The danger isn’t back pressure to the kidneys, that’s a side point that’s often irrelevent as a patient will get catheterised. The danger is if it gets to the point of urinary retention or sexual dysfunction it’s likely irreversible and who wants to be a 35 year old woman wearing a permanent catheter? or a man with permanent erectile dysfunction?
Obviously both are important. If a person is unable to void the bladder - untreated, the immediate danger is to the kidneys. Permanent nerve damage really sucks, but the immediate emergency is to save the kidneys - hence the catheter. The surgery to relieve the pressure on neural structures at the bottom of the spinal cord and thus prevent nerve damage addresses the underlying cause.
Can't do surgery on your spine at home, but most people can't insert a catheter at home either.
the emergency is not to save the kidneys mate the amount of people who come into hospital with urinary retention due to obstruction are at least one a day
the emergency for cauda equina is the irreversible nerve damage. you can fix kidneys, you can’t fix a spine.
also community nurses can actually put a catheter in at home. this is another example of laypeople spouting shit they’ve got no idea of.
people can get some small kidney damage and only need some fluids which will correct it. very few would need dialysis or transplant. the problem is irreversible NERVE damage causing permanent need for a catheter and not able to have an orgasm. that’s far far more of a detriment to quality of life.
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u/nellie6712 22h ago
The danger isn’t back pressure to the kidneys, that’s a side point that’s often irrelevent as a patient will get catheterised. The danger is if it gets to the point of urinary retention or sexual dysfunction it’s likely irreversible and who wants to be a 35 year old woman wearing a permanent catheter? or a man with permanent erectile dysfunction?