![\"Aneta](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1_WhatsApp-Image-2025-06-22-at-1-2.jpg\")
Aneta Malachowska, 41, lost the ability to walk(Image: Edinburgh Live)<\/p>\n“I’m limited, I can’t the leave house by myself. I need a wheelchair to go outside.”Aneta Malachowska, 41, lost the ability to walk(Image: Edinburgh Live)<\/p>\n
A fit and active<\/a> Scots mum suffered a toxic reaction to an antibiotic leaving her unable to walk and wheelchair bound.<\/p>\n Aneta Malachowska, 41, previously went to the gym<\/a> five times a week and took an active role in her two children’s lives. The mum-of-two, from Edinburgh, now relies on her husband to cook and take charge of childcare as she reels in the aftermath of the drug’s rare side effects.<\/p>\n Speaking to Edinburgh Live<\/a>, Anita spoke about the “devastating” impact the antibiotic had on her life. She said: “I’m limited, I can’t the leave house by myself. I need a wheelchair to go outside.”<\/p>\n The fitness enthusiast underwent surgery for an abscess on one of her fallopian tubes in June 2024. Afterwards she was prescribed a fluoroquinolone antibiotic to treat inflammation that cropped up from the surgery – but she soon noticed irregularities in her health.<\/p>\n Within days, a sensation emerged in her left left. It soon spread to her right leg and she began having difficulty walking. Aneta described the pain as “fireworks exploding in both my calfs”.<\/p>\n She said: “The pain was constant all day long, everyday. It was really difficult to walk and some days I couldn’t walk more than 2000 steps.”<\/p>\n Aneta’s condition<\/a> continued to deteriorate in the following months. She tried to return to her work as a pharmacy technician, but her mobility was limited and she was experiencing extreme pain in both legs. Eventually, she became bound to a wheelchair, losing the ability to walk.<\/p>\n The mum learned she had developed tendinopathy and muscle atrophy, noted side-effects of fluoroquinolone antibiotics.<\/p>\n In 2023, the UK Government released a warning to healthcare professionals against prescribing fluoroquinolone antibiotics for “non-severe or self-limiting infections” due to “the risk of disabling and potentially long-lasting or irreversible side effects”. Its use is recommended only when other antibiotics would be ineffective for treatment.<\/p>\n Aneta constitutes one of the rare cases where fluoroquinolones resulted in disastrous side-effects<\/a>. The mum – whose children are aged nine and 17 – spoke on the lasting impact the drug has had on her life a year on.<\/p>\n She said: “I’m a mum and I can’t do the stuff I used to do with my kids. We can’t just go outside for a walk or go for run together because I’m mostly in the house.<\/p>\n “It has impacted my life greatly because I’m not able to pick up my daughter from school, I can’t do shopping anymore. My husband had to start doing all it himself and he still does.<\/p>\n “I’m limited, I can’t the leave house by myself. I need a wheelchair to go outside. I was very active before this happened. I went to the gym every day and went running on the weekends. It has massively impacted my life.”<\/p>\n Edinburgh Live spoke to Professor David Dockrell from the University of Edinburgh who studies infection and inflammation<\/a>.<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n All you have to do is click here if you’re on mobile<\/strong><\/a>, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!<\/p>\n If you’re on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click ‘Join Community’.<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n Although fluoroquinolones have been used for decades, the drugs are associated with musculoskeletal complications in rare cases, said Prof Dockrell.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cThe tendons can become inflamed. It can be difficult for tendons to heal and this can result in tendon ruptures and other problems. This has become more apparent over the years, although it remains a rare complication.<\/p>\n “There are still times we need to prescribe [fluoroquinolones] when the benefit for a certain infection outweighs the potential risk. What we wouldn\u2019t do is routinely use them for everybody for common infections<\/a> where there may be safer alternatives. And when there are safer alternatives, we would try to use those.<\/p>\n Aneta has launched a fundraiser<\/a> to help cover the cost her living expenses, treatments, supplements, and anti-inflammatory diet.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1_WhatsApp-Image-2025-06-22-at-1-1.jpg\")
The mum-of-two said her life has been changed(Image: Edinburgh Live)<\/p>\n![\"Aneta](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/1_WhatsApp-Image-2025-06-22-at-1.jpg\")
Aneta previously went to the gym five times per week(Image: Edinburgh Live)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/0_WACOMMUNITYQR3.jpg\")
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