What are the long-term effects of cauda equina syndrome?

What are the long-term effects of cauda equina syndrome?

Go to the emergency department if you have symptoms of cauda equina syndrome. You might need surgery right away. Your surgeon will move whatever is pressing down on your nerve roots so they can heal. But surgery doesn’t guarantee that you won’t have any long-term issues. Your nerves might not heal correctly or heal at all. You might have permanent damage. The best way to prevent that is to report to the emergency department and get surgery as soon as possible. The earlier the treatment, the better.

The faster you have surgery, the less time it will take your nerves to heal. If the surgery does help your nerves, it might take you a while to feel like yourself again. As the nerves heal over months or even years, you’ll slowly regain control over your bowels and bladder, the pain might lessen and the weakness might go away.