Anatomists who dissected cadavers centuries ago thought that the collection of nerve roots looked like the tail of a horse - the cauda equina. A cauda equina syndrome is what you get when you impair the function of many or all of the nerve roots in the cauda equina, that is, those from about L2 through S4. Therefore, it is possible to get pain and numbness as well as bladder dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, and muscle weakness in the legs. On the other hand, the most common damage to the roots from L4-L5 disc herniation is limited to the L5 nerve root. There, you have no sphincter or perineal symptoms.
Pain radiates down the back of the leg to the side of the ankle and over the great toe.
Numbness is limited to an area over the great toe. I hope this anatomy lesson helps you interpret what your doctors are telling you. Thanks for your patience waiting for a reply. CCF MD mdf. Information contained within this forum is intended solely for general educational purposes and is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice relative to your specific medical condition or question.