Very confused re: symptoms versus scans

Tagged: Cauda Equina

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Shonuff
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September 18, 2020 at 4:15 pm

Post count: 1

#33013

Hello,

I’ve been really struggling for the past three months since this all started. I had back surgery (l5 s1) about six years ago. Reinjured my back this June just doing too much at once. Initially I had an appointment with my prior surgeon just to check in as I had back pain For about a week or so and had an aching feeling in my leg. But the weekend before my appointment, I was sitting down and realized I had completely emptied my bladder without knowing. Because I had always heard this could constitute an emergency, I rushed to The ER and they scanned me in the MRI- I was fully expecting needing emergency surgery but to my surprise they said I only had a small disc protrusion at the l5 s1 and not compressing my cauda equina nerves.

I was relieved but then later that week started having saddle area numbness. I continued to have random urinate leakage but nothing like the first incident. I was scared of course and actually headed back to the ER and again they did a lumbar scan and said nothing had changed. My surgeon reviewed these scans and agreed no surgery was needed.

Over the past three months I continue to have urinary leakage, frequency, need to get up at night to urinate, increased leg pain, intermittent saddle numbness, and am very afraid. I’m 37 and was very active before this and also have to take care of a four year old by myself. It got very stressful for me and I finally took a medical leave from work last month. I also feel like my balance is off.

I’ve now had four lumbar scans, a sacral exam, thoracic, cervical, and brain. I’ve gone to two neurosurgeons, an orthopedic surgeon, three neurologists, had EMG and NCV done- and nobody has recommended surgery. I had a urological work up which found an overactive detrusor which “seems odd in a 37 year old “ ie the doctor told me it’s likely neurological issues with my spine. But she’s a urologist – not a spine doctor.

I went to the ER last night because my leg pain has been getting worse. Again, a lumbar scan and told it’s just a small l5 s1 protrusion touching my s1 nerve but no compression.

I don’t know what to do because now I am told just to treat the symptoms. I’m depressed, anxious, in pain, and struggling. By all my research these symptoms are of CeS and I can’t find any other explanation. I don’t want to get worse and worse and I fear that I am. They want to give me an epidural shot but given my symptoms I’m just shocked.

Any ideas? The doctors don’t call my scans normal but have said I do not have CeS, yet can’t explain my symptoms. I live in Los Angeles and am seeing some of the best hospitals and doctors to my knowledge. Do I trust them or do I keep fighting for my health? I feel like I’m taking crazy pills and it’s making me feel subhuman. I really don’t think I can take this torture for more weeks on end.

Really sorry for long rant but I cry multiple times a day and have sunk into deep depression over this. Thanks in advance for any insight!

Donald Corenman, MD, DC
Moderator

September 19, 2020 at 8:31 am

Post count: 8660

#33014

Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES) is a specific problem from compression of the nerves below the L1 level. You have some symptoms of CES without evidence of compression which makes this a possible neuropathy (malfunction of the cauda equina without mechanical compression). Neuropathies are difficult to treat.

You might try first a short course of PO steroids to look for some resolution. If some results from that medication, an epidural steroid injection at L5-S1 to reduce inflammation might be in order.

Dr. Corenman

PLEASE REMEMBER, THIS FORUM IS MEANT TO PROVIDE GENERAL INFORMATION ON SPINE ANATOMY, CONDITIONS AND TREATMENTS. TO GET AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS, YOU MUST VISIT A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN PERSON.

Donald Corenman, MD, DC is a highly-regarded spine surgeon, considered an expert in the area of neck and back pain. Trained as both a Medical Doctor and Doctor of Chiropractic, Dr. Corenman earned academic appointments as Clinical Assistant Professor and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, and his research on spine surgery and rehabilitation has resulted in the publication of multiple peer-reviewed articles and two books.
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Donald Corenman, MD, DC

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Eric S

Sep 26, 2021

by Eric S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Successful pars repair at 46 years old

Back in November of 2018 (at 46 years old) I came from Vancouver BC to have a pars repair done with Dr. Donald Corenman at the Steadman Clinic in Vail Colorado. I'm finally posting this review nearly three years later in late 2021. The reason I waited so long was I wanted to know the final result before I posted my review. Unfortunately in that time Dr. Corenman has retired. Nevertheless, I want to post this review of Dr. Corenman and his staff at the Steadman Clinic in their excellent treatment of my L5 pars interarticularis.

