A 39-year-old mom has opened up about being left paralyzed after experiencing 'strange' symptoms which doctors 'assumed' were signs of 'a pinched nerve'.
In May 2016, Tanya-lee Holmes from Bathurst, New South Wales in Australia, began experiencing neck pain and after a combination of painkillers, acupuncture and ordering special pillows failed to ease it, she underwent an x-ray, CT and MRI scan too.
Doctors believed it was 'a pinched nerve' and sent her home to wait it out, however, three days later, the mom - aged 39 at the time - woke up and felt 'an electric shock up [her] spine'.
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The mom told FEMAIL when doctors assumed the six weeks of pain was a pinched nerve, she was sent home to 'rest' alongside using 'heat packs'.
She recalled one day: "I stood up and it was like someone plugged me into a powerpoint. I got an electric shock up my spine and automatically started vomiting."
Despite her continuous vomiting, Tanya-lee dropped her youngest son to school, but by the time she returned, she had a 'migraine' too.
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She tried to sleep it off, but when she woke up a couple of hours later, she was in 'excruciating pain' and 'couldn't move' or 'feel [...] half of [her] body'.
Her 'strange' symptoms turned out to be something much more serious, leading to two cervical spin nerves randomly shattering.
Unable to get out of bed properly, Tanya-lee 'dragged' herself up the hallway and rung an ambulance.
Tests revealed she'd shattered her C4 and C5 nerves in her spine and there was 'absolutely no reason' why it'd occurred - 'it just kind of happened'.
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While the mom was 'walking unassisted within two weeks of surgery,' the left side of her body was still experiencing 'weakness and numbness'.
Tanya-lee continued: "Three months after that, I suddenly regressed and the paralysis to my left side got worse and I eventually couldn't stand by myself and couldn't walk unassisted at all. Doctors still have no idea why this happened."
The mom has been left using a wheelchair or walking stick to get around and her skin feels like it's 'on fire'.
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Tanya-lee reflected how she feels 'acquiring a disability is so much harder than being born with one' because 'the first thing you're looking at is all the things you planned for the future that will never happen'.
While having found it difficult to find work since the life-changing incident, Tanya-lee has since set up her own baking business - Imperfectly Perfect Sugar Cookies - and also helps other businesses with their 'disability advocacy and inclusion'.
Tanya-lee resolved she's 'proud to have a disability' and the person it's led to her to 'become'.
If you've been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact Scope via their website or on 0808 800 3333. The line is open 9am-6pm Monday to Fridays, and 10am-6pm Saturdays and Sundays.
Topics: Health, Sleep, Australia, Mental Health
Poppy Bilderbeck