A British woman who was living a 'normal life' in Magaluf, Mallorca, has been left paralysed by a rare condition and forced to return to the UK.
Sudden Onset
Charlie Wilson, 38, from Darlington, County Durham, worked as a social media manager and former shot girl in the popular holiday resort. On what she described as a 'completely normal' day, she went for a walk on Palma Nova beach. The next morning, she woke up with aches in her legs and arms, similar to post-gym soreness, despite not having exercised.
She then developed lumps all over her body. Doctors were initially baffled. Within days, she lost movement in both legs, her left arm, and her neck.
Diagnosis and Treatment
After a three-week hospital stay and numerous tests, including 33 blood tests, a chest scan, brain scan, CT scan, and PET scan, Charlie was diagnosed with extrapulmonary sarcoidosis. This rare condition causes small patches of swollen tissue to develop in the organs. In Charlie's case, it affects her limbs, joints, and bones, rather than the lungs, which is the most common site. Only 1.4% of sarcoidosis patients have this form.
She was initially treated with methotrexate, a low-dose chemotherapy, but it proved ineffective. She was then switched to adalimumab, which blocks inflammation but weakens her immune system, leaving her 'constantly sick'.
Return to the UK
Unable to work, Charlie moved back to the UK in December 2025. She now lives in a bungalow with carers visiting four times daily. Although some movement has returned, she uses a wheelchair during flare-ups, which cause severe pain. She described the pain as so intense that she would have considered amputation.
Her twin sister flew to Spain to care for her, helping with basic tasks like carrying her to the toilet. At her worst, Charlie needed 24-hour care and had to be fed through a straw.
Additional Health Issues
During her hospital stay, Charlie was also diagnosed with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic skin condition causing painful lumps and abscesses. Her adalimumab medication worsened HS, and she recently underwent surgery to remove abscesses in her armpits.
Charlie is still awaiting her adalimumab prescription in the UK, as it was previously provided in Spain. She described her life as now limited to four rooms, with boredom being a major challenge. 'It’s a once in a lifetime illness I’m dealing with. There’s hardly any medical literature on it,' she said.
