10 Spinal Stenosis Symptoms
Symptom #4: Changes in Bowel and Bladder Habits
Bowel and bladder changes are most commonly seen in patients with lumbar stenosis. In severe cases, cauda equina syndrome may occur. It is a condition that happens when there is damage to the nerves at the part after the spinal cord has ended. It is a medical emergency.
The symptoms of cauda equina include low back pain, saddle paresthesias (pins and needles/numbness/tingling on the inner parts of the legs where a saddle would touch) pain radiating down the leg, urinary and fecal incontinence, and numbness around the anus. It can be of a gradual or acute onset. Besides spinal stenosis, cauda equina syndrome can be caused by herniated intervertebral discs, cancer, trauma, epidural hematoma, or epidural abscess. Diagnosis is confirmed using medical imaging and surgery is required.
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