Car accident injuries can range from minor bruises and shaken nerves to life-altering conditions. One lesser-known (but incredibly serious) traumatic injury that can sometimes occur in a car wreck is something called “cauda equina syndrome.”
While not as familiar to people – nor as common – as whiplash or broken bones, cauda equina syndrome is something that everybody should know about because of its potentially devastating impact when left untreated.
What is cauda equina syndrome?
There’s a bundle of nerves located at the very bottom of your spinal cord called the “horse’s tail” – or “cauda equina” bundle. Those nerves control a lot of essential functions, like bladder and bowel control – as well as the feeling and movement in your lower limbs and genital areas.
Those nerves can be compressed in traumatic accidents, particularly if the force of the wreck leads to a herniated disc in your back or some other spinal damage. Trauma in that area generally also causes swelling to start in the spinal canal, which can further compress those fragile nerves and cause further damage.
The worst part? You may not realize how badly you’re hurt until the condition turns critical. You may start out only feeling bruised and then graduate to:
- Severe lower back pain that won’t let up
- Numbness or tingling in your groin, buttocks or inner thighs
- Weakness in your legs that causes trouble walking
- Loss of bowel or bladder control, causing either retention or incontinence
Knowing these symptoms and acting fast is key to a positive outcome with this syndrome, so be on the alert if you’re in a wreck. This is also why it is critical to seek immediate medical attention after an accident – even when you think your injuries are minor.