Cauda Equina Syndrome....just my luck

[kyoshi6]

Hey Bro's,
I usually post on another site but I figured this is the place to put this post.

Had a back injury back in 2001 after a heavy leg press set. I felt something give in my back and I couldn't walk for a few days but now I am here at this point TODAY.

I had been having back pain pretty major at times for about 3 weeks. It got really bad one day and I had my wife take me to the ER. They did an xray and found nothing. Gave me pain meds and muscle relaxers and sent me home. 5 hours later I am back at the same ER in excrusiating pain, tears and all. I am no baby by any means and after 28 years of martial arts I thought I knew what pain was. I didn't.. This time I think they realized I wasn't there pain pill "fix". Any movement of my left leg just sent me through the roof. They sent me back for a MRI and 38 minutes later I was being cut open. I had pain shooting down my left ass cheek, down my left leg, and into my foot. No other symptoms except a dribble of piss and that only because I had to really go and the pain was so bad. The Neurosurgeon didn't tell me anything except that I needed to sign the relaease for surgery form and that they had to do the surgery immediately or I stood a chance of permanent paralysis from nerve damage. I barely remember signing the form....they had me so doped up with narcotic pain meds. I woke up in my hospital room after what they said was a 3 1/2 hour surgery from a bone that has broken off at L-5 and had gotten lodged in between L-5 and S-1. So here is the CATCH. They are now telling me I have CAUDA EQUINA SYNDROME. I had none of the symptoms of Cauda Equina except for the pain. I hadn't pissed or shit myself, i didn't have drop foot, i wasn't numb in the groin or have any muscle weakness but after surgery I DO !!! Here are my symptoms after surgery. Numb only on left side of penis and numb testicles (left side) numb perineal, numb left side of my ass. hypersensitive/numb left hamstring, left calf and left foot. The best way to describe the way my foot feels is like having your foot go to sleep, multiply that times 5 and then slap your foot while asleep. It is like that all the time. Hurts to take a step on my crutches. I am unable to flex the left side of my butt, my hamstring, calf, or even able to move my left foot in any direction. My foot just doesn't work. We are looking into legal matters right now since none of this was going on before surgery. What do you guys think ?? Any one here have any medical or legal experience that would like to give me some input..
Thanks,
Kyoshi6

 

[shirlene29]

what have they said at follow up beyond cauda equina? (means horsetail btw)

and how long has it been since surgery?

 

[mrplunkey]

If you had a bone fragment trapped in your vertebra and weren't paralyzed, be thankful they caught it and it didn't get worse.

It sounds like they found the problem, operated and prevented the damage from getting much worse. Why would you "look into legal matters" when they caught it quickly and fixed it?

 

[kyoshi6]

I had surgery November 23. So exactly 4 weeks ago. I just got some other medical records today and I haven't had time to read them. I have noticed that one MRI is missing and the Radiologist said she would continue to look for it. That just sounds strange to me that they could lose a MRI.

what have they said at follow up beyond cauda equina? (means horsetail btw)

and how long has it been since surgery?

 

[kyoshi6]

If you had a bone fragment trapped in your vertebra and weren't paralyzed, be thankful they caught it and it didn't get worse.

It sounds like they found the problem, operated and prevented the damage from getting much worse. Why would you "look into legal matters" when they caught it quickly and fixed it?

Well one of the "legal matters" is the object they left in my right forearm. I had another Dr. examine and he said it a a piece of plastic a little over an inch long inside my blood vein where the I.V. was administered. We originally thought it was just a blood clot or a hardened vessel from where the I.V. fluid was administered but it isn't. If I use my forearms very much (like using my crutches and gripping the handle) it bruises up about the size of the bottom of a coffee cup and gets really sore. The other legal is left to the finding of the other Raat the MRI. So far it looks like the surgery may have not needed to have been done. My main issue right now is the "thing" left in my arm..

 

[mrplunkey]

Well one of the "legal matters" is the object they left in my right forearm. I had another Dr. examine and he said it a a piece of plastic a little over an inch long inside my blood vein where the I.V. was administered. We originally thought it was just a blood clot or a hardened vessel from where the I.V. fluid was administered but it isn't. If I use my forearms very much (like using my crutches and gripping the handle) it bruises up about the size of the bottom of a coffee cup and gets really sore. The other legal is left to the finding of the other Raat the MRI. So far it looks like the surgery may have not needed to have been done. My main issue right now is the "thing" left in my arm..

They left the IV cannula in your vein? If so, they'd need to remove that immediately.

I've heard of infections in the vein that was cannulated. I've heard of veins collapsing or spasming post cannulation as well. Even a nasty bruise and/or clot is possible. But if that little silicone tube was left behind it needs to be removed immediately.

Is it still there, after four weeks have passed?

