My daughter was just told she has an epidural abscess. This has been causing low back pain and leg muscle weakness. What is an epidural abscess?

An abscess is a pocket of pus from an infection. Epidural is a location outside the outermost covering of the brain and spinal cord. An epidural abscess usually occurs as a result of a chronic infection. This can be an ear infection, sinus infection, or bladder or kidney infection.

Sometimes, an infection of the disc material between the bones of the spine can cause an epidural abscess. The symptoms of low back pain and leg muscle weakness suggest an infection in the spinal cord, rather than the brain.

The usual treatment is a course of antibiotics. Sometimes, surgery is also needed.