I fractured my pars at age 42 back in 2014 when rolling on the gym floor, and was denied treatment by the Canadian healthcare system, probably due to my age. First my GP told me there was no surgical option for a pars defect, which was quite incorrect! I tried to live with it, but the symptoms worsened (periodic random spine slippage and weeks of resultant pain after just bending over to tie my shoe, so I eventually learned to mostly squat and hardly bend). When I finally consulted with Canadian spine surgeons, I was told they believed my pars defect had been congenital (since birth). This was absurd, considering I had done extreme martial arts (including jiu jitsu) for years prior, as well as 5 years of reinforcing steel full time in my 20s, probably the hardest job on the back you can find. No pars defect like mine would possibly have allowed this--ergo it was impossible that I had had the defect since birth. I did however have an asymptomatic congenital spina bifida occulta that made me more susceptible to a pars fracture. In 2014 in one instant, I went from having the strongest back people I knew said they'd ever seen, to being unable to safely bend over and tie my shoe without a non-negligible risk of my spine slipping randomly (which would lead to weeks of pain after each occurrence). This was due to the unilateral L5 pars defect, otherwise known as spondylolysis. It was when lying in pain on the floor 4 years later after maybe the 6th spine slippage event post injury, that I had had enough, and resolved to have surgery. If Canada's "universal health care" said no, I would make lemonade from lemons, and find the very best surgeon in the world at pars repairs. That was Dr. Donald Corenman. Dr. Corenman back in 2018 ran a website https://neckandback.com/ that dedicated many pages to the science of every aspect of pars repairs, from eligibility (good discs on MRI), to best surgical techniques (minimal open compared to minimally invasive), best imaging to use (i.e., O-Arm with Stealth imaging vs. older fluoroscopy), the ideal amount of BMP to use and why not use too much or too little, and much more, all to do with pars repairs, pages upon pages of his site just on the pars, with scientific references and his own extensive expert opinion. As a health research statistician, I was very impressed with this. It was in stark contrast to the websites of other spine surgeons which barely gave the pars a word or two, focusing almost exclusively on fusions. I had found the best surgeon in the world for pars repairs, and so after Dr. Corenman personally screened my MRI to ensure my discs were healthy, I booked the surgery.

Being 46 years old at the time of surgery in 2018, with a 4-year-old pars fracture from 2014 combined with a congenital SBO meant my pars fragment was somewhat atrophied, but it was "very solid", said Dr. Corenman in the operative report. Nevertheless, it was challenging with two things to fix, the pars and SBO, and OR time was around 4 hours. Recovery over the following months was guided by a very clear "Spine binder" from the Steadman Clinic with strict rules of "no BLT" (no bending, lifting or twisting), and illustrated physiotherapy guidelines. They even warned patients to avoid fish oil supplements, which could excessively dampen inflammation and hence slow bone healing. They answered many questions I had during months of recovery, with responses coming from the very supportive Lori Fugate (then director of Dr. Corenman's practice), and Ehrich Bean (then physician's assistant at the practice), as well as a couple calls with Dr. Corenman himself after two of the CT scans. Ehrich Bean offered great advice for taking the spine binder conservatively due to the nature of pars repairs vs. fusions. The final post-op CT scan I had was a couple weeks ago at 34 months post-op, and Dr. Corenman had retired, but I got a very positive and informative call from Eric Strauch (current PA at the Steadman Clinic under Dr. Corenman's replacement there, and who had also worked with Dr. Corenman previously). The staff at the Steadman Clinic were extremely supportive all the way through the process. I should mention, the local Canadian spine surgeon did offer me very good post-operative support including antibiotics as needed to deal with a mild surface incision-site infection early on, booking numerous x-rays when I felt something was amiss, as well as booking all four of my post-op CT scans. I am very grateful for that support also.

My final result shows plenty of solid bone across the pars and a healed SBO, with my vertebral body now a solid bone ring instead of being broken at two places as it was pre-op. Does my spine hold up in the real world? You bet! I have recently dug and moved several yards of dirt and sand and gravel by myself (shovel and wheelbarrow!) to fix our water main, pulled roots from the yard, moved several "portable" (these are HUGE) air conditioners up several flights of stairs my myself, and lifted weights. I now run 2 miles (3.2 KM) several times weekly with a hard 100 meter dash in the middle. I bend deeply before each run I go on, with no spine slippage. My spine feels amazing. I can bend over to do exercise, or real word tasks, with no risk of spine slippage.

My sincere thanks to God, Dr. Donald Corenman, Lori Fugate, Ehrich Bean, Eric Strauch, and the Steadman Clinic, as well as the Canadian spine surgeon who offered me excellent post-operative care back in Canada. You have all given me a new lease on life.

Sincerely,
Eric S

Robert S

May 11, 2021

by Robert S on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

Back Fusion Surgery

I had my entire lumbar spine fused in November of 2018. I had scoliosis , with pinched nerves that were so painful I could hardly walk - and standing for more than a few minutes was impossible. Even sitting was painful.
The fusion surgery produced immediate relief! And the recovery was much easier than I expected.
To this day I can do all the activities I love from hiking, to standing in a stream fly fishing to riding my bike long distances - or just walking down the street with my wife.
Kudos to Dr. Corenman and his staff, (including the two Erics) for taking such good care of me!

Leslie R

Jul 9, 2020

by Leslie R on Donald Corenman, MD, DC

TLIF

I had my TLIF surgery on 6/24/2020 by Dr. Corenman, I can not say enough good things about the Dr or his staff. I was always treated with respect and explained everything throughly, that made it easy for everyone to understand. I highly recommend Dr. Corenman and the Steadman Clinic.

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