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Cauda Equina


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#1 popsune

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Posted 19 December 2008 - 06:03 AM

Does anyone knows what this term means and the prospects for recovery?

#2 fatdave

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Posted 19 December 2008 - 07:54 AM

depends on the extent of the damage to the cauda equina and the age and general health of the person.

Quote

Cauda equina syndrome is a serious neurologic condition in which there is acute loss of function of the neurologic elements (nerve roots) of the spinal canal below the termination (conus) of the spinal cord

Quote

After the conus the canal contains a mass of nerves (the cauda equina - "'['horse tail']'" - branches off the lower end of the spinal cord and contains the nerve roots from L1-5 and S1-5. The nerve roots from L4-S4 join in the sacral plexus which affects the sciatic nerve ) which travels caudally (toward the feet).

Any lesion which compresses or disturbs the function of the cauda equina may disable the nerves although the most common is a central disc prolapse.

Metastatic disease should be suspected in every patient with weight loss and cauda equina syndrome.

from here link to wikipedia entry

Edited by fatdave, 19 December 2008 - 07:55 AM.

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#3 popsune

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Posted 19 December 2008 - 08:14 AM

Thanks.

I have the following injuries:

L3 Burst
L5 Burst
Spinous process, L2 Pedicle
Left ankle tibial plateau

What is a burst and crush fracture?

What is L2 Pedicle?

What is a tibial plateau?

What does the following statement mean:

[Ct Spine Lumbar - Crush fracture L3 vertebral body, retropulsion of bony fragments into central canal causing severe canal stenosis.]

#4 wales1

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Posted 20 December 2008 - 11:32 AM

popsune i have, it it effects my movement and feeling in my right leg bladder,bowel, and sexual function,i am getting some changes in feelin in my foot but still cant walk unaided, got to use a chair for anything longer than a few dozen metres,ive had a leg brace made which should correct my foot which is well out of shape from muscles not working right,bad anckel spasms as well and allot of nerve pain in legs.
using peristeen system for bowels this helps alot!!
ive bin told is perminant but i can notice little improvments,
im plannin on walkin again!!! so dont let it beat u
dont let depressioin get u keep positve,
oh yeah on the plus side u can get a bus pass... lol ...pmls
all the best

......dave we have the same lvl keep positive, ive read some of ur posts.. keep on top of it!!!!

#5 popsune

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Posted 20 December 2008 - 08:02 PM

View Postwales1, on Dec 20 2008, 07:32 PM, said:

popsune i have, it it effects my movement and feeling in my right leg bladder,bowel, and sexual function,i am getting some changes in feelin in my foot but still cant walk unaided, got to use a chair for anything longer than a few dozen metres,ive had a leg brace made which should correct my foot which is well out of shape from muscles not working right,bad anckel spasms as well and allot of nerve pain in legs.
using peristeen system for bowels this helps alot!!
ive bin told is perminant but i can notice little improvments,
im plannin on walkin again!!! so dont let it beat u
dont let depressioin get u keep positve,
oh yeah on the plus side u can get a bus pass... lol ...pmls
all the best

......dave we have the same lvl keep positive, ive read some of ur posts.. keep on top of it!!!!
hey thanks for the encouragement!

#6 Trinity

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Posted 21 December 2008 - 04:41 PM

What is a burst and crush fracture?
A burst fracture is a describes an injury to the spine in which the vertebral body is severely compressed. With a great deal of force vertically onto the spine, a vertebra may be crushed.

If it is only crushed in the front part of the spine, it becomes wedge shaped and is called a compression fracture. However, if the vertebral body is crushed in all directions it is called a burst fracture. The term burst implies that the margins of the vertebral body spread out in all directions.
(ref: http://www.spineuniv...ticle1434.html)

What is L2 Pedicle?
vertebra.jpg

What is a tibial plateau?

The part of your leg just below the knee

What does the following statement mean:

[Ct Spine Lumbar - Crush fracture L3 vertebral body, retropulsion of bony fragments into central canal causing severe canal stenosis.]

Bits of bone were forced into the spinal canal causing it to narrow, this can cause compression of the nerves and sometimes the cord

Memento Vivere
Memento Mori


#7 Kwag_Myers

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Posted 22 December 2008 - 04:55 PM

We have a couple other threads going on CES that you may find interesting - here and here.
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