Back Pain/Cauda Equina Syndrome

[jasonleon]

I've had back pain for years in my lower back, most recently I had an MRI done that found multiple bulging discs as well as multiple disc degeneration disease. I went to the surgeon and he said I should try injection blocks prior to considering surgery because he would only consider one area (mildy severe) but he did say my condition was worse than what he would expect from someone my age (I'm 58).

I explained to him that sometimes the pain would get so bad that I couldn't get up from a chair or I'd have to crawl in my bed for a few days. The symptoms seem to mimic those of a cauda equina syndrome except I don't have all the other problems associated with it. I was never diagnosed with it over the years, would my MRI have shown/diagnosed me if I had the syndrome or does it only show the possible causes that may be leading to cauda equina? I would never go to the hospital when those severe symptoms occurred so I am a bit worried now, as I have read that it is categorized as a surgical emergency because it can cause nerve damage. Could it have been cauda equina that I have overlooked over the years?