When we seek medical care, we trust our healthcare providers to recognize serious conditions and act quickly to treat them. In most cases, they do. But when a spinal infection like an epidural abscess is misdiagnosed or improperly treated, the consequences can be life-altering—even fatal. At Terrell Hogan Law, we fight for victims of medical negligence, including those who have suffered devastating harm from misdiagnosed or mistreated spinal infections.
Understanding Spinal Epidural Abscesses
A spinal epidural abscess is a serious infection that develops inside the spinal column. As the infection spreads, it puts pressure on the spinal cord, leading to severe pain, neurological symptoms, and, if untreated, permanent paralysis or loss of function.
Some early warning signs of a spinal epidural abscess include:
- Severe pain in the affected area of the spine
- Fever and increased white blood cell count
- Weakness in the arms or legs as the infection progresses
- Loss of bowel or bladder control in advanced cases
If doctors fail to recognize these symptoms and don’t act quickly, the damage can be permanent and devastating.