Teenager paralysed from waist down after surgery to realign her jaw

Teenager, 19, who was beaten by school bullies and attacked as she walked her dog is now paralysed from the waist down after suffering complications from surgery to realign her jaw

Chelsea Flynn, from Kent, was left with a severe functional neurological disorder
She awoke from the procedure to learn she had become paralysed with dystonia
This was after her seventh surgery in May 2021 at Kent and Canterbury Hospital
She had had many surgeries after jaw was weakened following three incidents
She now requires a wheelchair and has had to adapt her life around her disability
She also creates humorous educational videos online to raise awareness of FND

A teenager is paralysed from the waist down after surgery to realign her jaw – following incidents including a beating by school bullies – left her with a severe functional neurological disorder.

Chelsea Flynn, from Kent, was ‘devastated’ when she awoke from the procedure to learn that she had become paralysed with dystonia – a medical condition that can result in muscle spasms and painful contractions.

The 19-year-old has been forced to undergo a number of jaw surgeries after her jaw was weakened following three separate incidents. Since she was 16 years old, she has been hit by bullies in school, attacked by thugs while walking her dog and struck accidentally by a friend.

For her seventh surgery, Ms Flynn had to have anesthesia to have screws removed from her jaw at Kent and Canterbury Hospital in May last year.

‘This time, I had anesthesia as the last time I had surgery without it was very painful,’ she said.

Upon awakening from the procedure, she had multiple seizures. Later, she realised she could not move or feel her legs.

Chelsea Flynn, from Kent, awoke from the procedure to learn that she had become paralysed with dystonia – a medical condition that can result in muscle spasms and painful contractions

The teenager now requires a wheelchair and has had to adapt her everyday life around her disability

Ms Flynn’s spirits have not been too dampened, with her deciding to create humorous educational videos online to help raise awareness of FND

The teenager said: ‘When I woke up again, I felt weird. I had taken a long time to come out of the anesthesia. I had multiple seizures and was very delusional.

‘I didn’t know what was going on. My jaw was healed, but I couldn’t move. Once I came round, there were lots of people in the room.

What is dystonia?

Dystonia is uncontrolled and sometimes painful muscle movements or spasms, according to the NHS.

It can affect the whole body or just one part of it.

The condition can start at any age and is typically lifelong.

However, treatment can help in relieving the symptoms.

Symtpoms may be consistent or may come and go. They could be triggered by stress or certain activities. According to the NHS, they include:

uncontrolled muscle cramps and spasms
parts of your body twisting into unusual positions – such as your neck being twisted to the side or your feet turning inwards
shaking (tremors)
uncontrolled blinking

‘I tried to move but I couldn’t. It felt like there was nothing on the lower part of my body. I felt like I only had my arms and my chest and that was it. I felt completely nothing. I felt like I was hanging off of something or that something was on top of me. I was very confused.

‘I told someone I couldn’t move, they were concerned and sent me to another ward for monitoring. They told me it could’ve been a post-op anesthetic issue but that everything should be fine.

‘I stayed there for a few hours but nothing changed.’

It was then that doctors broke the news to her that her brain had a ‘neurological breakdown’ when rejecting the anesthesia and that it had left her with a severe functional neurological disorder (FND).

‘I was so upset as I didn’t know what this was,’ said Ms Flynn. ‘I asked them what happened and one doctor said to me, “We think you’re paralysed.” I was devastated.’

The 19-year-old said she was then transferred to a Special Neurology Ward at another hospital, adding that carer Mia Abbott had to assist her with simple tasks.

She now requires a wheelchair and has had to adapt her everyday life around her disability.

Ms Flynn said: ‘I now struggle with daily tasks as a result of my FND.

‘My wrist is bent completely the other way and now my palm touches my forearm.

‘I would also have many seizures and sometimes my paralysis would move up. It would go up and down my neck, and I lost my ability to swallow, making me really ill.

‘I couldn’t eat and had to accept the NG [nasogastric tube]. Everything was going downhill. My nutrition was low and I became really poorly.

‘I had to have everything specially prepared.

‘I had to get a hospital bed, which isn’t nice because I want to sleep in my own bed.

‘I now also need a commode to get to the bathroom, and have a sideboard that I still use to this day.’

Upon awakening from the procedure, Ms Flynn had multiple seizures. Later, she realised she could not move or feel her legs

However, despite the disastrous surgical consequences, Ms Flynn was unable to file a complaint as she had signed a form that negated NHS liability for surgical risks.

She said: ‘My parents were trying to say it’s the hospital’s fault, but the hospital have explained that it’s not how the surgery was performed but my brain having a neurological breakdown.

‘It shut itself off and didn’t function properly anymore. It was just my body that didn’t like it and I had signed forms that agreed that any risks wouldn’t be the hospital’s fault.’

But Ms Flynn’s spirits have not been too dampened, with her deciding to create humorous educational videos online to help raise awareness of FND.

She said: ‘I always enjoyed doing TikToks for fun. There are still videos of me dancing and having fun with friends.

‘Once I got sick, it was still the same and I only posted when I felt like it or if I had the energy.

‘When I got back to it, I thought there’s probably people in the same position. And I wanted to show those people that they can be strong too.”

Ms Flynn shared an account of her story to TikTok earlier this month, writing on August 16: ‘On 12th of May 2021 I went in for jaw surgery to have screws removed.

‘After jaw surgery I didn’t come around for many hours and had lots of seizures and I then woke up paralysed.’

The video has now amassed over 47,000 views, 900 likes and dozens of comments from users who shared supportive messages, with one writing, ‘Keep your head up beautiful. Wishing you all the best.’

Another said, ‘This is so devastating,’ while a third added, ‘I admire your humor but I am so sorry.’

MailOnline has approached East Kent Hospitals University NHS Foundation Trust, which manages Kent and Canterbury Hospital, for comment.

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