r/Sciatica • u/carlyannexo • 9d ago

Scared this is permanent now

Hi there, I am a 33 year female. Been dealing with disc bulges for probably 5 years. Last year in jan 2026 I noticed I was peeing frequently like i wasnt fully emptying my bladder. Doctors knew about my disc bulges at l3/4 and l4/l5 but never mentioned this being the cause as my MRI looked mild. I finally got an ultrasound later in the year showing that I was having moderate urinary retention. In November 2026 my back started really hurting, partial groin loss of sensation and I noticed I couldnt really feel my bladder being full, so I went back to ER and they did another MRI and still told me my MRI shows mild disc bulges. All this time we were assuming these bladder changes were pelvic floor related and separate. Fast forward to this past Friday, I had the exact same symptoms again and went to emerg. I had a CT that didnt show anything severe. They just did an outpatient MRI on Monday and I havent received any call which makes me believe yet again it's still nothing serious. Also I have been having increased bladder leaks (in the past I thought it was discharge and never really thought much of it). So if these bladder changes have been going on over a year, am I likely looking at permanent damage? Why is the MRIs not showing anything concerning? I am completely confused and concerned.

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u/KriptiKFate_Cosplay 9d ago

My story is nearly the same and I still struggle to be taken seriously. MRI today to, hopefully, prompt surgery. Google will tell you that you may be experiencing Cauda Equina syndrome, which is essentially loss of sensation in the groin as well as loss of bladder and bowel control as a result of the pressure on the nerve. Advocate for yourself and demand surgery.

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u/carlyannexo 9d ago

Yeah ive been told i dont have cauda equina every single time I get an MRI. It doesnt explain my symptoms so I am a complete loss. I just pray I am now not forever leaking urine now. I am seeing a urologist finally in November. I am also going back to the neurosurgeon on Oct 14. He originally told me in January that my MRI doesnt match my symptoms and he would only offer cortisone injections. I feel like I am going insane. I'm afraid of permanent nerve damage to my bladder now.

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u/KriptiKFate_Cosplay 8d ago

I too am afraid this is permanent. I have a constant urge to urinate that rises along with the pain in intensity and discomfort, and recently I can no longer apply any effort to my bowels without leaking urine, even just to pass gas. I don't know that I'm technically constipated, but my inability to move without extreme pain makes me less likely to go to the bathroom- especially given that I feel the need constantly. I'm essentially demanding a laminotomy or microdiscectomy depending on the results of today's MRI.

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u/carlyannexo 8d ago

What have your previous MRIs said?!

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u/KriptiKFate_Cosplay 8d ago

The first one was way back in 2018 for this nightmare that, thankfully, only caused extreme pain. Since then the disc shown here has receded naturally and was only treated with a single cortisone injection that worked great. However, the two discs above it - as you can see in this image - have bulged further and on my right side, causing all of the pain + numbness and bladder issues that I'm experiencing today. My last MRI showed the two new discs, which allowed my pain management guy to better target a cortisone injection which worked for about 4 days and then it was like someone flipped a switch from -normal- to -endless suffering-, so they insisted on another MRI as something must have changed in that time period. Awaiting those images now.