Mia Constantinou, a 28-year-old Northern Ireland native, experienced a life-altering ordeal following a soccer match. After playing for the Ballymoney Ladies, she felt intense pain akin to a ‘lightning strike’ down the back of her left leg. This pain, coupled with severe back pain, urged her to seek medical attention despite her customary reluctance due to her history with endometriosis.
Her partner, Alexs, persuaded Mia to visit the hospital, where she was given suppository medication to manage her pain. Despite this, her condition worsened over the following months. She continued playing soccer and working as a healthcare assistant, but the pain became increasingly unbearable.
Desperate for relief, Mia consulted a physiotherapist. She pleaded for an MRI, feeling her life was severely impacted. Although initially hesitant, the physiotherapist agreed to a spine and lumbar MRI scan conducted in November 2025.
When she received the MRI images, Mia compared them with Google images, suspecting something was wrong. Her concerns were confirmed when the MRI revealed various spinal issues, including small fractures, a slipped vertebra, a bulging disc, joint inflammation, nerve narrowing, and pressure, alongside a benign growth and a cyst.
In April 2026, Mia underwent an L5/S1 spinal fusion hoping to stabilize her spine and alleviate pain. However, the intensity of post-surgery pain was unexpected. Physically, she struggled with movement, and psychologically, she battled to accept her changed circumstances.
Her recovery faced setbacks. Mia’s walking ability deteriorated, resulting in reliance on a wheelchair. Her neurosurgeon identified another problem, retrolisthesis, due to a vertebra slipping backward. This condition sometimes occurs after surgery, a 2026 Orthop Surg study noted.
In July, Mia faced another surgery as her condition failed to improve. Post-surgery, Mia needed time to walk again, facing severe nerve pain. Though further scans and treatments did not bring desired relief, another major spinal fusion was recommended.
Despite the hardships, there was a glimmer of hope. Following her latest surgery, Mia experienced less neuropathic pain and increased mobility. She was discharged a week later, feeling optimistic.
Eight weeks after the operation, Mia continues to endure intense daily pain from degenerative disc disease. She manages pain with morphine and works with a community physiotherapist to regain independence.
Mia offers a crucial piece of advice, emphasizing listening to one’s body and advocating for one’s health. Her story, marked by resilience and determination, serves as a reminder to pursue health concerns diligently.
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