 

[shirlene29]

the cannula is beyond alarming....this is a nursing issue tho and shouldve been checked at discharge


the cauda equina can fade post surgery (swelling)
have you tried ice/heat and staying on top of NSAIDs?


im hesitant to say anything was nicked in surgery because the nerve bundle for this is huge
I cant say that Ive heard of such pronounced saddle numbness post surgery, but Im not a surgeon
I hope you continue to improve

also, how big was the incision? (steri strips or stritches or staples or what?)

 

[kyoshi6]

Yes, It is still there. I am having it removed this week. It gets really sore around it and if I use my right hand alot it will also bruise all around it. It took me until this past Thursday to get it looked at. It was around 3 weeks after the surgery before it was notice by a nurse after I complained of it bruising and being sore.

They left the IV cannula in your vein? If so, they'd need to remove that immediately.

I've heard of infections in the vein that was cannulated. I've heard of veins collapsing or spasming post cannulation as well. Even a nasty bruise and/or clot is possible. But if that little silicone tube was left behind it needs to be removed immediately.

Is it still there, after four weeks have passed?

 

[kyoshi6]

Yep. It was the nurse who removed everything at discharge. Yes I have used ice but haven't used heat.

The saddle numbness is a bitch too. It also feels as if I have left a large wallet in my left pocket each time I sit down. Not being able to move my leg in certain positions and not being able to move my foot in ANY position is something I am having a hard time getting used to.

The incision was right at 3 1/2 inches long. It says a reservoir manuever was done with the valsalva up to 30 and there was no evidence of fluid loss.

As far as the closure, my med records say.. The muscular layer was closed with 0 Vicryl at the fascial layer. The subcutaneous tissue was closed in 2 layers with 2-0 Vicryl and 3-0 Vicryl and the skin itself was closed with Monocryl in a subcuticular fashion.

The report say a very large piece of extruded fragment was removed and the nerve root was totally free. It says they used a nerve root retractor and retracted the nerve rootmedially and an annulotomy was performed and the more degenerative disk was removed from the disk space.

This is directly off my surgical report.

the cannula is beyond alarming....this is a nursing issue tho and shouldve been checked at discharge

the cauda equina can fade post surgery (swelling)
have you tried ice/heat and staying on top of NSAIDs?


im hesitant to say anything was nicked in surgery because the nerve bundle for this is huge
I cant say that Ive heard of such pronounced saddle numbness post surgery, but Im not a surgeon
I hope you continue to improve

also, how big was the incision? (steri strips or stritches or staples or what?)

 

[forged71]

Yep. It was the nurse who removed everything at discharge. Yes I have used ice but haven't used heat.

The saddle numbness is a bitch too. It also feels as if I have left a large wallet in my left pocket each time I sit down. Not being able to move my leg in certain positions and not being able to move my foot in ANY position is something I am having a hard time getting used to.

The incision was right at 3 1/2 inches long. It says a reservoir manuever was done with the valsalva up to 30 and there was no evidence of fluid loss.

As far as the closure, my med records say.. The muscular layer was closed with 0 Vicryl at the fascial layer. The subcutaneous tissue was closed in 2 layers with 2-0 Vicryl and 3-0 Vicryl and the skin itself was closed with Monocryl in a subcuticular fashion
The report say a very large piece of extruded fragment was removed and the nerve root was totally free. It says they used a nerve root retractor and retracted the nerve rootmedially and an annulotomy was performed and the more degenerative disk was removed from the disk space.

This is directly off my surgical report.

Okay as far as the cannula nurse's mistake and she should of noted that on the chart and let the physician know immediately..Now the Surg. report does it state anything about possible surrounding damage. This surgery has risks of its own and in most cases follow up surgery is needed to repair the damage done by the fist surgery. Nerve pain can linger as well kinda like finding that short in the xmas lights. If you were in the ER the first time and examined was this a Physician that examined you or a Physicians assistant.. Only reason asking and again this is just my experience physicians assistant are very educated and skilled but have a tendency to over look the underlying issues..Some times instead of saying hey I think I know whats wrong but whats your opinion they assume they know and send a very serious situation home with pain meds and hope for the best. Just to let you know you can request that your seen by a physician instead of the assistant..I would find a specialist in you area and have him give his thoughts on your surgery and diagnosis..
Peace, Forged

 

[kyoshi6]

There is nothing that I can find that says any additional damage on the med report other than degeneration. I may try to copy my med report here so it can be read by someone with more medical word knowledge than me. I have been doing as much research as I can but sometimes I have to look up one word at a time..lol

I appreciate any help or advice I can get. I should have stuck with "NO" like I kept telling them when they wanted me to sign the release form for surgery. They kept telling me I would very likely be paralized if I didn't have it and when they told me I could no longer have sex....well....I signed it. Guess you could say, I was damned if I didn't and damned if I did.. I am just keeping my head up and trying to be positive..

