Find The Best Attorney For Your Case
(312) 346-5320 or (800) 517-1614
Free Consultations - 24/7
No Appointment Needed, Just Call

Free Case Review
From Our Attorneys

General Medical Malpractice Info

Types of Medical Malpractice

Call or email us. It’s completely confidential.

Speak to a lawyer about your situation for free.

We give you advice and/or a lawyer referral.

Cauda Equina Malpractice Lawyers

We are experienced attorneys who can help you find the best medical malpractice lawyer in Illinois for your case. Please contact us any time to speak with an attorney for free.

The caudal equina is a collection of nerve roots at the bottom of your spinal cord. Cauda equina is Latin for “horse’s tail” which is what the nerve roots look like. Nerves send and receive signals all throughout your body. The cauda equina nerve roots, in particular, allow you to move and feel sensation in your legs, bowels and bladder. Cauda equina syndrome occurs when those nerves get compressed. This can be due to a herniated lumbar disk, an infection, a lower back injury, spinal hemorrhages, etc. It can be incredibly important for this to be diagnosed in a timely manner.

This compression causes the nerves to not function properly. People with caudal equina may experience the following symptoms:

  • Severe pain in the lower back and/or in the legs (sciatica)
  • Weakness in the legs
  • Numbness, burning or tingling in the back of the legs, butt, hips and/or inner thighs
  • Urinary incontinence
  • Fecal incontinence
  • Urinary retention.

If someone is experiencing one or more of those symptoms, it is critical to get medical care as soon as possible. Consider it an emergency because if cauda equina syndrome isn’t treated or if there is a delay in treatment, permanent nerve damage can occur.  The nerve damage can cause the following:

  • Paralyzation
  • Sexual dysfunction
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control

Although these are not life-threatening conditions, a person’s health and quality of life would clearly be negatively impacted. Surgery is the treatment for caudal equina syndrome.

Typically, the results of a physical exam, neurological exam and/or imaging tests will give the doctor the information needed to diagnose cauda equina syndrome.

Unfortunately, we have been contacted by people with cauda equina who did seek help from a medical professional and did communicate their symptoms, but they were either 1) not diagnosed correctly, or 2) the doctor did not get them into surgery quickly enough to successfully treat it. When that happens and the injuries become permanent, it can be a lawsuit.

We have helped hundreds of people find the best medical malpractice lawyer in Illinois for their case and would love to help you. Cauda equina cases can be complex and require a firm with a track record of success. We will make sure you are with that type of firm as it gives you the best chance to get a great legal outcome. Every attorney works on a contingency basis which means there is no fee unless they are successful. We are attorneys and whoever we recommend to you is who we’d suggest to a family member or friend.

If you would like to have a free consultation, please call us any time at 312-346-5320. We help everywhere in Illinois.