Martin was a recently crowned World Champion Powerlifter, breaking multiple records in the sport since he began competing in 2008, when on the 23rd December 2017 during a regular training session he felt like his foot had slipped whilst performing a deadlift exercise. He collapsed suddenly to the floor unable to feel his legs.
Martin presented to a local A&E with numbness, tingling in the groin, loss of function and severe pain yet was sent home to wait for a standard MRI referral despite knowing something was drastically wrong. Upon returning home the pain became excruciating and unbearable over the Christmas period and he returned to A&E on boxing day demanding something to be done to help. The second time the Doctor recognised the urgency of his situation and referred for emergency scan in the middle of the night which showed a large disc protrusion compressing the Cauda Equina nerves at L3/4 level. As a result surgery was performed the following morning but unfortunately by then almost four days had passed since the onset of CES.
Martin left the hospital with no guidance or knowledge as to what had happened or the likely permanent damage that had been caused. He contacted the Charity a few weeks after leaving hospital when he saw CES written on his discharge notes and began searching for what it meant. Martin is grateful for the advice he received and the help and support enabling him to continue to live his life as best he can. The signposting advice allowed him to contact his GP to request the necessary referrals to a Neurologist, Urologist, the continence team, physiotherapists and mental health support, to begin the long rocky road of recovery.
Martin spent years as a wheelchair user but is now proudly back on his feet again and committed to helping support the charity where he can to prevent or improve the outcome of those who find themselves in his position. Although the challenges of living with CES are very much present, he attempts to continue to do what he can to enjoy life.
Martin hosted one of our CES support meetings which he believes was very beneficial to meet other at various stages post CES. Looking back, he appreciates how beneficial this was and the advice he received from others was, in his words, “life changing”.
Since his CES diagnosis Martin has been an active Ambassador performing a number of guest speaker events for the NHS on behalf of the Charity to share his patient story and help educate and increase awareness amongst healthcare professionals. He was also featured on the BBC documentary by Clive Coleman in 2019 and in a Daily Mail article in 2025. His story forms a chapter in our book “The Lost Tribe” which is available on Amazon here –https://amzn.eu/d/gHA3zkt
Events:
Daily Mail Article Feature (Jo Waters) – 5th June 2025
Guest Speaker – Severn Valley Spinal Network CES Study Day – 9th May 2025
Guest Speaker – The MDT Approach to Cauda Equina (NSIC Stoke Mandeville) – 2nd December 2024
Guest Speaker – East Midlands Spinal Network Conference – 1st November 2023
Feature Chapter – “The Lost Tribe” book – released Sept 2022
Feature Chapter – “[Mask]ulinity” book – released Dec 2021
Guest Speaker – NHS Men’s Health Virtual Conference – 18th June 2021
BBC News Feature (Clive Coleman) – 19th August 2019
Hosted CES support meeting Preston – 23rd Nov 2018