Iconic Latina Artist Frida Kahlo Diagnosed With Rare Syndrome 70 Years After Her Death

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Photo courtesy of https://www.fridakahlo.org/

Seventy years after her death, researchers from the Guttmann Institute in Barcelona, Spain, have diagnosed Mexican painter Frida Kahlo with a condition that went unidentified during her lifetime: cauda equina syndrome (CES), caused by traumatic injury.  

Kahlo (1907–1954), one of the 20th century’s most iconic artists, endured a life of chronic pain and fragile health, much of it stemming from a severe traffic accident in her youth. While earlier diagnoses pointed to multiple factors, such as post-polio syndrome, immobilization, and spinal issues, this new research suggests a more specific cause behind many of her symptoms. 

Frida Kahlo Diagnosed With Cauda Equina Syndrome

Cauda equina syndrome is the result of damage to the nerve roots in the lower spine, a condition that the Guttmann team believes offers a comprehensive explanation for the symptoms that plagued Kahlo’s life and influenced her work. The findings were published in the Journal of Neurology after an extensive analysis of medical records and documentation related to the artist. 

Kahlo’s health challenges began early. Born in Coyoacán, Mexico City, in 1907, she contracted polio at six years old, leaving her with permanent damage. Her right leg was shorter and weaker than her left. At age 18, her life took a dramatic turn when she survived a horrific bus accident. She suffered multiple fractures: her pelvis, ribs, shoulders, and spine were all damaged, and a metal handrail pierced through her abdomen. Her recovery was long and arduous, but the physical pain never fully subsided. 

Despite the strength she portrayed, the impact of the accident lingered throughout her life. Kahlo’s medical records from the time note that she experienced severe back pain, fatigue, and genital discomfort, conditions that worsened over time. Between 1946 and 1950 alone, she underwent eight surgeries, but her chronic pain persisted. 

Kahlo’s personal physician, Dr. Leo Eloesser, documented her ongoing issues, including diminished sensitivity in the lower part of her body and worsening pain in her right leg. This loss of feeling, coupled with the intense neuropathic pain she endured, matches the pattern of symptoms associated with CES, according to the researchers. 

In Kahlo’s diaries, she frequently described a persistent sciatic pain and hypersensitivity to touch, especially in her genital area. The Guttmann team attributes these descriptions to continuous spontaneous pain and a condition called allodynia, where non-painful stimuli are perceived as painful. These are hallmark signs of CES, they concluded. 

“The diagnosis of cauda equina syndrome, particularly in historical patients like Kahlo, can shed light on their experiences and the effect on their lives,” said Dr. Hatice Kumru, a neurologist at the Guttmann Institute and lead author of the study. 

Kahlo’s well-known use of orthopedic corsets, often depicted in her artwork, including in her famous piece The Broken Column, has also been reevaluated. According to the researchers, such treatments may have exacerbated her condition. Modern medical knowledge suggests that corsets can lead to muscle atrophy, worsen pain, and impair movement, all of which likely contributed to Kahlo’s increasing disability. 

A New Outlook

The researchers also took a fresh look at earlier diagnoses, such as post-polio syndrome and spina bifida. They found no evidence in her letters or available medical literature to support the notion that Kahlo had these conditions prior to her accident. Post-polio syndrome, for example, typically manifests 50 years after the initial illness, which does not align with Kahlo’s medical history. 

In 1953, Kahlo’s health deteriorated further when doctors had to amputate her right leg due to gangrene. She passed away the following year at the age of 47, but her legacy endures as one of the most powerful and enduring figures in art history. 

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