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What to do if…
you notice new numbness in the groin area or trouble controlling your bladder or bowels

Produced and maintained by PanicStation.org Published: Last reviewed: Editorial policy UK guide

Short answer

Go to A&E now, or call 999 if you cannot safely get there. New groin, saddle-area, bladder, or bowel control symptoms can be a warning sign of serious spinal nerve compression that needs urgent assessment.

Do not do these things

  • Don’t wait to see if it goes away, sleep it off, or save it for a routine appointment.
  • Don’t make a routine GP, physio, or private clinic appointment your next step.
  • Don’t drive yourself if your legs feel weak or numb, you feel unsafe to drive, or pain is stopping you from concentrating.
  • Don’t use alcohol or extra sedating medicine to get through the journey. Take prescribed medicine only as directed unless a clinician tells you otherwise.
  • Don’t assume it is only a pulled muscle because back pain is mild or comes and goes.
  • Don’t repeatedly test the numb area or keep walking around to prove whether it is changing.

What to do now

  1. If you cannot pass urine at all, have rapidly worsening leg weakness, feel seriously unwell, or cannot travel safely, call 999 now. Say: “I have new groin or saddle numbness and new bladder or bowel control problems.”
  2. Go to your nearest A&E now. Ask someone to take you, use a taxi, or follow 999 advice rather than driving yourself if driving is not clearly safe.
  3. If you cannot get to A&E and you are not sure whether to call 999, contact NHS 111 immediately. Say clearly that you have new groin or saddle-area numbness and new bladder or bowel control changes, and ask for the fastest route to emergency assessment.
  4. At triage, use direct words: “I have new numbness in the groin or saddle area and new trouble controlling my bladder or bowels. I am worried about cauda equina or spinal nerve compression.”
  5. Write a short note in your phone for the clinician:
    • when the numbness started or changed
    • what has changed with peeing or pooing, such as leaking, not being able to start, not being able to stop, not feeling it, or not knowing when your bladder is full
    • any new leg weakness, numbness, or pain down one or both legs
    • any recent fall, injury, spinal procedure, epidural, or known disc problem
  6. Take essentials only: your medication list or photos of labels, allergy information, your NHS number if you know it, your phone, a charger, and a warm layer.
  7. If you are alone, message or call someone now so they know where you are going and can stay available by phone or meet you at A&E.

What can wait

  • You do not need to work out the cause right now.
  • You do not need to decide whether you need a scan, surgery, referral, or follow-up.
  • You do not need to gather old letters or search for every previous symptom before leaving.
  • You do not need to feel certain that it is serious before going. The point is to be checked promptly.

Important reassurance

These symptoms can feel embarrassing, confusing, or easy to minimise. A&E staff are used to hearing about bladder, bowel, genital, and saddle-area symptoms, and new changes in these areas are treated as red flags because delays can matter. Getting checked urgently is the safe step even if the cause turns out to be less serious.

Scope note

These are first steps only: get to urgent assessment and describe the symptoms clearly. Decisions about tests, treatment, admission, discharge, or follow-up may need specialist medical input after you have been assessed.

Important note

This is general information only. It is not a diagnosis and is not legal, medical, financial, therapeutic, or other professional advice. If these symptoms are present now, seek urgent medical assessment now.

Additional Resources

Closely connected guides that may be useful during the same situation or its immediate aftermath.

About this guide

This guide was produced and is maintained by PanicStation.org using its published editorial process. Official and specialist sources are checked where relevant, and AI-assisted tools may be used for drafting, organisation, and consistency checks. The site operator remains responsible for publication, revision, and removal decisions.

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