Adam Thomson 'walking again, expected to make full recovery'

Former All Black and Otago loose forward Adam Thomson has regained mobility and is expected to make a full recovery from the illness that has kept him hospitalised for more than a week.

The 35-year-old was admitted to a Japanese hospital last Tuesday after experiencing "excruciating" pain that left him unable to walk and initially had doctors baffled.

According to Thomson's representative Brooke Howard-Smith, the flanker has been diagnosed with lumbar discitis — an infection in the intervertebral disc space.

Howard-Smith told the NZ Herald that Thomson was still in hospital but is "comfortable", receiving antibiotics and pain relief medication and is not in any danger.

He experienced "serious lumbar pain and temporary leg/foot numbness" before being admitted to hospital but has since regained his mobility, Howard-Smith said.

On Tuesday, Thomson said from his hospital bed he was expecting a long road to recovery, while Gurunathan on Friday posted on Instagram they were hoping that he'd be able to walk again soon.

According to Howard-Smith "full recovery is expected" and the former Highlanders, Reds and Rebels stalwart could return to training within a month.