A former Essex Police officer who sustained spinal injuries in the line of duty has experienced paralysis more than four decades later following surgery linked to her injury. Sue Mitchell, 64, spent nearly five months hospitalized after an operation to replace a morphine pump designed to deliver pain relief to her spine.

Mitchell’s health issues began in 1984 when, at 22 years old and only days into her service as a constable, she was involved in a police car collision caused by teenage burglars. Despite sustaining spinal injuries, she pursued and arrested one of the suspects. She continued to work for several years while managing chronic pain through regular injections, before medically retiring at 26 after multiple surgeries.

In 1998, a morphine pump manufactured by Medtronic was implanted to provide direct spinal analgesia via a catheter. This pump was replaced in August last year at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford due to its battery life ending, while the original catheter was left in place. Since that surgery, Mitchell reported increasing pain and a decline in mobility and overall health, leading her to seek private diagnostic imaging.

Her husband, Mark Mitchell, expressed concern that the decade-old catheter may have malfunctioned or shifted. He stated that the surgical team replaced the pump using the original catheter, which was visually inspected during the procedure. Subsequent scans revealed the catheter’s tip positioned near the T12 vertebrae—the spinal level corresponding with her loss of sensation. Medical professionals later acknowledged the catheter had migrated.

Further testing, including a dye study, confirmed that the catheter was broken. Doctors told the family that the visible broken piece was likely from an older, inactive catheter rather than the most recent one, a conclusion the Mitchells dispute, citing the catheter’s placement and history. Oxford specialists found no clear evidence linking the catheter tip to the current spinal cord damage but could not identify an alternative cause for her paralysis.

The hospital advised against removing the broken catheter fragment, citing high surgical risks. Meanwhile, Mitchell’s strong pain medication has induced severe side effects such as nausea and vomiting, complicating rehabilitation efforts. Given these factors, she opted for another surgery to reconnect her pump, which was performed recently.

Mitchell, residing in Lowestoft, Suffolk, described her ongoing hospital stay as a “never-ending nightmare.” She has supported calls for official recognition of emergency workers injured on duty through a campaign advocating for a dedicated medal.

Professor Andrew Brent, chief medical officer at Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, acknowledged the complexity of the case and emphasized ongoing communication with the family regarding treatment plans. He reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to delivering safe and effective care and stated that all concerns are being taken seriously.

Officials at James Paget University Hospital in Norfolk, where Mitchell spent additional time, and Medtronic declined to comment.