"Misdiagnosed, lack of empathy and professionalism"

I was a young adult with no prior experience in hospital—I've never been in an ambulance or on a drip before, I had taken care of myself and my body. By the end of my time going through the hospital system, I had undergone emergency spinal surgery relearn to walk again. I believe it all began from the actions of Carnarvon Regional Hospital staff.

I’d had back pain for a while but didn’t think much of it. It eventually became hard to walk, so I went to the ED early one morning. They kept me overnight, stating sciatica, gave me pain relief, and sent me home. Two days later, in the morning I’d had three falls, lost sensation in my lower body, and the pain was so extreme I couldn’t move without collapsing. My relatives had to carry me down stairs and into the car.

When we arrived, my relative asked for a wheelchair because I couldn’t walk. A nurse said I had to get from the wheelchair to the bed myself. When I said I couldn’t walk and was afraid to fall, I recall they loudly said, You’re on your own, I can’t risk my back. I felt there was no empathy or explanation. Another nurse loudly said my name and DOB across the room— I believe everyone heard. I recall they also said I could walk to the physio myself, even though not walking was why I was in ED. When confronted, I recall the nurse said they were trying to empower their patient, which I feel I absolutely did not need. I needed an MRI.

For 3.5 weeks they kept me in the general ward, with physio having me to walk and do exercises. The physio claimed their professional opinion was that nothing was wrong with me—despite, in my opinion, something clearly being wrong. I understand the CT scan didn’t show the issue because it only covered my lower back, but not being able to walk or feel my lower body was not normal. I fell in my room and the doctor told me I didn’t need more scans because I had extra padding. It was humiliating and frightening to be dismissed while I felt I was clearly deteriorating. 

Staff told me I needed to go home and was taking up space someone else needed, seemingly ignoring I was not being able to walk, shower, or feel my lower half without meds. They said I had improved, even though before hospital I could walk, run, and move normally—now I could barely use a walking frame. I was told to give up my rental due to the stairs. I had to give up my pets and independence because of the misdiagnosis. They suggested going to Geraldton by bus for an MRI, but I couldn’t walk, couldn’t sit without extreme pain, couldn’t afford the MRI, and the idea of that bus ride terrified me.

My relative and I had a meeting with the doctor, a nurse not involved in my care, and the physio. I recall they said there was nothing more that could be done for me, even though barely anything had been done besides pain meds, a missed scan, and physio that I believe may have made things worse. They discharged me without a wheelchair, calling the hospital a limited resource hospital, which made me feel like a burden. I wasn’t given discharge papers, and I believe a staff member lied to my family saying doctors had already given them to me.

I lasted six days at home but had to miss medical appointments because the pain was unbearable. Physio and another allied health worker came to my relative's house and made me walk next door to show I could do it. It was painful, scary, and afterwards I slept all day from exhaustion. None of this was normal for me. When I called the physio upset about being dismissed, I felt they brushed me off, saying they’d done me a favour by giving extra appointments.

I eventually returned to ED because the pain became unbearable. Before going, we contacted Aishwarya’s CARE to report what had happened and the lack of care. Back in ED, I felt I had to argue just to be taken seriously enough to be sent to Perth. I recall one nurse even suggested going to Perth would be a free trip for me and my family.

Eventually a commercial flight to Perth for an MRI was made by the hospital. I believe RFDS should’ve been considered—I couldn’t walk, needed privacy, and needed proper medical support. Before leaving, I recall the physio asked, Are you prepared for this to be nothing?. As it now seems to me, their professional opinion was completely wrong.

Transport to the airport was in a Hilux. I had to step on my suitcase and pull myself up into the seat with an unknown spinal injury. Being pushed through the airport in a wheelchair and being seen by the public at my lowest was humiliating. I had a run-in with a stranger that left me feeling defeated, traumatised, and uncared for.

Arriving in Perth, MRI the next day. Less than an hour later, the metropolitan hospital called, saying I needed emergency surgery for a bulging vertebra at T10 and needed to present to ED that night. I went through this alone. A few days later, spinal surgery with rods installed. The spinal team said I might never walk again because the issue had been left unchecked and I had been walking on it as advised by Carnarvon staff. The day before surgery, the physio called to ask if I’d attend my Carnarvon appointment. When I told him, I recall they laughed: Whoops, I guess we missed that one.

My recovery has been long and traumatic, made worse by being alone in Perth because I refused to return to Carnarvon Hospital after the discrimination, dismissal, and negligence I believe I experienced. I lost everything—my home, jobs, pets, and independence—in my opinion, because of their misdiagnosis and lack of care. As an Indigenous person, I have always been confident and unafraid, but now I fear racism, discrimination, and seeking healthcare at all.

I look forward to hearing from someone about this situation, its concerning and quiet frankly I believe it was completely avoidable.