Who's at most risk for cauda equina?

[ans]

I've had numbness in areas affected by this but no loss of bladder, etc.

Two questions actually: Is any particular mechanical defect at a particular level (or levels) render one more prone to this?

Two, can ADR surgery (or the disc itself) cause this?

I know this is a creepy topic but thought I'd ask. Thanks - ans

[Alastair]

Hi ans,
this subject is covered quite well and thoroughly in the FAQs with regard to bowel and bladder incontinence caused by surgery. There are some extremely good articles about this on the Web I was reading on the other day.
Best,
Alastair

[Mariaa]

ans,
significant pressure at level of first lumbar level and any level downward,traumatic injury to lower back, very large central disc bulge, invasion by tumor spread from elsewhere in body, and most common is midline prolapse of disc at L4-L5 are causes of CES (Cauda Equina Syndrome).

ADR?

[dmh]

I asked my physiatrist about this (not CES but about some funkey feelings I was having in the area I would assume is affeted by CES-I was/am not having saddle numbness per se). He seemed to think (and the pictures on www.chirogeek.com under IDD confirm this) with IDD and the resulting anular tears, chemicals and whatnot can be leaked onto any number of nerves thus causing intermitant nerve reactions in any number of areas. I have weird feelings in areas I know are not "classic" l5 or s1 dermatones, but I don't think that excludes those discs being the culprates.

I know this does not really answer you question, but my DR. helped to quell my fears a bit with his explination.
ciao
dmh

[ans]

*Thank you* all for responding. Seems unpredictable. Weird dmh when the pain's outside traditional dermatomes - esp. down there.

Alaistair, I didn't make the direct connection to CE, re:

http://adrsupport.org/private-cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ub...t_topic;f=6;t=000041

ADR = "significant pressure"?

Recent stuff of many:

http://www.aans.org/education/journa...-6-nsf-toc.asp

ans