A doctor from Caerphilly in Wales experienced a terrifying medical event that began with a sudden sensation in her neck and ended with the diagnosis of a rare brain fluid leak. On May 2, 2025, Dr Bernadette Hard felt a sharp pop in her neck while attending a medical conference in Malta. Within moments she developed an intense headache and disorientation that made her fear something inside her had ruptured. Her ordeal has drawn attention to a condition doctors sometimes miss when symptoms are unusual.
Dr Bernadette Hard, who lives in Rudry near Caerphilly, described the moment her symptoms began in an interview with the BBC. “I felt like my head was going to explode then surprisingly it actually did,” said Dr Hard, recalling the sudden and frightening sensation. She explained that the pain came without warning and escalated rapidly, leaving her confused and terrified about what was happening inside her body.
The condition was identified as a spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leak. Cerebrospinal fluid surrounds the brain and spinal cord to protect them from injury. When it leaks, the brain can lose pressure and move downward, causing severe symptoms.
Dr Hard, 53, was in her hotel room in Malta when she first felt the unusual sensation. She said she did not immediately know what was happening, but the pain came on so fast and so fiercely that she feared the worst. She later told reporters that she felt “like my head was going to explode and then it did.” This description caught the attention of medical specialists because it captured how overwhelming the pain felt and how confusing the experience was before she knew the cause.
At first, local medical staff did not know what to make of her symptoms. Her headache was so crippling that standing made the pain worse. She described feeling dizzy, sick, and unable to move without intense discomfort.
Doctors eventually carried out brain scans and other tests. They discovered that Dr Hard was suffering from a cerebrospinal fluid leak. This is a rare condition and doctors initially did not suspect it because she had not suffered a head injury or a medical procedure that might explain the leak.
Cerebrospinal fluid leaks sometimes happen after accidents or surgery, but spontaneous leaks like Dr Hard’s are uncommon. Because the signs can look like migraine, tension headache, or other neurological problems, doctors can overlook them. In Dr Hard’s case, her vivid description of the moment the pain began helped specialists narrow down the cause.
Cerebrospinal fluid surrounds the brain and spinal cord, protecting them from injury and maintaining pressure inside the skull. When this fluid leaks, the brain can sag slightly, causing severe headaches and neurological symptoms.
Most cerebrospinal fluid leaks occur after trauma or medical procedures. Spontaneous leaks happen without a clear trigger and are far less common. They may be linked to weak connective tissue or sudden pressure changes inside the body.
Eventually, advanced imaging scans revealed the source of the problem. Doctors confirmed that cerebrospinal fluid was escaping through a tear near the spine.
Treatment often starts conservatively. Patients may be advised to lie flat, stay hydrated, and manage pain. In more persistent cases, doctors may perform a blood patch procedure, injecting the patient’s own blood near the leak to seal it. Some patients require surgery if the leak does not heal on its own.
The doctor’s condition improved once the correct diagnosis was made, though recovery can take time and patience.
Once doctors understood what was wrong, they started treatment. Dr Hard required a surgical procedure to repair the tear that was allowing the fluid to escape. The surgery was complex because the leak was deep in the coverings surrounding her brain.
After the operation, she began to recover. She said she felt immense relief once the correct diagnosis was made. Her symptoms gradually eased and she was finally able to sit up and walk without triggering pain.
Dr Hard has spoken about her experience to raise awareness of cerebrospinal fluid leaks. She wants both patients and health professionals to know that sudden severe headaches with unusual onset deserve thorough investigation. She said that feeling a “pop” followed by intense pain should not be dismissed.
References:
Cleveland Clinic. 2025. Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Leak. Cleveland, OH: Cleveland Clinic. Accessed December 30, 2025. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/16854-cerebrospinal-fluid-csf-leak.
(Rh/ARC)
