Medical professionals diagnosed me with anxiety and declined treatment... now I'm confined to bed.

A woman's life is hanging in the balance due to a doctor's dismissal of her life-threatening neck injury as nothing more than pandemic-induced 'anxiety'.

Meet Maisie Moore, a 25-year-old mother residing in South West London, who can now only dream of the freedom to leave her bed. Plagued by severe neck pain, high blood pressure, a racing heart, and intense feelings of nausea, she lives a life of isolation, all thanks to the alarming dismissal of her symptoms by a medical professional.

Her agony began over four years ago, long before the pandemic took hold. A fearless entrepreneur with no previous medical conditions, Maisie first visited West Middlesex Hospital’s A&E department in March 2021, but her cries for help went unheard. Her neck pain was ridiculously and carelessly dismissed as merely 'anxiety caused by the pandemic'.

Feeling trapped and frustrated, her partner, Rebecca, 21, is now stepping up to change their destiny. They have set up a GoFundMe page in a desperate bid to raise the staggering £55,000 required for a critical surgery in Spain, which will help treat Maisie's rare medical condition.

Speaking to MailOnline, a broken Maisie shared her heart-wrenching story: 'The nurse I saw was certain it was anxiety and just told me to see my GP. I knew it couldn't be that. How can a feeling in your neck be anxiety?'

Rebecca echoed her sentiments, expressing her own doubts about the medical professional's assessment, "It felt like a bunch of excuses were being made instead of looking into the real problem." She felt as though her concerns, as both a loved one and a partner, were being disregarded.

Maisie's determination led her to seek help in a specialist clinic in Barcelona, Spain. To her shock, she was diagnosed with craniocervical instability, a rare medical condition characterized by excessive movement at the craniocervical junction, the area where the skull meets the spine. This condition, if left untreated, can cause rapid neurological decline, chronic fatigue, paralysis, and in the worst-case scenario, even life-threatening internal decapitation.

Given Maisie's weakened neck, the skull itself cannot support the weight of her head. If left untreated, this can lead to her skull becoming crushed by her brain stem, potentially causing irreversible damage.

While the NHS offers treatments for many of the condition's common symptoms in the UK, the craniocervical fusion surgery Maisie desperately needs to help stabilize her neck is currently unavailable in the country. Rebecca has shared her despair as she's watched Maisie deteriorate over the past six months, becoming increasingly depressed and "not herself". As a result, Maisie has been forced to give up her beloved pet grooming business, a venture she spent years nurturing.

Maisie's greatest fear is that she may not be able to witness her beloved one-year-old daughter growing up. Her incapacitated state has left her weak and unable to lift her own child. This ongoing ordeal has brought devastation to the young mother: "It's been really upsetting. I feel like I haven't been able to be a proper mom, I can't even lift her up. Without this money, I won't be able to live to see my little girl grow up. It's that simple really."

The couple's goal is to raise £55,000 through their GoFundMe page, hoping that it might offer a glimmer of hope for Maisie's future. They have also expressed hope that sharing her story will inspire others to advocate for themselves more actively when dealing with healthcare professionals.

Maisie lamented her supposed "letdown" by the medical professional who brushed off her symptoms as anxiety: "If someone had listened to me sooner, I might not have ended up where I am now."

A spokesperson for West Middlesex University Hospital commented on the case, "We are committed to delivering high-quality emergency care, ensuring that all patients are treated with compassion and urgency. We take any concerns about individual patient experiences seriously and conduct thorough investigations to seek opportunities to learn and improve."

[Insight] Craniocervical Instability: Understanding a Little-Known Medical Condition

Craniocervical instability (CCI) is a rare and complex medical condition that affects the neck and head. It is characterized by instability in the area where the skull meets the cervical spine, called the craniocervical junction. This instability can cause a range of symptoms such as neck pain, headaches, jaw pain, dizziness, and vision problems.

Diagnosing CCI can be challenging because symptoms may be vague or non-specific. Additionally, there is no definitive test to diagnose the condition. Treatment options for CCI vary and may include physical therapy, medication, bracing, and even surgery in severe cases. The goal of treatment is to reduce symptoms, manage pain, and prevent further damage.

References

NIH - Craniocervical Instability
AAOS - Craniocervical Instability
Spine Universe - Craniocervical Instability

Maisie Moore's business venture took a toll due to her health issues, as she had to give up her pet grooming business.
The couple's GoFundMe page aims to raise £55,000 for Maisie's critical surgery in Spain.
Maisie was initially dismissed by a medical professional as having anxiety, despite her symptoms pointing towards a physical ailment.
repeated attempts for help fell on deaf ears, until Maisie found a specialist in Barcelona who diagnosed her with craniocervical instability.
Craniocervical instability is a complex medical condition that affects the neck and head, causing a range of symptoms.
The condition is characterized by instability in the area where the skull meets the cervical spine.
If left untreated, CCI can cause rapid neurological decline, chronic fatigue, paralysis, and in the worst-case scenario, internal decapitation.
Diagnosing CCI can be challenging, as symptoms may be vague or non-specific, and there is no definitive test to diagnose the condition.
The health scare has impacted her mental health, causing Maisie to feel depressed and "not herself."
Craniocervical instability can also affect cardiovascular health, as symptoms such as high blood pressure and a racing heart are common.
Treatment options for CCI vary and may include physical therapy, medication, bracing, and surgery in severe cases.
The goal of treatment is to reduce symptoms, manage pain, and prevent further damage.
The couple hopes that raising awareness about Maisie's story will inspire others to advocate for themselves more actively when dealing with healthcare professionals.
The NHS offers treatments for many of the condition's common symptoms, but the craniocervical fusion surgery Maisie needs is currently unavailable in the UK.
Maisie's case shows the need for better workplace-wellness programs, which would provide resources for employees dealing with health challenges.
Mental health is often neglected in discussions about physical health, but it plays a crucial role in overall health and wellness.
As a new mother, Maisie's fear of not being able to witness her daughter grow up has become a reality.
Maisie's column in a women's magazine focuses on skincare and mental health, providing advice and support to fellow mothers.
In her column, Maisie often discusses therapies and treatments for chronic diseases, including type-2 diabetes, COPD, and chronic kidney disease.
Types of skin conditions she covers in her column include psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, and neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis and migraine.
For older women with health concerns, Medicare can provide coverage for treatments and therapies, including those related to cancer, Alzheimer's disease, and hearing loss.
Researchers are studying the effects of CBD on chronic diseases like type-2 diabetes, COPD, and multiple sclerosis.
Alternative treatments for chronic diseases such as acupuncture and herbal supplements have become popular, but their effectiveness remains debated.
Genetics can play a role in the development of autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.
Medical advancements have led to breakthroughs in the treatment of neurological disorders, such as new therapies for Parkinson's disease and therapies for breast cancer.
Men's health is often overlooked, with conditions like prostate cancer and heart disease being major concerns.
The changing landscape of family dynamics means that more families are caring for aging parents, creating new challenges and stressors.
Aging can also lead to digestive health issues, such as constipation and diverticulitis, and eye health issues like cataracts and glaucoma.

Medical professionals diagnosed me with anxiety and declined treatment... now I'm confined to bed.