CAUDA EQUINA FOUNDATION INC

Description

Cauda equina syndrome is a collection of symptoms that result from injury to the spinal nerve roots (the lower back's nerves) in the lumbar spine leading to leg weakness, loss of bowel, bladder, and sexual function, chronic pain, and can lead to complete or partial paralysis. Not all patients have the same symptoms at onset or after diagnosis. It is possible to have a complete recovery if emergency medical intervention is performed under 24 hours.

Cauda equina syndrome (CES) is minimally understood by the community, much of the research being done on paralysis is being done on the spinal cord, not the cauda equina. Under-researched CES can lead to dangerous patient outcomes as CES is a diagnosis that can happen to anyone at any time in their lives.

Employers stress the importance of proper lifting to prevent injury but do not express the consequences of not doing so; do they know? Almost every individual in the world experiences low back pain at some point in their lives, yet they are not told when to see a general practitioner nor when to go to the emergency room. Timely diagnosis can mean the difference between a leaky bladder and complete paralysis from the waist down. We envision eradicating the devastating neurological effects of CES. Will you join our cause?