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Brain Sag! Doctor's Grueling Battle with Rare Condition
28 Dec, 2025
Summary
- Doctor suffered excruciating head pain due to a cerebrospinal fluid leak.
- She spent a month hospitalized in Malta before returning home.
- Early detection and specialized surgery were crucial for her recovery.
Dr. Bernadette Hard, a 53-year-old doctor, endured a year of severe headaches and cognitive impairment due to a spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. The condition, often termed 'brain sag,' occurs when the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord leaks, causing intracranial hypotension.
While attending a medical conference in Malta in 2022, Dr. Hard experienced a sudden, excruciating headache that led to her hospitalization for a month. Upon returning to the UK, she encountered difficulties in diagnosis, as the rare condition was unfamiliar to her GP and required a long wait for specialist consultation.
Eventually, she was treated by a specialist CSF leak team at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London. After undergoing complex surgery in August 2023 to repair a hole in her spine, Dr. Hard experienced a remarkable recovery. She is now dedicated to raising awareness and improving access to diagnosis and treatment for others suffering from CSF leaks.
