Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) is a serious condition which is caused by the compression of the nerves in the lower portion of the spinal canal. If diagnosed it is considered a surgical emergency because if CES is left untreated it can lead to permanent disability. Medics use a number of red flags when diagnosing the syndrome; this makes them aware of the seriousness of the disease.
CES is caused by the significant narrowing of the spinal canal; it compresses the nerve roots below the level of the spinal cord. This means that nerves may become trapped, or unable to function properly in the process. There are numerous causes of CES that have been recorded:
- Trauma
- Herniated Disk
- Spinal Stenosis
- Inflammatory Conditions
- Infectious Conditions
- Accidental Medical Causes
If you are worried that you may be suffering from the illness, there are a number of symptoms to look for:
- Low back pain with tenderness to applied pressure
- Pain in one or both legs (often starts in the buttocks and travels down the back of the thighs and legs)
- Numbness in the groin
- Bowel and bladder disturbances
- If CES has been present for a lengthy period; muscle weakness or muscle wasting
Compensation claims for CES usually arise as a result of negligent surgery or because of a delay in the diagnosis. As mentioned before, a delay in the diagnosis of the illness can result in further and long-term suffering for the patient. It can worsen the condition, which often leaves it untreatable. Although there are many causes of CES, the most common results are from a prolapsed disc, which presses on the nerves at the base of the spinal column.
Failure to diagnose, resulting in a delay in treatment, is a frequent cause of compensation claims for CES. Damages to the patient, especially younger ones, can result in a far more serious situation – reduction of the earning capacity for the foreseeable future for example must be taken in to account in addition to the damages for the pain and suffering the victim is entitled to.
In most cases the medical service we receive is of a high standard; however, there are those rare cases when things go wrong and ‘patients slip through the net’. If you have been affected by CES or any other illness that medics failed to diagnose, causing you further suffering, then you may be able to make an injury compensation claim.