Three Neurological Symptoms to Never Ignore

Having a body, as an older friend wryly observes, is complicated. Bodies can exhibit odd symptoms at any age, and the older we get, the more sudden and severe physical symptoms often tend to be. Sleep wrong and your hand goes numb. Twist the lid off a difficult jar and your back spasms. These experiences can be frustrating or irritating, but they’re usually not serious or long-term issues.

When you experience a physical symptom, the first question is what to do about it. Not every pain or twinge requires an immediate trip to the doctor or the ER. Most of the time, a headache isn’t caused by an aneurysm or a brain tumor, and a couple of pain relievers and some hydration will make everything better. Often, it’s appropriate to watch and wait for days or even weeks or months, to see if an issue resolves on its own.

Unfortunately, there are some symptoms that do call for immediate medical attention. It’s wise to know what they are, so that if you experience them, or witness them in a loved one, you can act promptly. Here are three neurological symptoms you should never ignore.

Sudden Urinary or Fecal Incontinence

Normal, healthy adults do not suddenly lose most control of their bladder or bowels. We’re not talking about occasional stress incontinence, where you may leak a little urine from time to time when your bladder is full; that is relatively common after a certain age (though you can certainly ask your doctor for help with this issue).

However, if you lose the ability to control your bladder or bowels, especially if that loss is sudden, you should seek emergency medical care. Head for the ER; don’t wait for your doctor to fit you into her schedule. This is a common symptom of cauda equina syndrome, and if it is not addressed immediately, you could suffer permanent, life-altering injury.

Just as commonly as it causes incontinence, cauda equina syndrome can also cause the opposite problem: urinary or fecal retention. That means you are unable to void your bladder or evacuate your bowels. If you experience this problem, seek immediate medical attention.

“Saddle Anesthesia”

Saddle anesthesia is another hallmark of cauda equina syndrome. It has that name because it refers to numbness in the parts of the body that would normally be in contact with a saddle if you were riding a horse, including your buttocks, genitals and inner thighs.

Cauda equina syndrome is not the only condition that has saddle anesthesia as a symptom. It can also be caused by spinal fracture, tumors, lumbar spinal stenosis (narrowing), arachnoiditis, or a ruptured lumbar disc. These are all conditions that could be very painful and disabling, so there is no good reason not to seek immediate medical attention if you begin to have numbness in the so-called saddle region. If you have a serious neurological issue, it can be dealt with; and if you don’t, you will be spared the worry that you might have a disabling condition.

Weakness or Numbness in One or Both Legs

As with saddle anesthesia, sudden onset weakness or numbness in the legs is one of the symptoms of cauda equina syndrome, as well as a number of other serious conditions. Some illnesses or injuries that cause sudden leg weakness or numbness include:

• Slipped disc
• Spinal tumor
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare autoimmune disorder in which the immune symptom attacks the nerves and eventually causes paralysis. Symptoms often begin in the feet and legs, and prompt treatment can limit progression of the disease.
• Stroke
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Myasthenia Gravis, a neuromuscular condition in which the body’s voluntary muscles become weaker; it is most common in women under 40 and men older than 60.
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. ALS is a serious neurodegenerative disease with no cure, but treatments are available to help control symptoms.
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Toxic neuropathy caused by exposure to certain chemicals
• Pinched nerve

Some of these conditions are more serious than others, but all warrant prompt medical attention. Getting evaluated is especially urgent if your leg weakness is severe with sudden onset, you experience loss of bladder or bowel control, or the weakness is accompanied by severe back or leg pain. You should also seek immediate evaluation if you are experiencing other symptoms of a stroke, for which immediate treatment makes a great difference in your prognosis.

It’s often tempting when a new symptom pops up to wait and see if it will go away. Life is busy, and nobody wants to face the possibility of a serious illness or more medical bills. Often, it’s just fine to wait and see. But if you experience any of the neurological symptoms listed above, your best bet is to play it safe and be evaluated immediately.

If you have experienced any of the above symptoms, sought treatment, and not been taken seriously, there is a possibility that your physician committed medical malpractice. To learn more about neurologist malpractice or to get legal help for a medical mistake that injured you, contact The Fraser Law Firm P.C. to schedule a consultation.