Callum Jones
A woman has revealed how she broke her spine at the gym, but didn't realise anything was amiss until the next day.
In 2018, Josie Kuntze, from Sydney, was a keen gym enthusiast who was preparing for a World Beauty Fitness and Fashion competition.
Kuntze, who also worked at the gym at the time, was doing what she thought was a regular gym sesh by deadlifting and squatting 120kg.
Even as she left the gym and carried on with her day, everything seemed fine, until the next morning when Kuntze knew that something was seriously wrong.
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The now 27-year-old told the Daily Mail: "I went home to bed, woke up and couldn't move. The pain was unbearable.
"My boyfriend at the time had to carry me into the car and take me straight to the hospital."
But the treatment needed was not so easy for Kuntze to get, as she revealed she visited the emergency room twice, waiting for seven hours each time.
However, Kuntze was twice sent home with painkillers, much to her dismay.
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"I was crying, screaming and couldn't walk on my own. I have no idea why doctors didn't do any scans," the Aussie said.
But Kuntze's mum decided that 'enough is enough' so took her to another hospital where she was sent to have MRI and CT scans.
It was then discovered that Kuntze had broken her back in several different spots, as well as suffering a fractured spine and bulging and herniated disks.
As you'd probably expect, the injuries were devastating for Kuntze, with her spending many months in hospital.
"I was in that hospital for months. Couldn't shower on my own, couldn't brush my own hair - it was truly a difficult time for me," she said.
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"Doctors basically said it's a matter of the bone healing over time - because obviously my whole back couldn't be put in a cast.
"I was young, in my 20s, and loved exercising, so it was really difficult being still and laying in a hospital bed for so long."
After a difficult rehabilitation program, Kuntze started to walk again, thought there were earlier fears that may not be possible.
She said: "I had to learn how to take my first steps again, I felt like I was 60."
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To this day, Kuntze's back still isn't the same, with her finding the small things such as touching her toes and making the bed the most difficult.