"I had excruciating pain of the lower back"

On the early hours of one morning recently, I was taken to Armadale Hospital by ambulance due to an excruciating pain on my lower back with numbness and burning sensation on my legs that made me paralysed.

I took with me CT scan and ultrasound referrals, but no action was taken.

Blood test and other examination was performed and was told to take pain killer tablets and do some exercises, then was released the same day.

For 13 days I was in agony, couldn't sleep or walk properly. I felt helpless and suicidal. The following day we went to have a CT scan and the finding was I had scoliosis.

I couldn't get a neurosurgeon appointment for two weeks after my initial presentation to ED. Then in the early hours of the morning of my appointment I was taken to another hospital.

After examinations I was admitted into hospital for pain management and examination by neurosurgeon and was referred for an MRI.

The result from the MRI indicated I had right central disc protrusion at L5/S1 which required 'urgent' surgery.

I felt I was let down by the medical staff at Armadale Hospital.

My injury could have been made a lot worse by the misdiagnosis, and was very lucky not to be paralysed.

I feel that attending medical staff should investigate thoroughly instead of just casually sending patients home.