'I thought shoulder pain was from a trapped nerve - it was actually brain tumour'
'I thought shoulder pain was from a trapped nerve - it was actually brain tumour'
Daniel Jones had eight appointments with doctors before the true cause of his headaches, sickness, and balance problems were diagnosed
Daniel Jones woke up with severe pain in his left shoulder and left side of his back
An estate agent who thought his shoulder pain was just a trapped nerve was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Daniel Jones, 33, suddenly woke up with severe pain in his left shoulder and left side of his back.
His pain continued, and he started to experience a loss of vision, sickness and balance problems. Daniel decided to see his doctor, and a CT scan revealed a 6cmx3cm tumour on the back of his head.
The tumour itself was a grade 1 hemangioblastoma, which was around 6cm x 3cm and caused secondary issues with Daniel's eyesight. Daniel had a follow-up MRI after an eye test because of the brain tumour's fluid around the brain, which caused his eyes to swell up.
Daniel Jones, from Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, said: "I was in constant pain, and the only bit of comfort I had was if I lifted my arm above my head.
"It was continuous agony, and my whole shoulder blade was in pain. The symptoms were inconsistent. I would go from a day accepting them to the next day, which could be really painful.
"I just hoped they found something each time because I have been in so much pain. I had really strong painkillers and was even on travel sickness tablets."
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The scar left on Daniel Jones' head
(Image: Daniel Jones / SWNS )
It first started when Daniel woke up suddenly with shoulder pain in September 2024. He took some painkillers, but his symptoms had persisted by November of the same year. From October 16 to December 13, Daniel had eight appointments at the doctors, where various tests were performed to determine the issue. The first appointment saw doctors prescribe Daniel Co-codamol for the pain and Diazepam for his posture.
The initial thought was that he had a trapped nerve that would get better. On October 21, the doctors then gave another prescription for pain relief and booked a blood test, which took place on October 31. Appointments four and five were on November 5. The blood test came back fine, so Daniel went back to the doctors and got referred for a chest x-ray for a suspected puncture in the lung. He was seen that evening at the local hospital, where the results returned fine.
Next, on November 13, Daniel's x-ray results were satisfactory, so he was put in for an electrocardiogram at the doctor's surgery, and the results were also fine.
Daniel had a grade 1 hemangioblastoma, which was around 6cmx3cm
(Image: Daniel Jones / SWNS )
After that, Daniel's symptoms started to worsen, and he started to be sick most days and had pressure headaches in the morning. Appointment seven was on November 18, and by this point, his symptoms were severe, and his eyesight was in and out of focus.
Daniel said: "I was extremely tired to the point where it was difficult to get through each day. My balance was terrible, I had been sick a lot, and I would wake up with really bad pressure headaches in the morning. I'd also had the odd what I believe to be a seizure."
Daniel explained all of this at his appointment and then got referred for an urgent CT scan of his brain. The eighth and final appointment was on December 13. Daniel attended his local hospital for a CT scan and was sent away to wait to hear from his doctor.
Daniel said: "I felt reasonably okay and resumed Christmas shopping at the nearby shopping centre. When travelling home, my doctor called me. I knew it must be bad news, as they called less than an hour after my scan.
"My doctor explained that something had been found on my scan, and I needed to go immediately to my local A&E department for full results. I did ask what was found, but my doctor advised that hearing it in person at A&E was best.
"Flash forward four hours, and I am still waiting. They called me through, and I was then told I had a brain tumour and needed emergency surgery in cardiff-university>Cardiff University Hospital."
Daniel's whole tumour was removed, and he is feeling much better than before. Daniel's tumour was located at the back of the brain, blocking the point where the fluid would drain down the spine. If the fluid can't drain away, it builds up inside the brain, increasing the pressure inside the head.
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Daniel said: "I was itching to get out of the hospital, and if they said to me if I had to stay another night, I would've cried. I have been so poorly for so long, and a whole weight has been lifted.
"When I first woke up from the treatment, all the symptoms had gone, and I was full of life. I found my balance again, but I have become very health-conscious. My recovery was really quick, and the NHS staff were absolutely brilliant and they literally saved my life."
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