TL;DR: Yes, a herniated disk can cause paralysis if the injury is severe enough and goes untreated. When a disk ruptures and presses on your spinal cord or a bundle of nerves called the cauda equina, it can cut off the signals between your brain and your legs. This is called cauda equina syndrome and it is a medical emergency. If you have a herniated disk and suddenly lose control of your bladder or bowels, experience numbness in your groin area, or notice weakness in both legs, you need to get to a hospital immediately. Without emergency surgery, this type of spinal compression can leave you permanently paralyzed from the waist down.
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If this was helpful, keep going with Can a Herniated Disk Cause Paralysis? and What Are the Red Flags of Neck Injury?.
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Related Articles
Can a Herniated Disk Cause Paralysis?
Yes, a herniated disk can cause paralysis if the injury is severe enough and goes untreated. When a disk ruptures and presses on your spinal cord or a bundle of nerves called the cauda equina, it can cut off the signals between your brain and your legs. This is called cauda equina syndrome and it is a medical emergency
What Are the Red Flags of Neck Injury?
The red flags of neck injury include severe pain that radiates down your arms, sudden weakness in your hands or arms, loss of coordination, difficulty walking, numbness or tingling in your extremities, and loss of bladder or bowel control. These warning signs can mean you have a herniated disk, spinal cord damage, or nerve compression that needs immediate medical attention
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