Fitness instructor in constant pain after back ops

A former personal trainer says she is no longer able to walk unaided or work following NHS operations on her back.

Lynsey McDonald, from Shipston-on-Stour, Warwickshire, has been left with an open wound following the surgery, which stemmed from a herniated disc problem seven years ago.

One of her procedures left her with metalwork inside that was too big for her spine, and she says she has suffered constant infections. Now, having been discharged by the spinal team, McDonald feels "discarded".

Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which carried out the spinal surgery, said it was sorry to hear about the patient's difficulties and encouraged her to get in touch to discuss her care.

The single mum, who previously taught at Daylesford and Soho House in Oxfordshire, was referred for surgery on 5 March after a procedure to fix the herniated disc left her with constant pain in her legs.

She underwent the TLIF (Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion) procedure at Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre in Oxford to take the damaged disc out and insert screws and a cage.

But it did not go as planned, with "sub-optimal placement of the cage", according to an NHS letter the BBC has seen, which led to a second operation to fit a different cage six days later.

"It just didn't fit," she said.

Having two surgical procedures so close together left the instructor vulnerable to infection, and she ended up in A&E with an abscess she was told was life-threatening.

"Constant" infections in her wound do not respond to antibiotics, she said.

McDonald went on to have emergency surgery in April to treat an infection in her spine, and a fourth procedure the following month after developing an abscess.

Infection specialists told her she needed to have the metalwork removed, with plastic surgeons on hand to close the wound.

She said it had felt impossible to "get answers" from the NHS and that she felt "discarded" and "completely lost" after being discharged by the spinal team.

"I just feel like I've been left," she said.

Being unable to work and having to use a crutch to get around had "ruined" her life, she added.

McDonald says she has made multiple fruitless attempts to get answers, including calling the number she was given on discharge, and turning up to A&E "so many times, it's just unbelievable".

She has resorted to setting up a fundraising page to replace her lost income and is also claiming benefits.

After the BBC interviewed her on Tuesday, she was sent an appointment at the spinal surgery clinic for September.

A spokesperson for Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: "We are sorry to hear about Lynsey's experience and the difficulties she has described.

"We understand how distressing and challenging her situation must be for her."

They added they could not discuss a patient's care publicly but took all patient feedback and concerns "extremely seriously".

"We would encourage Lynsey to contact us directly if she has concerns about her treatment or ongoing care," they continued.

"This would allow us to review her experience fully, answer any questions she may have and address any issues she would like to raise."

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