Student left in daily electric agony

Photo: Katie Moore

A university student claims a spinal condition that went undiagnosed for five years makes her feel like she’s being ELECTROCUTED on a daily basis. Poppy Lang, from Oldham, Greater Manchester, began experiencing pain in her spine and hips when she was 14, but only received a diagnosis last October after seeing a private specialist.

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A UNIVERSITY student from Oldham claims a spinal condition that went undiagnosed for five years makes her feel like she's being electrocuted on a daily basis.

Poppy Lang began experiencing pain in her spine and hips when she was 14, but only received a diagnosis last October after seeing a private specialist.

The 20-year-old suffers from ankylosing spondylitis (AS), a form a chronic spinal arthritis which mainly affects young men.

Despite being in her first year of university, Poppy can't go to nightclubs with her friends and says she's unable to drink alcohol or even wear any footwear other than trainers.

Poppy takes around 25 tablets a day for pain relief and despite previously running 10km races, can no longer even walk long distances.

Poppy, who studies Inclusive Education at Manchester Metropolitan University, said: "When I was 14 and I first started noticing the aches in my spine and hips, the doctor told me it was just growing pains.

"I kept going back over and over and they did an X-ray in case I had scoliosis. They thought I had muscle spasms and put me on medication for that, then they treated me for a trapped disc and a trapped nerve.

"It's a mixture of muscular and bone pain, but the pain is so sharp it feels like being electrocuted. It's constantly there and I have to be careful with driving because I can get sudden intense pains as well.

"I was finally diagnosed last year but I still can't do things most normal 20-year-olds can do. I can't go out clubbing, as I can't drink because of the painkillers. If I did go out I'd be drinking soft drinks.

"In the morning I am really stiff for about two hours. I used to do 10km runs but I had to quit completely because my knees can just buckle underneath me."

Ankylosing spondylitis is a condition in which the spine and other areas of the body become inflamed.

Symptoms include back pain and stiffness not relieved by rest, pain and swelling in the joints and fatigue ? all of which can increase or decrease over time.

In some cases, the inflammation can lead to individual bones of the spine fusing together, meaning Poppy may need spinal surgery in the future.

Poppy said: "I saw a consultant privately because I was so fed up of not knowing what was wrong. I had an MRI scan to find the inflammation and I was relieved to be diagnosed, but I had never heard of AS before.

"In my case, it has progressed a lot worse than I thought it would. It is in my elbows and hips, knees, ankles and even my neck. If I walk too far I'll feel really sore afterwards.

"I don't know whether or not I had the condition from birth, but I do know I'll have it forever. I was told it can be hereditary, but no one else in my family has had it.

"They told me after a blood test recently that the inflammation had got worse. In future I'll possibly need surgery on my back though it depends how serious it gets.

"It really affects my studies and I've already had time off from university. I'd like to work with children with disabilities after I graduate, but I know I'll find it physically challenging.

"For now I just want to get it under control. Even my rheumatologist doesn't know the long-term plan for me. I try not to let it get me down, but sometimes it's excruciating."

Poppy has started a petition to have Ankylosing Spondylitis and Arthritis added to the NHS medical exemption list, to allow sufferers to claim free prescriptions to manage their condition.

NHS Oldham Clinical Commissioning Group could not be reached for comment.

To sign Poppy's petition, visit: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/124925