@rom828 asked "What were your symptoms?"

Initially a pain between my middle spine and shoulder blade, mainly when I was walking. Then increasing trouble balancing, until I had to use a cane to keep from staggering sideways. When numbness started in my toes, I decided it was time to go straight to the ER instead of working with my family doctor (a maternity-leave replacement) and physiotherapist. 5 days after they admitted me I was paralysed from the ribs down.

All of this happened over 3-4 weeks.