23-year-old woman partially paralyzed after neck whiplash

[ad_1]

A 23-year-old paramedic responds after a neck crack that breaks a main artery in the spine, resulting in a stroke.

Natalie Kunicki, who works for the London Ambulance Service, was watching movies in bed with a friend after a nightly night on March 4, when she stretched her neck and heard a crackle, the Daily Mail reported.

When she got up to go to the toilet 15 minutes later, Kunicki said that she had collapsed and that she could not move her left leg anymore.

At first, the paramedic, embarrassed, refused to call the emergency services because she had confused her own symptoms with drunkenness and did not want her colleagues to see her "drunk".

However, Kunicki finally realized that something was wrong with her and called for help.

"I am a paramedic and I did not call 999 for 10 minutes because I thought it was too unlikely that it was a stroke while I should have known a lot better" , she said.

These are the symptoms of a stroke:

ten PICTURES

Risk Factors for Stroke and Symptoms of Stroke

See gallery

Strokes are more common in the elderly, with the risk of stroke doubling almost every decade after the age of 55.

(Photo via Getty)

The risk of stroke is higher among those whose immediate family members have had a stroke, and this accident may be a symptom of various hereditary disorders.

(Photo by Yellow Dog Productions via Getty)

The risk of death from stroke is higher among African Americans, who also present a higher risk of complications such as high blood pressure and diabetes.

(Photo via Getty)

Women are also more likely to die from a stroke, probably because of factors such as the use of contraceptives and complications of pregnancy.

(Photo of Hinterhaus Productions via Getty)

Strokes are more likely in people who have ever had a stroke or heart attack.

(Photo of Morsa Images via Getty)

Southeast states are also called "stroke belt" states, because strokes are more commona.

(Photo via Getty)

Alcohol abuse can lead to many problems, including strokes.

(Photo via Getty)

Speech difficulties are a major symptom of the person who has had or is having a stroke.

(Photo by Henrik Sorensen via Getty)

The most visible sign of the stroke is probably the sagging of one side of the face, or numbness of the face.

(Photo via Getty)

The weakness of one side of the body is another symptom of a stroke.

(Photo via Getty)

An ambulance took Kunicki to University College London Hospital, where doctors confirmed she had a stroke and would need emergency surgery, according to the Daily Mail.

The patient was transferred to the National Hospital of Neurology and Neurosurgery, where, during a three-hour operation, the doctors discovered and repaired her exploded artery.

"When the consultant told me that I had a stroke, I was in shock," Kunicki said. "Doctors later told me that stretching my neck had caused the rupture of my spinal artery.This was spontaneous and there was a one in a million chance of this happening."

The left side of Kunicki was initially rendered completely paralyzed by the stroke. Through physical therapy, she says she was able to resume use of her leg, arm, and hand, even though she describes her movements as "clumsy."

She hopes that by telling her story, her story will make it clear that young people can also have a stroke and that symptoms should never be ignored.

"I have been called by so many people with stroke and they are still between 70 and 80 years old," Kunicki said. "I have never been to a young stroke victim."

"People need to know that even if you are young, something so simple can cause a stroke," she added.

To donate to the Kunicki Recovery Fund, click here.

[ad_2]

Source link