Rachel Fell (asker) Feb 18, 2014:

I have learnt that it means "uterine bleeding/haemorrhage". Thank you all for your help.

Hans Geluk Feb 10, 2014:

madeja Merriam Webster: madeja - skein, hank. Una madeja de nervios, a bundle of nerves.
It seems a figurative use of the word, maybe as 'estar hecho un lio'.
It also makes me think of the Andalusian "maharón" or "majarón" (http://fititu.es/definicion/andalucia-en-general/majara/), but that may be just coincidence.

neilmac Feb 10, 2014:

@Helen I'd post your suggestion with a low confidence level, as its similar to what I've found (very little). I think it most likely means what you describe.

Helena Chavarria Feb 9, 2014:

Medicine is definitely not among my specialities but I've found 'neuroma', which is more serious than being a nervous wreck.

'The neuroma itself appears as a tangled mass of nerve fibers with regenerating units in all orientations. If the neuroma is superficial, it will appear as a small, painful lump close to the skin'.

http://www.tarsaltunnelcenter.com/assets/neuroma.shtml

I'm not posting it as an answer as I have a confidence level of 0!

Rachel Fell (asker) Feb 9, 2014:

Thanks DLyons, though it would need an adjective as well, as it's a condition

Rachel Fell (asker) Feb 9, 2014:

Hi Helen, thanks, I wondered if it might be something like that - being a nervous wreck, nervous stress or something

DLyons Feb 9, 2014:

Might it be a ligament? "seda y el pelo de seda para la pasamanería, los sombreros, toquillas y muebles; la floja ó sin torcer, llamada madejon, es la que se emplea para coser en toda la República."

Helena Chavarria Feb 9, 2014:

Could it be related to 'madeja'? 'Ramón y Cajal descubrió que el sistema nervioso no es una madeja neuronal', i.e. a tangled mass of nerves. http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurofisiología_clínica