Kadeena Cox Claims Medical Dismissal for Pelvic Pain
Paralympic athlete Kadeena Cox alleges she was 'fobbed off' by medical staff after presenting at A&E with severe pelvic pain.
Paralympic gold medallist Kadeena Cox has shared her experience of being allegedly dismissed by medical professionals after seeking emergency care for severe pelvic pain. Cox, who has multiple sclerosis (MS), took to Instagram to express her frustration, stating she felt her concerns were "ignored" and that the "system is broken."
Cox, 35, initially alerted followers to her hospital visit via her Instagram stories, posting a picture from a hospital ward. She later elaborated in a video that she had experienced right-sided pelvic pain, which had worsened over seven to ten days and radiated to her back. Her GP had ruled out appendicitis and suggested a possible urine infection, also raising the possibility of ovarian torsion.
After receiving antibiotics from her GP, Cox reported feeling nauseous and contacted NHS 111, who advised her to go to A&E. Upon arrival, she described an interaction with a doctor who she felt "fobbed me off," suggesting that she should be experiencing more severe symptoms like vomiting if the issue were serious. Cox emphasized her high pain threshold due to living with daily pain from MS, stating that it was rare for her to seek medical attention for pain.
She expressed a desire for an ultrasound to definitively diagnose the cause of her pain, particularly with the World Championships approaching. Cox stated, "I feel like I was ignored," after being sent home with paracetamol, a painkiller she had already indicated was not effective.
Cox, a multi-time gold medal winner in para-athletics and para-cycling, captioned her post noting the rarity of her complaining about pain, given her daily experience with MS symptoms. Her followers responded with messages of support, with some discussing the challenges women face in having their pain taken seriously and the importance of self-advocacy in healthcare.
Following her discharge, Cox shared on her Instagram stories that she was trying a home remedy involving castor oil on her belly button to help alleviate the pain.
