BULLIED TEEN LEFT UNABLE TO WALK AFTER STRESS CAUSES PARALYSIS

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Bullied Teen Left Unable to Walk After Stress Causes Paralysis: ‘This Was a Genuine Illness’

A neurologist shared the case of a 15-year-old who lost the ability to walk after being body shamed at school

By Cara Lynn Shultz  Published on August 30, 2025 11:00AM EDT

 

A young girl’s anxiety over being body shamed at school caused her to be paralyzed in what her doctor called a “genuine illness.”

 

A 15-year-old “bright student and talented debater” visited Dr. Sudhir Kumar, a neurologist with Apollo Hospitals in Hyderabad, India, who shares intriguing cases on social media.

 

In a post on X, Dr. Kumar explained that a month before coming to his office, Riya (a pseudonym) “suddenly developed pain and weakness in her legs.” She began to walk with a limp and, within two weeks, couldn't walk at all, and needed a wheelchair.

 

Blood tests, brain and spinal scans all “came back normal." Before putting their daughter through any further tests, her parents sought out Dr. Kumar for a second opinion.

 

During the consultation, he said, Riya tested positive for “Hoover’s sign." It's a neurological test that requires a patient to lift a weak leg. If they press down on the other leg, it means the paralysis is not physical.

 

The test, he said, was “pointing to a non-organic weakness” — and noted that Riya “seemed to conceal a deeper burden.”

 

Dr. Kumar explained that when he spoke to Riya, she “revealed that she had been the target of relentless body shaming at school. Her classmates mocked her weight and her spectacles. At first, she ignored them, but the taunts grew crueler.”

 

He explained that when Riya told her parents, they advised her to “stay strong. But it was unbearable. “The pain she had bottled up had finally found expression — not in words, but in her body," Dr. Kumar said.

 

She was diagnosed with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). It’s a condition that changes the way brain networks function, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. “In children, risk factors can include family problems, bullying, perceived peer pressure, and abuse.”

 

The disorder famously afflicted Devi (Maitreyi Ramakrishnan), the main character in Never Have I Ever, who lost the ability to walk after the trauma of her father’s death.

 

In Riya's case, said Dr. Kumar, “psychological distress manifests as neurological symptoms; in this case, paraparesis (leg weakness).”

 

“I explained this to her parents gently, assuring them that this was a genuine illness, not ‘pretending’ or ‘acting,’ ” and treatment would include both mental health therapy, and physical therapy, Dr. Kumar said. 

 

Her teachers were involved in her recovery, and “Riya improved steadily. Within three weeks, she was walking confidently.”

 

The bullying ceased, he explained, adding that she began teaching her classmates how to paint. Riya was also invited to join her school’s basketball team — six months later, she helped them win a championship.  

 

“Watching her transformation from a wheelchair-bound teenager to a champion athlete was deeply moving. The glow on her face, and the pride in her parents’ eyes, reminded me why being a doctor is such a privilege,” Dr. Kumar wrote, adding that her case holds lessons for "junior doctors.”

 

“Listen beyond the symptoms,” he advised. “Sometimes, the key to diagnosis lies in the unspoken story.”

 

And as for her FND, he emphasized, “functional disorders are real – They are not ‘faking.’ The suffering is genuine.” And, he wrote, “never underestimate empathy – For many patients, kindness and validation are as therapeutic as medicines.”