A dedicated gym-goer was almost left paralysed after a seemingly routine session at her CrossFit class left her with a rare spinal injury, which left her relying on a walking stick every day.
Jodie Wickers, 35, was lifting a relatively modest 60kg during a deadlift session at her gym when she suddenly felt a sharp pain shoot through her back.
Despite regularly lifting up to 120kg, the pain from the lighter weight was a warning sign she couldn’t ignore.
The Hackney-based charity CEO, who was attending her usual CrossFit class, initially pushed through the discomfort, continuing to train for a full week, despite the growing pain.
It wasn’t until she visited her GP that an MRI scan revealed the extent of the injury: a slipped disc, which had triggered a severe and rare spinal condition known as cauda equina syndrome (CES).
CES is a condition in which the nerves at the bottom of the spinal cord become compressed, often leading to severe and life-altering symptoms.
It has recently been in the headlines due to Blue singer Duncan James’ own diagnosis.
The condition can cause back pain, numbness in the genital area, loss of bowel and bladder control, sexual dysfunction, and, in the worst cases, paralysis.
Jodie Wickers, 35, was lifting a relatively modest 60kg during a deadlift session at her gym when she suddenly felt a sharp pain shoot through her back
Despite regularly lifting up to 120kg, the pain from the lighter weight was a warning sign she couldn’t ignore
It wasn’t until she visited her GP that an MRI scan revealed the extent of the injury: a slipped disc
By the time Jodie had the MRI scan, she had already lost the ability to walk and was struggling with other debilitating symptoms, including urinary retention and constipation.
‘I joined CrossFit last year and it was a new way of lifting for me but not massively so. I’d done weightlifting for a long time,’ Jodie explained.
‘In November, I was in a CrossFit class doing deadlifts lifting half what I normally do, 60kg, and I felt a pain in my back.
‘I was going to the gym five or six times a week and, when you go to the gym, you have a mentality of pushing through the pain so I just carried on.
‘The next day my back was still hurting but I wanted to continue my gym routine. But [the pain] got really bad after a week or so. I kept pushing myself and made it worse.’
The situation escalated quickly, with Jodie eventually unable to move due to the severity of her pain. She soon stopped going to the gym altogether and was alarmed when bowel and bladder issues, such as constipation and urine retention, began to emerge.
‘I went for my MRI and they diagnosed me just from the image because the disc was so big,’ she said.
‘I had emergency surgery within 24 hours. I didn’t know anything about CES and I still didn’t really believe I had it because it was so rare.’
Jodie’s surgery, a lumbar decompression procedure, sought to alleviate the pressure on the nerves in her lower spine.
However, despite the intervention, she has been left with permanent nerve damage and significant weakness in her legs. This has forced her to rely on a walking stick every day.
By the time Jodie had the MRI scan, she had already lost the ability to walk and was struggling with other debilitating symptoms, including urinary retention and constipation
The Hackney-based charity CEO, who was attending her usual CrossFit class, initially pushed through the discomfort, continuing to train for a full week, despite the growing pain
The situation escalated quickly, with Jodie eventually unable to move due to the severity of her pain
She soon stopped going to the gym altogether and was alarmed when bowel and bladder issues, such as constipation and urine retention, began to emerge
‘I now have a lot of leg weakness and sciatica so I can’t walk that far. I’ll get shooting pains down my leg.
‘The hardest part for me is having to use a walking stick because my legs are weaker now. I use it every day and don’t really go out without it.’
Though there is a possibility her nerves may heal over time, Jodie’s recovery remains uncertain.
‘The nerves could rebuild, they could not – we don’t know. I would do anything to lift weights again.’
Reflecting on the experience, Jodie admitted that she never imagined a gym session could lead to something so serious.
‘You never think you could be paralysed or be incontinent from lifting weights. If I knew I would’ve been more cautious and gone to the doctors sooner.’
Now, as she works on her recovery, Jodie is determined to raise awareness of CES, particularly among people who regularly lift weights: ‘I love the gym but want more people to know about the risks involved and to be aware of the symptoms.’
CrossFit has been contacted for comment regarding the incident.
