A pinched nerve is a serious problem that impacts the spine. In addition to pain and discomfort in the back, pain can be referred to other areas of the body due to the pressure on the nerves around the spine. Most often, this pain is referred down the leg. It usually goes down one leg or the other and not both. However, in rare cases a pinched nerve (also known as a herniated disc) radiates pain down both legs. This condition is called Cauda Equina syndrome.
Significance
A pinched nerve or herniated disc can occur as a result of a sports injury, a car accident, a household fall or household accident. When a disc herniates, a piece of the herniated material may lodge itself in the spinal canal at a spot called the Cauda Equina. This will result in pain in the lower back and symptoms in both legs.
Symptoms
The symptoms from this type of herniation may include significant pain, loss of strength in the calf muscle, loss of control in the foot (foot drop) and tingling in the feet and/or toes in both legs.
Considerations
Symptoms like muscle weakness, numbness and pain in both legs needs to be treated with care. While rest is very important in treating any spinal injury, it may not help with Cauda Equina syndrome. Instead, it will need to be treated with pain killers, anti-inflammatories and eventually with physical therapy exercises that build up strength in the areas around the herniation.
Immediate Surgery
When you have symptoms in both legs, you can also have problems with both bladder and bowel control. In this case, immediate surgery is indicate. When a piece of disc fragment has lodged itself in the Cauda Equina and this symptom results, you cannot wait for rest and pain medication to have an impact. The problem must be addressed with surgery.
Prognosis
This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed quickly after an incident. While a pinched nerve or herniated disc can also occur through the aging process, when the herniation is so severe that the material inside the disc lodges against the Cauda Equina, it is almost always the result of an accident. As a result, surgery is almost always needed quickly. If it is misdiagnosed and surgery is not performed, permanent nerve damage can occur.
