A woman who suffers with searing back pain discovered she has had part of an epidural needle embedded in her spine since giving birth 14 years ago.
Amy bright, 41, gave birth to her sixth and youngest son Jacob by c-section at a hospital in Jacksonville, Florida in 2003.
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Just two months later her severe back pain started and has had a debilitating impact on her life ever since.
Last year she finally discovered the cause of her pain after a CT scan revealed a 3cm-long chunk of needle buried in her spine.
She said she was livid, upset and scared at the revelation.
The needle had allegedly broken off when she was given an epidural during Jacobs birth more than a decade earlier.
It caused extensive nerve damage, leaving Amy with limited use of her left leg and foot.
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Every time I move and walk and bend and twist and sleep, that needle moves inside my spine, she said.
For 14 years, Ive been creating scar tissue in my spine from this needle moving.
Over the years she has seen several doctors and been prescribed pain killers, muscle relaxants and other medications to cope with her pain.
It feels like fire, like a poker next to my tailbone. On occasion, it shoots down the left side of my leg on my calf, and then down and into my foot, she told WRAL.
She is now attempting to sue the hospital where she gave birth, Floridas Naval Hospital, claiming staff knew the needle had broken off but neglected to do anything about it, even though the damage could have been avoided.
Amy has been told she could be permanently paralysed whether or not the needle is removed now.
She will have to rely on pain medication and physical therapy to manage the damage for the rest of her life.
It has gotten to the point where it just burns constantly. Im very scared of my future. [My leg] is getting weaker, she said.
Im probably going to be in a wheelchair. Its scary because I dont know.
I dont know what my future holds. Im very paranoid and scared.
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