Rare Spinal Stroke Misdiagnosed as Panic Attack Highlights Medical Challenges
Rebecca Waller, a 26-year-old from London, experienced a rare spinal stroke that was initially misdiagnosed as a panic attack by paramedics. The stroke, which accounts for only 1.25% of all strokes, left her paralyzed from the neck down. Despite the severity of her symptoms, including loss of movement and severe pain, the paramedics initially believed she was experiencing a panic attack. It was only after being taken to Charing Cross Hospital and undergoing an MRI that the correct diagnosis was made. The stroke was caused by a fragment from her spinal disc blocking blood flow to the spine. Waller is now undergoing rehabilitation to regain movement, with her future mobility uncertain. 
