02 | The FIRST MISDIAGNOSIS : DISCHARGED WITH SCIATICA

I Was Discharged With Sciatica

When I was admitted to hospital in July 2025, my symptoms had already progressed beyond jaw stiffness. I was falling backwards without warning and struggling to stand normally.

Imaging was carried out. Blood tests were taken. I was examined on the ward.

The results were described as reassuring.

I was told the most likely explanation was sciatica.

I had never had sciatica before and did not fully understand what it involved. I felt confused. My symptoms did not feel like lower back pain radiating down one leg — they felt broader and more unpredictable. During an assessment on the ward, I fell backwards again while being tested. Even then, I wasn’t entirely convinced the explanation fit.

However, I wanted to trust the medical professional in front of me. He appeared confident in his conclusion.

What I did not fully appreciate at the time was that his senior colleague disagreed with the diagnosis.

I was discharged home.

What I Would Say To Someone Now

Looking back, I understand that early imaging being normal can strongly influence decision-making. When tests do not show structural damage, more common explanations are often considered first.

At that stage, sciatica may have seemed reasonable based on the available information.

But what mattered most — and what I did not yet understand — was that my symptoms were progressing.

Falls without warning.
Muscle rigidity.
Difficulty standing normally.
Symptoms affecting more than one area.

Progression over time is often more important than a single scan result.