Mum in agony with 'sciatica' for 10 years - but true reason could have left her paralysed
Julie Coleman, 33, first experienced back and leg pain when she was pregnant in 2014 and spent the best part of 10 years visiting her GP surgery to raise her symptoms
A mum who spent a decade complaining of back pain before a large tumour was found growing inside her spinal cord will walk down the aisle on crutches at her wedding. Julie Coleman, 33, first experienced pain in her back and legs during her pregnancy in 2014 and was told it was sciatica that would likely subside after giving birth.
However, when her "shooting" leg pains persisted, Julie, who used to work for Alzheimer's Scotland, spent nearly 10 years visiting her GP surgery, only to be referred for physiotherapy sessions and prescribed painkillers.
Julie, who lives in Glasgow with her fiancé Stephen, 35, and their 10-year-old son Connor, said she "lost trust" in her GP surgery and felt she'd be in pain for the "rest of my life". It wasn't until November 2024 that she was finally referred for an MRI scan, which revealed a large, benign tumour growing inside her spinal cord.
Faced with the prospect of paralysis if left untreated, Julie underwent an operation to remove the tumour in January this year. However, the damage to her nerves may have already been done, as she's been diagnosed with a spinal cord injury and cannot feel anything below her right knee.
Julie, whose July wedding is fast approaching, has made the brave decision to walk down the aisle on crutches and plans for a seated ceremony with her fiancé. She has also set up a GoFundMe page to support her family with unforeseen expenses due to her medical condition.
"Of course, I hadn't imagined this would be how I would walk down the aisle and no-one grows up thinking one day they won't be able to walk down the aisle unassisted," Julie said.
"I was determined to walk down the aisle if it was a possibility and I'm very grateful I'm able to walk down – even if I do need a walking aid. I think we take our bodies for granted and if you feel something isn't right, keep pushing for answers."
Julie's ordeal began with back pain and "shooting" sensations in her right leg during her 2014 pregnancy with her son. Although initially diagnosed with sciatica by her GP, which she chose not to name, the discomfort persisted beyond childbirth.
"I spent the last six months of my pregnancy sitting up in bed, I couldn't lie down because it was too painful," Julie recalled.
Despite giving birth, Julie's pain remained, leading her on a decade-long journey involving countless GP visits, physio sessions, and pain medication.
"I was told it was sciatica caused by a slipped disc in my back," she recounted. "They said there's no point sending you for any scans because the back surgery is too dangerous.
"It was extremely frustrating and it got to the point where I probably lost trust in my GP because I knew they weren't going to do anything.
"I was going to several different GPs within the same practice and they were all saying the same thing. I just thought this is me for the rest of my life."
The situation took a turn when numbness began in her right foot in 2022, starting in her toes before "creeping" upwards. In November 2024, a fresh encounter with a new physio led to an MRI scan referral for her lower back, conducted on December 24 at Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow.
Her physio alerted her on New Year's Eve about "changes in my spinal cord" noticed in the scan. A January 9 appointment with a neurosurgeon at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital in Glasgow culminated in a full MRI of her spine and head.
That same day, she learned of a large tumour growing within her spinal cord, likely the culprit behind a decade of symptoms. "I was really shocked as I had been trying to say something was wrong the whole time," she revealed.
Julie was warned that the tumour could potentially lead to paralysis in the future due to nerve damage, and surgery was recommended as the best option. Despite the risks associated with the operation, including the possibility that not all symptoms would be "reversed", Julie decided to proceed.
She underwent the procedure to remove the tumour on 28 January at Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and expressed her deep gratitude towards the medical team for their care and support. The surgery was deemed "successful" with the majority of the tumour excised, though there is a chance that some fragments remain.
An MRI scan scheduled for August will provide more clarity on her condition.
The tumour was identified as a schwannoma, a rare, benign growth that develops from the nerve sheath, as per Cancer Research UK. Despite the surgical success, Julie's nerves may have already sustained damage; she was diagnosed with a spinal cord injury during her hospital stay, resulting in a loss of sensation below her right knee.
Since her return home on February 18, Julie has been using a Zimmer frame to navigate her house and relies on a wheelchair for travelling longer distances.
"I have random patches on my legs and stomach that are completely numb," she shared. "Most of my pain was down my right leg so that has obviously had the most damage to the nerves."
Julie revealed that it could take up to two years to determine whether her symptoms will be permanent as there is a possibility her feeling could return. She and her fiancé, Stephen, are set to get married in July, with Julie's son walking her down the aisle, where she'll rely on crutches for support.
In addition, Julie has started a GoFundMe page to help her family with any unforeseen expenses due to her condition, which has raised £225 at the time of writing.
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