Wayne Howard-Saunders was injured in 2008 in an industrial accident. Part of subsequent medical, surgical interventions and lengthy delays in treatment, Wayne developed Cauda Equina Syndrome despite telling them something was wrong early on. He underwent a decompression and laminectomy in 2009 but was sadly left with multiple lifelong problems as a result of physical and mental trauma. Wayne had found his world had changed overnight and with a young family at the time. He positively knew something wasn’t right and became his own advocate in getting the correct diagnosis of CES. He also pushed for the correct level and intervention by other NHS specialists and is grateful to his GP for his continued support over the years in picking up the pieces so to speak of the ripple effect of living with Cauda Equina Syndrome.
Wayne continued to adapt with CES and found life challenging including areas of: sustained and meaningful employment, social living needs, financial consequences of being disabled, relationships, limited social interactions and sustained support of the NHS given the long-term needs. He found life could have been easier given the ripple effect of having Cauda Equina spinal injury and knowledge around the life-changing injury rather than the attitude of thinking you should be better now you had the operation to fix it.
Wayne was diagnosed by his local Pain Specialist who deals with his CES management, with Central Pain Syndrome which can be from a spinal/nerve trauma such as CES. He is now temperature affected and lives with other pain challenges and found the Champions Charity therapy interventions support came at the right time in this chapter of his life and other diagnosis such as dystonia.
Wayne has lived with Cauda Equina now for many years but found his pain and symptoms progressed over time. He says his gut feeling was that something was not right. He raised his symptoms to GPs and specialists; however it was naturally hard to detect given he already lives with complex residual symptoms. His local Pain Specialist nurse raised concerns and asked me to be examined by his GP. He was sent to A&E promptly by his GP to his local hospital, who ordered a scan promptly.
This was down to the new suspected cauda equina NHS pathway, which correctly identified Wayne having CES for a second time round. Wayne had seen how the new pathway has helped first hand which has been a real positive game changer in detection and improving the chances of recovery from this devastating condition.
Wayne has found a positive outlet and is focusing his time and efforts now with fulfilling his need to be creative. This was sparked by Wayne undertaking Champions Charity psychotherapy sessions. He found scribbling down thoughts and visuals a form of communication like art therapy. At the time of Wayne’s second cauda equina emergency he was painting a vibrant picture for as a birthday gift and tried perching on a chair to ease the extreme pain. However after coming out of hospital he looked at the unfinished picture and could see spines like shapes within the composition. This led him to questioning art as a pain management tool and to explore further.
Wayne has invested in a warm therapy room/studio being made to help him long term with his creative outlet and uses art as a way of communicating his journey with CES and his passion for art. Wayne is sincerely grateful to the team who tirelessly supported him through difficult times and meeting other Cauda Equina sufferers.
Wayne has joined as a Charity Ambassador as he’s keen to help others where possible, share his journey and raise awareness of this condition to different audiences and stakeholders through the creative arts.
