A video promoting the awareness of Caudia Equina Syndrome (CES) has hit the internet this week thanks to Ability Access’s Simon Sansome with the assistance of Branded Studios and is having a dramatic impact on a people’s lives.
Shirley, 46 from Merseyside has had issues with her bladder and bowels for over 10 years which has affected her employability, the ability to claim benefits, housing issues and everything else that comes with having an undiagnosed medical condition as in the 10 years she has never had an official diagnosis.
She watched the CES awareness video which has now had over 40,000 views on social media, realised that this could be the reason why she is doubly incontinent which has been restricting her daily life for over a decade.
Shirley went to A&E and had an MRI scan and she was finally diagnosed with Cauda Equina Syndrome for the first time.
A diagnosis has been elusive for many years and has stopped her applying for the relevant benefits, assistance and care that she needed. She told Ability Access: “Now that a diagnosis has been made, she can get the appropriate housing, child benefits, council tax benefits, and also apply for a blue badge and the Motability scheme with PIP and is looking forward to getting her life back on track, as it will not only help myself but also my family.
Shirley has recommended that everyone who may have a back problem watches this video and use it to make people aware of Cauda Equina Syndrome whether it’s a small back issue or a large back issue because things can only get worse.
Cauda Equina Syndrome is preventable as long as it is operated on within 24-48 hours.
Simon Sansome who created the awareness video said: ‘This is what we were trying to do, to raise awareness of Cauda Equina Syndrome, and if it helps just one person it has done its job. We want make sure it is in a daily discussion for people who injury their back. If it is minor or large injury it could be the simple fact that you need an emergency decompression operation to reverse the effects of Cauda Equina Syndrome because you can make a full recovery as long as action is taken quick enough.
What is cauda equina syndrome?
Cauda equina syndrome is a serious condition where the nerves at the very bottom of the spinal cord become compressed.
Symptoms include:
- lower back pain
- numbness in your groin
- paralysis of one or both legs
- rectal pain
- loss of bowel control (bowel incontinence)
- loss of bladder control (urinary incontinence)
- pain in the inside of your thighs
Doctors advise seeking medical assistance immediately if a person develops these symptoms.
They should visit their GP or the accident and emergency (A&E) department of the nearest hospital.
If cauda equina syndrome is not promptly treated, the nerves to the bladder and bowel can become permanently damaged.
Source: NHS Choices
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