I have had numbness from the waist to the thighs for weeks now...had my lumbar fusion 6-15-06 with many complications causing many falls after I got home and went yesterday to see my PM and he sent me for a stat MRI....and now am being sent to the NS today that did the surgery. The PM said he supects compression of the cauda equina as the culprit and I am wondering if anyone knows what I should expect?? I am scared to death to have anymore surgery but its not looking good for me

Hi Junie

I am undergoing tests for CES, the main symptoms are, loss of bladder and or bowel function plus numbness in the groin/genital area/foot drop. Have you experienced any bladder/bowel probs? I am very worried about this condition, I have been unable to urinate since January and have to self cath now. Please feel free to ask me any questions you may have.

love Bev x

Thanks Bev,
Just came from NS and I do not have this....I have something as bad or worse........Arachnoiditis and they are now considering me for a pain pump!!
I wish you all the best and thank you for responding to my question.....maybe it will help someone else!

Do you know that song cos if you do, just sing it to yourself, it will stop you from going nuts. I have had the fusion, followed by the neuropathy, the sciatica, the carpal tunnel, last year several prolapses, bladder dysfunction, spinal injections, promise of spinal cord stimulator, slight change of mind because of worsening condition, and that brings me up to the present time, when I saw my gastro intestinal chappie last week. He has been testing my bowel function for a year, and that is not really working either, so he has passed me on to a bowel butcher I think I might have to have a small bit lopped off. I will soon find out.
However when all is said and done, I am in good health and good hands. I have in the past had some awfull medics, but this lot are great and I trust them.
Stop worrying if you are able. Think positively, be up front and open, ask all the questions you want, and know and try to understand everything you can about your own body, and condition, without frightening the experts, or sounding too know-it-all.