A young woman has been forced to rely on Centrelink payments after excruciating pain from her large breasts rendered her unable to work.
Sydney woman Nim Murphy says her 12HH breasts inflict so much physical pain she is often left motionless, unable to even roll over in bed.
The 27-year-old is currently awaiting breast reduction surgery but due to her lack of private health insurance, faces a waiting list in the public system that she says may take years.
Murphy told A Current Affair her breasts have made her feel as though she can’t progress in life until she receives the surgery.
“Everything feels like it’s on pause until I feel like it can happen,” she said.
Murphy left her job as a roadie when incidents of chronic pain left her not only unable to work but unable to function.
"About two and a half years ago I had to call in sick because I got out the front door and started vomiting in my front yard just from the pain and so I had to stop working," she said.
Murphy previously worked on tours for such big names as Taylor Swift and Slipknot - a job that is hugely physically demanding.
The young woman says that although she could take a job that is less labour intensive, she fears the occasions where the pain is too severe will mean she will be calling in sick too frequently.
This is further exacerbated by her neck injury called a reversal of the lordotic curvature - and although it isn't caused by her breasts, it is aggravated by their size.
Murphy revealed her breasts have caused her to become the target of ridicule and harassment by strangers.
"I've had total strangers, come up really close in my personal space, and say 'you've got big tits'," she said.
"It freaks me the hell out. I wind up hunched up - pull my coat around me."
The amount of criticism she faces has left her fearful and sometimes resenting leaving the house at all.
"I don't like going out in public," she said.
Specialist plastic surgeon Dr Dan Kennedy told A Current Affair that breast reductions were one of his most rewarding procedures.
"When people come back after their operations they say that they've had a dramatic relief of neck pain, back pain, shoulder pain," he said.
Murphy's story may sound extreme but there are many women who suffer pain as a result of their breasts and are unable to afford immediate surgery.
Procedures such as breast reductions can be cosmetic but they are often hugely relieving surgeries that truly assist a woman's quality of life.
Top Comments
For goodness sake Medicare, put her on the priority list for a reduction already! The sooner she has the op, the sooner she is recovered and can return to work. It's false economy to leave her stranded on Centrelink benefits just to save a bit of money on healthcare, it would be cheaper in the long run for the taxpayer to get her better ASAP.
I am a 10JJ and I can sometimes get upper back pain but have worked really hard on exercising and strength training to build up my back and core muscles. A professional personal trainer should be able to guide this lady and perhaps help her relieve some of her pain by building up strength.
A rookie mistake would be thinking that to do exercise would be walking/running or something. Gravity is not in your side and you could get black eyes hahaha. Perhaps she could try water aerobics for low impact cardio so that her bust feels a little more weightless than out of the water.
Also food/diet makes up the majority of weight loss efforts. I have no idea how this lady eats etc but if she were to lose weight, she may have some luck with reducing her bust size.
Although doesn't matter how much weight I lose, my boobs stay the same.
I would be keen to have a breast reduction but am waiting until over had kids first...also sometimes in late twenties your boobs can apparently have another growth spurt.