Bladder Symptoms and Cauda Equina Syndrome Compensation
Urinary or bladder symptoms can be a sign that a patient is developing cauda equina syndrome. A failure to consider these symptoms may be regarded as substandard care.
Bladder sensation and CES
For a patient with lower back pain, accompanying bladder symptoms may indicate that the root of the problem lies with the cauda equina nerves in the lumbar region of the spine.
Loss of bladder sensation and function is one of the red flag symptoms of compression of the cauda equina nerves. This may have been caused by a herniated disc, for example, and requires emergency surgery before the patient's function loss becomes permanent.
The extent to which a patient is experiencing bladder dysfunction is regarded as key to the urgency of their diagnosis and surgery.
A patient who has completely lost bladder sensation and is unaware that they need to urinate is thought to be less likely to achieve a good outcome from surgery.
A patient who is experiencing some bladder dysfunction but retains some awareness of sensation and control is likely to be regarded as an emergency. A delay of only a few hours can mean the difference between recovery and permanent disability.
Medical negligence
If bladder symptoms, such as poor flow, altered sensation and difficulty in emptying the bladder are ignored or misdiagnosed, the patient may return home with a false reassurance that their condition has been understood, only to find that their bladder symptoms worsen and they suffer permanent loss of bladder function.
In these circumstances, the relevant medical professional may be regarded as having provided substandard care and it may be appropriate to make a claim for compensation.
The impact of complete cauda equina syndrome can be utterly life-changing and a successful compensation claim can provide the patient with recompense for their financial losses. This might include loss of income from employment or the costs of accommodation amendments.
Legal advice
Glynns Solicitors is a medical negligence legal practice with extensive experience in cauda equina syndrome claims.
Contact us today to talk to one of our specialist medical negligence solicitors.
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