A mother-of-two had her leg amputated after doctors allegedly mistook symptoms of a rare vascular disease for "anxiety" and later a neurological condition. Danielle Thomas, 40, spent months seeking answers after experiencing numbness and pins and needles in her hands and feet, with her legs feeling like they were "dying" whenever she walked more than 300 metres.
Misdiagnosis and delayed referral
After first being told it was "anxiety", she was then later diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). FND is a medical condition where there is a problem with how the brain sends and receives signals, according to the NHS. It was only after a specialist discovered her big toe had died due to a lack of blood flow that she was diagnosed with Buerger's disease, leaving her needing an amputation to prevent a potentially life-threatening infection.
The condition causes inflammation and blockages in the blood vessels of the arms and legs, often as a result of blood clots. In Danielle's case, restricted blood flow caused her big toe to die, leaving her with gangrene and ultimately resulting in the amputation of her right leg to prevent further infection.
Patient's account of the ordeal
Danielle, a skin therapist from Retford, Nottinghamshire, believes her leg could have been saved had the disease been identified months earlier. She said: "It makes me angry sometimes when I think about it. They tested all of my nervous system, my brain, my cervical, but left out my vascular which was the problem. I felt like I was overshadowed as I told the neurologist that it felt like I had grit in my veins. I feel like they wanted my symptoms to fit FND. I am just so glad I pushed my GP to refer me to the podiatry specialist, as otherwise who knows what would have happened to me."
Danielle first approached her GP in April last year after experiencing pins and needles and numbness in her hands and feet. She was subsequently referred to a neurologist at Sheffield Teaching Hospital, where she underwent a series of tests in July, including blood tests and an MRI scan to check for potential problems affecting her brain. When the results came back clear, Danielle claims the neurologist suggested her symptoms could be linked to her mental health. She had experienced domestic abuse several years earlier, which she says had affected her "massively".
Diagnosis and amputation
Four months later, in November, Danielle returned to the neurologist because her symptoms had worsened. Further investigations, including a CT scan of her spine, failed to identify the cause, and she was subsequently diagnosed with FND. Later that month, Danielle visited her GP again, believing an ingrown toenail might be contributing to her worsening symptoms. However, she says she had to "push hard" to secure a referral to a podiatry specialist.
When she finally attended the appointment in February 2026, the specialist discovered that the problem was not an ingrown toenail. Instead, Danielle was told that her toe was "dead". Danielle said: "As soon as I took my sock off and he took a look he said there was nothing he could do to help. He said that it was a circulation problem within my legs. I had gangrene on my toe, as it had begun to die due to limited blood flow."
The podiatry specialist immediately referred her to a vascular specialist at Doncaster Royal Infirmary. A CT scan of her legs revealed several blockages affecting both limbs, and Danielle was diagnosed with Buerger's disease just days later. Doctors told her the condition had developed in connection with her intermittent smoking habit, which began in her twenties. At times, she had smoked between five and 10 cigarettes a day.
Following the diagnosis, Danielle faced the prospect of losing her leg as her toe continued to become infected. She was warned that without amputation, the infection could potentially lead to sepsis. In May, Danielle decided to proceed with an amputation of her right leg below the knee, above the blockages. The operation took place on September 7.
Recovery and fundraising
Reflecting on the impact of the surgery, Danielle said: "I was devastated to have lost my leg. My world imploded. If I had been referred in July, then I would have stopped smoking and the blockages wouldn't have gotten so big. I think that they could potentially have saved my leg. I am a very independent woman with a small circle of friends, and the thought of losing that was heartbreaking for me. Now I just feel so vulnerable and an easy target for people. I decided to have it removed now as at least I am still young and will be able to recover faster."
Danielle is now crowdfunding to have her car adapted with specialist pedals, allowing her to drive again and maintain as much of her independence as possible. She's hoping to raise up to £1,800. People who wish to support her recovery can donate through her GoFundMe page.
