Woman became partially paralysed while washing her hair in the shower

A woman became partially paralysed while washing her hair in the shower. Mim Goldsmith, from Brighton, aggravated a previous spinal injury when she “twisted funny” in the shower and began losing feeling from the waist down. Hospital scans showed the movement had re-triggered damage to her spinal cord which she suffered when she fell out of bed aged 15.

The 25-year-old suffered several herniated discs with scarring and bulges and needed a catheter. A few days later, she began having seizures which lasted up to three and a half hours. Mim, a speech and language therapist, said: “I remember being in the shower and suddenly losing feeling from the belly button down.



Mim reaggravated an old back injury while in the shower (Image: Mim Goldsmith / SWNS) “I hobbled to bed in unbelievable amounts of back pain and scans showed it caused a re-injury of my previous back injury. “In hospital, I felt like a lost cause but through determination and stubbornness, I fought and fought, having lots of physiotherapy and occupational therapy.” Mim was also diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (FND), a brain network disorder that can provoke symptoms including limb weakness, paralysis and seizures.

The injury caused her to become bed bound, suffering five seizures a day. She added: “I was able to sit for about 20 minutes a day and the rest I was just flat." Mim was diagnosed with functional neurological disorder (Image: Mim Goldsmith / SWNS) Mim discharged herself and attended University College London Hospital where she saw physiotherapists and neurological occupational therapists.

She said: “Over time, I was able to get back on my feet. I got to walk a few steps a couple of times a day. READ MORE: Volunteer saves life of cardiac arrest patient after being alerted by phone “It was about building back neurological pathways but I could only do as much as I was able to without triggering a seizure.

” In September 2023, Mim was discharged and spent months building her stamina and strength. Mim is now raising funds to access specialist treatment (Image: Mim Goldsmith / SWNS) She still requires daily carers as “treatments for FND in the UK are very limited”. She has reduced feeling in parts of her body and can take a few steps but is in pain.

“I’ve missed out on so much - I still can’t go to any restaurant or shop that has steps in it," said Mim. Mim said there are specialist treatment facilities in Los Angeles, although neuro rehabilitation programmes, travel and accommodation costs total around £15,000. She is now raising funds in a bid to access this.

Her Go Fund Me has currently raised £3,389. She said: “I know I have so much more fight in me but I need specialist support. “From the day I twisted in the shower, I’ve been making the best of the situation I’ve found myself in.

“I’ve worked so hard and I know I deserve the best chance to reach my potential.”.