Man, 53, thought he had a trapped nerve – it was motor neurone disease,
A man who dismissed stiffness in his legs and sudden falls as ‘just part of getting older’ was later diagnosed with motor neurone disease – a devastating condition that attacks the nerves controlling movement.
Andrew Chadwick, 53, first noticed stiffness in his legs in January 2025, which led to him tripping over a curb and cracking a rib. Shortly afterwards, he fell again.
His wife, Joanna Chadwick, said: ‘He continued to struggle with walking, but we just thought it was his age, or that he had a trapped nerve or something.
‘He went to the physio, and she asked to refer him to hospital. She said it was urgent. He spent two weeks in hospital having tests, but nobody was telling me anything.’
Mr Chadwick from Lancashire was diagnosed with MND – a condition that causes muscle weakness and can lead to problems with breathing and eating – in June 2025.
‘When Andrew received his diagnosis, I was devastated,’ said Mrs Chadwick. ‘I put my head in my hands and Andrew started crying. I couldn’t speak. Nothing prepares you for that.’
MND affects up to 5,000 adults in the UK at any one time. There is a one in 300 lifetime risk of developing the disease and, while it can affect adults of any age, it is more common in people over 50.
The disease affects the nerves known as motor neurons, which are found in the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms include stiffness, difficulty walking and muscle cramps, and the condition is usually life-shortening.
Mr Chadwick had to give up his job as an engineer as he no longer had the strength to continue working.
His wife explained: ‘Since the diagnosis, Andrew’s condition has worsened. He now can’t walk anywhere without a walking aid, even in the house.
‘He’s missed his walker a few times and fallen on the floor. He looked so helpless with tears in his eyes – he couldn’t get up again.
‘It takes him half an hour to get dressed; his legs are so stiff, so I put his socks on for him.
‘I have to make his lunch before I go to work because he can’t cut meat up or butter bread.’
There is currently no cure for MND, with treatments instead focusing on easing symptoms and improving quality of life.
Mr Chadwick takes two medications: Baclofen to relax his muscles and help with stiffness in his legs, and Riluzole, which can slow the progression of the disease.
In November 2025, his feet gave way as he was getting out of the car, leaving his head covered in cuts and requiring a trip to A&E.
However, the couple are not letting the diagnosis get them down and has decided to focus their time on raising money for MND charities and increasing awareness of the disease.
They have organised charity nights and a sponsored walk on MND Awareness Day, with Mrs Chadwick determined to get her husband to the finish line. In May, Mr Chadwick will also be taking part in a sponsored skydive.
Mrs Chadwick said: ‘We want to raise awareness for people with MND and show that even though you’ve got this horrible, cruel disease, you can still value life.
‘We’re raising money for the MND Association and Andrew is doing a sponsored skydive in May.
‘We just want to give back and help other people.’
