Young Glasgow man 'trapped' in top floor flat after antibiotic reaction left him unable to walk

A young Glasgow man has been left 'trapped' in his own home and unable to walk following a rare reaction to an antibiotic.

In May of this year, Adam Aspinall was diagnosed with Fluoroquinolone Toxicity after being prescribed medication for suspected kidney stones.

This condition is damage caused by an adverse reaction to antibiotics, and it can cause severe side effects, ranging from tendon rupture and muscle pain to depression and psychosis.

Adam, 32, who was an avid hiker and outdoorsman, began to suffer "shooting and burning sensations" in his legs two days after starting a course of antibiotics, which he describes as the "feeling you get after doing an intense leg workout".

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Over the following days, Adam developed cracking joints, pain in his arms, neck, hands, achilles and back as well as freezing cold legs and feet, muscle spasms, a 'weak feeling' in his lower body and a stabbing sensation across his skin.

He said: "It felt like I'd aged about 50 years in a few days. I also lost around 7kg in the first few weeks."

Now, he is left wheelchair-bound and 'trapped' in his top floor tenement flat, which he says has a negative impact on his everyday life and mental health.

Speaking to Glasgow Live Adam said: "There's not a definite reason behind the diagnosis - I saw a specialist in Glasgow who believes it is an immune response; it's rare but it does happen.

"It's only getting worse at the moment, it's difficult to even hold my phone or a bottle of water. My life has flipped upside down, I feel trapped in my own home - it feels like my life has been destroyed from taking just two pills."

There are around 60 steps from Adam's front door to the ground floor, which are now impossible for him to climb. He has "lost" his freedom and feels incredibly "isolated", with his condition taking a major toll on his mental health - saying he feels "cut off from the world".

Adam has since sought out private care at Glasgow's Nuffield Health, after initial treatment on the NHS. He added: "I spent a few days in hospital, but there was very little they could do.

"It feels like I've been slowly watching my body fall apart over the past few months and there's nothing anyone can do to stop it."

Adam lives alone but receives help from his partner with everyday tasks. The 32-year-old has been forced to buy a wheelchair which is still unsuitable for his height and not the best for outdoor conditions - and he says the only times he has left his flat in months is for appointments in which he is transferred via ambulance.

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He is now raising money in hopes to buy a stairclimber which is used to transport wheelchair-bound patients up and down flights of stairs, for which a Glasgow company has quoted him £6,000.

He says this equipment will finally allow him to go outside, access essential services, attend important appointments, and reconnect with the outside world.

Adam has, however, found a "supportive community" online made up of people who've had similar adverse reactions him, from across the world.

The Glasgow man has been told he has an 80 to 90 percent chance of making a good recovery within two to five years and he is "trying to remain optimistic", but says it is a "difficult and long road" ahead.

Posting to GoFundMe, Adam wrote: "Your support can make a world of difference in my life. By contributing to this fundraiser, you’ll help restore my independence and provide a much-needed boost to my mental and physical health. Any donation, big or small, will bring me closer to my goal and give me the freedom I desperately need."

You can donate to Adam's fundraiser here.

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