 

[musclemom]

There is nothing that I can find that says any additional damage on the med report other than degeneration. I may try to copy my med report here so it can be read by someone with more medical word knowledge than me. I have been doing as much research as I can but sometimes I have to look up one word at a time..lol

I appreciate any help or advice I can get. I should have stuck with "NO" like I kept telling them when they wanted me to sign the release form for surgery. They kept telling me I would very likely be paralized if I didn't have it and when they told me I could no longer have sex....well....I signed it. Guess you could say, I was damned if I didn't and damned if I did.. I am just keeping my head up and trying to be positive..

You need to speak to another neurosurgeon, preferably affiliated with another hospital system, one who specializes in lumbar conditions. They can look at your records, look at your imaging studies, and explain exactly whether you needed emergent surgery at that time, and what your condition was before the surgery. When a person is in excruciating, to the point they cannot move, back pain and losing bladder continence (sorry, dribbling piss, even if it is because you're in so much pain and don't want to move, will still appear as loss of continence to a doctor) that is an emergency condition, especially if bone/disc fragments are floating around Any time you have surgery you run risks. Nerves take time to recuperate from injury, swelling injures nerve tissue, surgery injurs nerve tissue. It can take up to a year or more to fully recuperate from spinal surgery so you are nowhere near having reached maximum medical improvement, not by a long shot.

You probably have some case for med. mal., just on the cannula thing alone, but what's far more important is to establish what's going on with your left lower lumbar nerve roots. You sound like you don't trust the doctor who performed the original surgery, which is why I suggested another neurosurgeon. If you want some suggestions for where to go, let me know (via PM if you want).

Oh, BTW, stay away from orthopedic spinal surgeons. Gods forbid they want to go back in, then you'll really get yourself in a mess because no neurosurgeon will touch your spine once an ortho has operated on it.

 

[silent says]

Was this surgery here in the US and if so what state?

 

[kyoshi6]

Thanks for the advice. I do have an appointment with another Neurosurgeon at another hospital and he does specialize in lumbar problems. I agree with your statement on the dribbling. I can see where they would see it that way. I had a follow up with the surgeon (Neuro) that did the operation 2 days ago and he said everything was looking good (don't know how he came to that conclusion since he didn't even look at or touch my back.)I will also send you a PM for a recommendation. I don't feel a trust issue with the surgeon that did the operation mainly because I have been calling him for 3 weeks and have left messages for him to return my calls when I had major swelling and other issues and have never heard back from him or anyone in his office. It's like he cut me and then wanted nothing else to do with me. I sorta feel like something went wrong in the surgery and he knows it and he is ignoring me hoping I will drop it and go somewhere else. Maybe that's not it but that is how I feel.. Thanks for your reply and advice and I will be sending a message by PM.

You need to speak to another neurosurgeon, preferably affiliated with another hospital system, one who specializes in lumbar conditions. They can look at your records, look at your imaging studies, and explain exactly whether you needed emergent surgery at that time, and what your condition was before the surgery. When a person is in excruciating, to the point they cannot move, back pain and losing bladder continence (sorry, dribbling piss, even if it is because you're in so much pain and don't want to move, will still appear as loss of continence to a doctor) that is an emergency condition, especially if bone/disc fragments are floating around Any time you have surgery you run risks. Nerves take time to recuperate from injury, swelling injures nerve tissue, surgery injurs nerve tissue. It can take up to a year or more to fully recuperate from spinal surgery so you are nowhere near having reached maximum medical improvement, not by a long shot.

You probably have some case for med. mal., just on the cannula thing alone, but what's far more important is to establish what's going on with your left lower lumbar nerve roots. You sound like you don't trust the doctor who performed the original surgery, which is why I suggested another neurosurgeon. If you want some suggestions for where to go, let me know (via PM if you want).

Oh, BTW, stay away from orthopedic spinal surgeons. Gods forbid they want to go back in, then you'll really get yourself in a mess because no neurosurgeon will touch your spine once an ortho has operated on it.

 

[kyoshi6]

Yes it was in the US. I had it done in Arkansas....

Was this surgery here in the US and if so what state?

 

[joe d]

damn man. i really hope things improve for you. keep us posted. get your diet as healthy as possible. its a whole different concept than the weight training diets. a good diet, lots of rest and some sort of exercise will help anything. get yourself out of the house ed also. sun light is also helpful.

 

[Drewb]

I'm sorry bro... My best wishes to you and your family.

 

[pip88]

Nerve damage is just one of those scary things where they tell you,"The discomfort could go away in a day, a week, a year, or maybe never". Goodluck bro.

 

[kyoshi6]

Nerve damage is just one of those scary things where they tell you,"The discomfort could go away in a day, a week, a year, or maybe never". Goodluck bro.

Thanks bro.
I am going tomorrow morning (Thursday) to have another MRI done. They are going to try and find out why I am still unable to walk normal and why I am having so much pain and numbness still. The Dr said something about another disc could be causing the problem. Looks to me that if it is, they would have saw it when they had me open.. I'll post the results from tomorrow

 

[shirlene29]

TTT


whats goin on with this bro...you havent emailed me since you went for the MRI