For those patients who do not make a full recovery after surgery, cauda equina syndrome can leave them with a mixed bag of permanent issues, similar to the Red flags that remain after surgery, becoming permanent disabilities.
Many of the permanent issues CES patients face cannot be seen and these people may appear “normal” in function and ability. Unlike those who rely on mobility aids and wheelchairs, some cauda equina patients may find it hard to communicate to family members and loved ones about the struggles they are facing every day.
“What do I say?” is a poem written by our charity ambassador Catrina Farnell. It gives a powerful insight into how it feels to be someone living with an invisible disability like chronic cauda equina syndrome.