MAFS star April Banbury is hospitalised as incurable spinal condition leaves her crippled with ‘indescribable’ chronic pain: ‘I just can’t imagine living life like this’

By William On Jan 25, 2024

April Banbury has shared the heartbreaking news that she has been diagnosed with an incurable spinal condition after being admitted to hospital with persistent pain.

The MAFS star revealed she spent four days in hospital after developing new pain in her back and her leg and hip going completely numb.

The 34-year-old previously announced that she had suffered a serious spinal cord injury ‘taken away her ability to live a normal life’.

And taking to Instagram to update fans on Thursday, April revealed that she has now been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, which is incurable.

According to the NHS, spinal stenosis is a term used to describe a narrowing of the spinal canal. This narrowing can progress and cause entrapment (compression) of the spinal nerves, which can cause back pain and/or leg pain.

MAFS star April Banbury, 34, shared the news on Instagram on Thursday that she has been hospitalized with an incurable spinal condition that has left her crippled by ‘indescribable’ chronic pain

April revealed she has been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, which is incurable, after she developed new pain in her back and her leg and hip went completely numb (pictured in September when she suffered a prolapsed disc)

It usually happens while walking. Weakness in the legs can make you feel unsteady. This can affect both legs or just one leg.

Updating her fans, April wrote, “I promised I’d keep it real with you guys, so here it is. I have been in the hospital for the past four days because just before I went to Jamaica I developed new pain in my back and my leg and hip went completely numb, with weakness in both legs.

‘I gave it a few weeks to see if it got better, but it didn’t, it just got worse. I promised myself that I would listen to my body when my disc first prolapsed, so I committed myself to getting it checked out, never suspecting that this would be the outcome.

‘I have spinal stenosis (there is no cure, I have been told I will have chronic pain for the rest of my life). My nerves are deeply compressed, but they don’t know what’s causing it, so I’m seeing a spine specialist in a few hours. weeks to investigate.”

While discussing her treatment for the condition, the star explained that she is currently prescribed opioids and may receive a nerve root injection, as taking opioids is not a long-term solution.

She continued, “It will take some time for me to come to terms with the fact that this could be my life now, but I still don’t want to give up hope that I can live a somewhat normal life again. I just can’t imagine living like this.

‘The pain is indescribable and persistent. I feel like I’m just existing day to day, and now I need a new purpose because life isn’t as I once knew it.

“It’s crazy because I feel too young to have such a debilitating injury, but it just goes to show what heavy lifting over a long period of time can do.”

April explained on social media that she spent four days in the hospital due to indescribable pain

April then thanked the NHS and her family and friends as she ended on a more positive note, hoping she would be able to manage the pain and leave her home.

The star had previously suffered a prolapsed disc in her spine, which left her unable to walk and the worst pain of her life in September.

April then thanked the NHS and her family and friends as she ended on a more positive note, hoping she would be able to manage the pain and leave her home.

What is spinal stenosis and how can it be treated?

Spinal stenosis is a condition that causes back pain because the nerves are crushed by a narrowing of the spine.

It can be terribly disabling and difficult to manage. Pain clinics, general practitioners or a practice pharmacist should be able to offer options regarding the tablets you can take.

This often involves combining treatments and may include, for example, antidepressants, which can have a pain-relieving effect. Doctors try to avoid strong painkillers for a chronic pain condition because of the risk of addiction with long-term use or side effects such as falls in the elderly.

But if someone’s quality of life is reduced by pain, it’s worth having a discussion in which the patient can weigh the risks and benefits of at least a stronger drug.

Cognitive behavioral therapy can be beneficial and can help change the way you respond to pain.

Pilates and other low-impact exercises can also help because of the movements themselves and the endorphins released when exercising.

Pain clinics may also recommend alternative measures for pain, such as acupuncture.

Surgery may be an option, but setting realistic expectations is critical. Surgery can offer false hope of relief, so honest discussions are necessary.

‘I’m going to be kind to myself and take each day as it comes, I’m going to do as much as my body allows me. Hopefully these meds will help so I can at least socialize a little, because I love my home, but being in it 24/7 is not the way to go.

‘It’s a sh*t situation, really sh*t actually, but I have to accept it to a certain extent and get on with it.

‘I know I will have good days and bad days, but I am honestly endlessly grateful for my friends and family, the NHS and my osteopath. I know I’m not alone and I love my little back community and hearing your stories too.

‘Doctors and nurses were absolutely incredible. I felt really emotional when I was fired.

‘So for now I’m going to wait for these meds to kick in and reassess things in a week. I will continue to share my journey with all of you.”

But it is not the first time that April has suffered a spinal cord injury after her told MailOnline exclusively in September how lifting a heavy object led to a prolapsed disc in her spine, leaving her unable to walk and in the worst pain of her life.

Because her disc protruded and split on her nerves, she developed pain all over her lower back, numbness in her body and shooting pains.

She told MailOnline: ‘I literally lifted something heavy the wrong way and ended up like this. It was so unexpected and I couldn’t believe it could cause such a serious injury.

‘My ability to lead a normal life has been taken away from me and I am now classified as having a disability.

‘I have gone from being a super fun, busy and adventurous woman who always loved my life to the fullest, to a literal recluse.

‘I have been housebound for weeks because I cannot walk.

‘I will slowly regain the ability to walk more than a few steps without pain and to stand for short periods of time.

‘Sitting is the most painful and lying down gives me the most relief, but I have to keep my muscles moving as much as possible.

‘Life is no longer as I once knew it. I will truly never take anything for granted.”

April was heartbroken at the diagnosis, writing: ‘I just can’t imagine living like this’