Woman’s brain ‘slips’ into spine, collapses 20 times a day

A woman with a rare brain condition revealed how it took two years for her to be diagnosed after experiencing unusual symptoms.

A woman with a rare brain condition that causes her to collapse 20 times a day says the pain is so bad she wants to “rip her head off”.

Jennifer Sullivan, 35, from London was diagnosed with Chiari malformation in 2012 — after a two-year battle to diagnose her unusual symptoms, The Sun reports.

It is a condition in which brain tissue extends into the spinal canal.

According to the Mayo Clinic, it occurs when part of the skull is misshapen or smaller than is typical, pressing on the brain and forcing it downward.

Jennifer Sullivan first realised something wasn’t wrong after collapsing in 2010. Picture: PA Real Life

It took two years before doctors could figure out what was wrong. Picture: PA Real Life

Jennifer’s medical troubles started when she collapsed on her stairwell in 2010 and began suffering extreme pain.

“I used to grab my skin, as I wanted to rip my head off,” she told My London.

Jennifer, who lives in Dulwich, began randomly passing out more frequently — at one stage up to 20 times a day.

In some cases, she would be temporarily left without sight or hearing.

She feared she would be wheelchair-bound for the rest of her life after losing all feeling from her chest down.

Sometimes the pain would be so bad it felt like someone was “squeezing” her brain.

Jennifer had three brain surgeries but credits unconventional methods to helping her recovery. Picture: PA Real Life

“I was passed on to every hospital around London, but no one could diagnose me,” she said.

“It was terrifying that no one could find what was wrong.”

She added: “I honestly wanted to die, as I felt so alone.”

A breakthrough only came when her MRI scans were sent to a friend’s dad.

The dad, a neurologist, helped identify Chiari malformation which was causing the lower part of her brain to be pushed into her spinal canal.

But putting a name to her symptoms was only the beginning.

She has since undergone three brain surgeries as part of her recovery.

She was diagnosed after sending MRI scans to a friend’s dad. Picture: PA Real Life

Success story

Jennifer began having reflexology massages and found them the most helpful in being able to restore movement.

“Learning about reflexology and removing toxins in my life have allowed me to find some normalcy, and that’s why I’m not in a wheelchair like the consultants said I would be,” Jennifer said.

Jennifer said she wanted to open up about her condition to raise awareness ”so it’s less of a lonely process for other people”.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission