How is horse tail syndrome manifested? Symptoms of this pathological condition will be discussed below. We will also tell you about how this disease is diagnosed and treated.
basic information
It is no secret to anyone that the transmission of certain signals to muscle tissues, as well as from them, in the human body is carried out thanks to nerves originating from the spinal cord. In medicine, they are called nerve roots. They are able to transmit impulses, as a result of which the brain determines what hurts a person, how his body is located in space and so on. Moreover, such roots allow the brain to fully control the entire body.
Below the lower back, a person has a special bundle of nerves. It is called the ponytail. With root inflammation, a horse tail syndrome occurs. You will learn more about this phenomenon from the materials of this article.
Features of the disease
Cauda equina syndrome is a fairly serious illness. As mentioned above, the cause of the development of such a pathological condition is the inflammatory process in the nerve roots.
It should also be noted that the disease in question can be caused by compression of nerve endings.
This pathology cannot be underestimated, since in the absence of timely and proper treatment, a person may have such negative consequences as paresis of the lower extremities and persistent disruption of the bladder.
Horse Tail Syndrome: Symptoms
It is rather difficult not to notice the development of the disease in question. This is due to the fact that the ponytail syndrome is quite pronounced. Specialists distinguish the following signs of this disease:
- severe lumbar pain;
- radicular pain, which manifests itself in one or both legs (usually begins in the region of the gluteal muscles, and then slowly descends down the reed, reaching the lower leg);
- numbness in the inguinal region, or rather, in the coccyx;
- malfunctions of the urinary bladder and intestines;
- muscle weakness in the legs, decreased sensitivity;
- complete elimination or reduction of foot reflexes.
Horse tail syndrome in humans is always accompanied by lower back pain. Experts say that such sensations can be of two types: radicular and local. Radicular pain is acute. The cause of its occurrence is a strong compression of the nerve roots. As for the local pain, this is quite deep, as well as a chronic in nature sensation, which appears as a result of irritation of the soft tissues and the vertebral body.
Other symptoms
How else does the ponytail manifest itself? We have already talked about how a malfunction of the bladder is characteristic of such a disease. However, all the manifestations of such violations should be highlighted here:
- A person suffering from this disease may experience urinary retention.
- Sometimes patients experience difficulties that appear at the very beginning of the urination process.
- In some people, the sensitivity of the urethral sphincter decreases markedly.
As for intestinal dysfunction, they appear as follows:
- the development of constipation;
- fecal incontinence;
- a decrease in the tone of the anus, as well as its excessive sensitivity.
Having found such unpleasant symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor to begin treatment. A doctor’s consultation is necessary not only to select the correct treatment regimen, but also to make the correct diagnosis. After all, the "horse tail" syndrome is quite easy to confuse with, for example, a hernia of the intervertebral disc.
The positive course of treatment for the disease in question depends on how long the patient has signs of the disease. So doctors often perform decompression if the first symptoms began to bother the patient two days ago. This procedure is the surgical removal of tissue causing root compression.
How to diagnose the disease?
The horse tail syndrome in a dog and a person is diagnosed in the same way. During the examination of the patient, doctors pay special attention to the symptoms that concern the patient. The following procedures may also be carried out:
- Roentgenography. Thanks to this research method, it is quite easy for a patient to detect degenerative changes.
- MRI, including contrast. With the help of tomography, you can make a complete diagnosis, identify a hernia, a tumor, and also see the "horse tail" itself.
Only a comprehensive examination of the patient will allow the specialist to determine the most optimal treatment.
Horse Tail Syndrome: Treatment
The treatment regimen of the disease in question is selected depending on what reason caused the development of the syndrome. People who have inflammation as a result of squeezing the roots are often prescribed anti-inflammatory drugs, in particular Ibuprofen. Along with these drugs, corticosteroids are also widely used.
If the patient has metastasis, then resort to radiation therapy (especially in cases where surgical intervention is contraindicated to the patient).
If the cause of the development of such a syndrome is infection, then the patient is prescribed a course of antibiotic therapy.
Treatment features
The general tactics for treating ponytail should be careful. If the first symptoms of the disease are detected, the doctor must resort to conservative therapy within one day. If after this time the result has not been achieved, then the syndrome is eliminated through surgical intervention.
Doctors pay special attention to those patients who suffer from a hernia of the spine. By the way, this disease can provoke the development of the syndrome in question. Typically, such people undergo a discectomy or laminectomy.
Forecast
If a person has bilateral sciatica, then the prognosis, compared with a patient who is experiencing unilateral pain, is poor.
If a patient is found to have complete perineal anesthesia, there is a high probability that he will form a steady paresis of the bladder.
The most accurate criterion by which you can make a forecast about a person’s recovery is the degree of sensitivity in the area of his perineum.
Disease prevention
To prevent the development of such a disease, due attention should be paid to its prevention. It is necessary to treat with special responsibility any possible signs (for example, pain in the legs, lower back region, weakness of the extremities, etc.).
It should also be borne in mind that even after surgery, the neurological deficit in the patient will not be completely eliminated. Therefore, it is better to be prepared for the fact that he will accompany the patient for some more time. In this regard, a person may need the help of specialists such as a physiotherapist, a sexologist, a social worker, etc.
It is also important to observe the following rules:
- drink more fluids;
- do enemas for constipation;
- use a catheter to remove urine from the bladder.
By taking these recommendations responsibly, you can avoid the development of the syndrome in question.