Numbness Between The Legs – Do You Have Cauda Equina Syndrome?

Numbness between the legs is a symptom of cauda equina syndrome. If you are experiencing this problem and are also presenting the other ‘red flag’ symptoms of cauda equina syndrome, you must seek medical assistance immediately.

Saddle anaesthesia

Medical professionals often refer to the ‘saddle’ area of the body. This incorporates the buttocks, the perineum (the skin between the anus and genitals), the rectum and genitalia.

Saddle anaesthesia is when sensation is reduced in these areas of the body. There will be numbness in the buttocks/perineum/rectum/genitalia, along with a tingling sensation that many compare to pins and needles.

Saddle anaesthesia can be caused by a neurological condition called cauda equina syndrome. This is when the cauda equina nerves at the bottom of the spine become compressed, perhaps from a slipped disc, a spinal tumour or a chronic condition such as spondylitis ankylosing.

Other symptoms of cauda equina syndrome

Along with saddle anaesthesia, cauda equina syndrome is associated with a number of other symptoms, including:-

• Chronic lower back pain
• Sciatica in one or both legs
• Urinary dysfunction, with difficulty emptying the bladder and increased frequency
• Erectile dysfunction
• Foot drop

Together these symptoms are known as the ‘red flag’ symptoms of cauda equina syndrome, so-called because they act as a warning sign that spinal nerve compression has occurred.

If you are experiencing the red flag symptoms of cauda equina syndrome, you must seek medical attention without delay. Cauda equina syndrome must be treated with emergency surgical decompression, or long-term complications may arise.

Failure to spot red flag symptoms of cauda equina syndrome

Unfortunately there are occasions when medical professionals fail to spot the red flag symptoms of cauda equina syndrome, despite a patient seeking medical help – often on a number of occasions.

If this causes a patient to develop permanent cauda equina complications, there will be grounds for a medical negligence claim. This is because medical error has caused a patient to suffer physical injuries, something which could have been avoided with timely treatment. This will amount to medical negligence, for which a patient deserves to be compensated.

Contact us today

If you would like to speak to a solicitor about making a cauda equina claim, please get in touch with us today. We specialise in this area of the law and will be able to advise you upon your options, explaining whether you could be entitled to claim compensation.

Please call us free on 0800 234 3300, from a mobile click to call 01275 334030 or complete our Free Online Enquiry for a no cost, no obligation opinion.

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