specialist Medical Negligence Lawyer: If you believe that the diagnosis of Cauda Equina Syndrome was delayed, or that there were failures to manage the condition properly, contact a legal professional who specialises in medical negligence claims.
At MDS, we specialise in Cauda Equina Syndrome claims and have been dealing with them for over 20 years. In that time, we have built up extensive experience of Cauda Equina Syndrome claims and know how to successfully navigate the legal challenges our clients face.
We offer free initial consultations to discuss the details of your case.
- Gather Medical Records: Once you have instructed your specialist Cauda Equina Syndrome lawyer, they will obtain all of your relevant medical records, including test results, treatment history, and doctor’s notes. This will help them to create a timeline of what happened to you and assess whether there was medical negligence in the care that you received.
At MDS, we have extensive experience in handling Cauda Equina Syndrome claims against different types of health professionals, including paramedics, GPs, orthopaedic surgeons, A&E doctors, and physiotherapists. This gives us the ability to seek redress and secure Cauda Equina Syndrome Compensation for our clients in even the most robustly defended cases.
- Obtain Expert Evidence: Medical negligence claims are proved by expert witnesses who provide an opinion on the standard of care that you received and the cause of the injuries that you experienced.
At MDS, we have built up a team of leading medical experts across the country, who will robustly support your case, if there has been negligence in your care that caused avoidable harm.
- Pursue Cauda Equina Syndrome Compensation: If it is established that you have a claim for Cauda Equina Syndrome Compensation, your lawyer will help you to work out the value of your claim so that you can receive adequate compensation to cover your losses as the result of the negligence. This could cover medical bills, loss of earnings, pain and suffering, and the cost of ongoing care.
Click here to read more about how we can help you.
Real-Life MDS Case Examples and Testimonials
- Michelle’s case.
Michelle had back pain for some time. She saw her GP when she developed some urinary issues and numbness. Michelle was told about Cauda Equina Syndrome and to look out for “red flag symptoms”. Her symptoms got worse a few days later, so she went to A&E. She was seen by a junior doctor, but her concerns about Cauda Equina Syndrome were dismissed and she was sent home.
A few days later Michelle’s GP telephoned her, and she told them about the visit to hospital. Her GP immediately booked an emergency MRI scan, which was done later that day and Cauda Equina Syndrome was diagnosed. Michelle had emergency surgery the same day.
It was admitted that Cauda Equina Syndrome should have been diagnosed when Michelle first went to A&E. We negotiated compensation for Michelle.
Click here to read more about Michelle’s case.
- Mr B’s case.
Mr B had suffered with pain in his back and lower legs for several years. On an evening in December, he noticed difficulty passing urine, getting an erection and reduced sensation around his anus. The next morning, he developed shooting pains down his legs with pins and needles.
Mr B saw his GP and was examined. The GP noted reduced anal tone, saddle numbness and difficulty urinating. Mr B was referred to hospital for an assessment and MRI scan to rule out Cauda Equina Syndrome. Mr B went to the hospital, but the doctors said he had chronic back pain. He was sent home without an MRI scan.
Mr B’s symptoms continued to get worse until he had an MRI scan in early January. Shortly after, he was diagnosed with Cauda Equina Syndrome, and he had urgent surgery. We investigated Mr B’s case and negotiated compensation for him.
Click here to read more about Mr B’s case.
You can read more of our clients’ stories on our Cauda Equina Syndrome page.
MDS Testimonials - Cauda Equina Syndrome
“MDS are not just a firm of solicitors; they have really tried to boost awareness and thus prevention of Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) with people and doctors. They are not all talk and have taken action by volunteering for events, raising funds for the charity and promote awareness of the syndrome on their website. I do not think any other firm would do as much as MDS do for their clients. I have no hesitation in recommending MDS.”
“CES will always be a big part of my life, .............you have given me the opportunity and possibility of building a less stressful, manageable and meaningful future. I know how much you have worked tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcome on my behalf and I cannot thank you enough.”
“CES has been completely life changing........ What the MDS team has provided me with is closure.”
Cauda Equina Champions Charity
MDS supports the Cauda Equina Champions Charity, dedicated to raising awareness and aiding those affected by Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES), a serious neurological condition caused by nerve compression at the base of the spinal cord.
- Understanding CES: CES can result from various causes, including slipped discs, trauma, or medical procedures. It affects essential functions like bladder and bowel control, potentially leading to permanent disability.
- Importance of Early Detection: Timely diagnosis and treatment are crucial. Delayed action can lead to lifelong struggles with this debilitating condition.
- Support and Advocacy: The charity focuses on supporting sufferers, promoting early detection, and advocating for effective treatment. Moosa Duke's involvement includes highlighting client stories and supporting informational resources like Michelle’s misdiagnosis case study and relevant media coverage.
Visit the Cauda Equina Champions’ website to read more about how they support people with Cauda Equina Syndrome.
If you’ve been affected by Cauda Equina Syndrome and are concerned about medical negligence, contact MDS for expert legal advice. We will guide you through every step of the process and be in your corner. Contact us today to schedule your free consultation.
If you are concerned about any care that you or a member of your family has received, please contact our experienced team on 0116 254 7456 or email: enquiries@moosaduke.com. You can also enquire online by clicking here.
