Cauda equina syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome is a medical emergency and occurs when a large collection of nerves in the lower back become compressed. This may be due to a large lumbar disc herniation, surgery, trauma, fracture, haematoma or a tumour. Regardless of the cause, a space-occupying lesion (thing) is placing pressure on the cauda equine (a bunch of nerves in the low back). Cauda equina means horses tail in Latin.

Symptoms

The cauda equina is a collection of nerves. One of the roles of these nerves is to supply the pelvis and bowel and bladder. Therefore, an initial symptom is ‘saddle anesthesia’ and this involves numbness in the area of the anus, genitals, buttocks and back of the legs. Urinary retention and difficulty emptying the bladder is possible. There may also be urinary or fecal incontinence. Because the cauda equina contains nerves that control the muscles of the legs, muscle weakness is common. Low back pain and sciatica type symptoms down both legs can occur.

Treatment

Cauda equina is treatment by a medical team and requires urgent attention.

Other causes of low back pain

The following conditions are some causes of low back pain.

• Lumbar myelopathy
• Lumbar spinal stenosis
• Bone Spurs
• Degenerative disc disease (DDD)
• Pinched nerve
• Lumbar radiculopathy
• Lumbar facet joint pain
• Bulging Disc
• Herniated Disc
• Disc protrusion
• Discogenic pain
• Post laminectomy syndrome
• Coccydynia
• Spondylolisthesis
• Spondyloarthropathy
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Reiter’s syndrome
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Enteropathic arthritis
• Sciatica
• Sacroiliac disorders
• Foot drop
• Spinal neurofibroma
• Acute low pain
• Chronic low back pain
• Stiff low back
• Trigger points in the low back
• Red flags for low back pain
• Internal disc disruption
• Lumbar spondylosis
• Lumbar facet syndrome
• Lumbar foraminal stenosis
• Lumbar disc herniation
• Lumbar osteoarthritis
• Lumbar osteophytes