Rapid sciatica success for grandmother

A pain-free life after sciatica treatment is one that many people have to put on hold because of lengthy waiting times for operations to fix this incredibly debilitating condition.

Ms Louise Kean didn't have to deal with that eventuality, however, as she arranged a private referral to leading spinal neurosurgeon Mr Iqroop Chopra. It significantly sped up her spinal treatment and path to a quality of life she previously couldn't have dreamed of.

Her sudden onset of sciatica symptoms left her unable to stand for more than a few minutes and struggling to walk in the bank where she worked. Ms Kean's excruciating lower back pain led to her having to take time off work and even stopped her from being able to look after her grandchildren.

Despite her GP quickly referring her to physiotherapy, her symptoms didn't improve after two NHS sessions. Discovering she'd have to wait a month for an MRI scan and potentially 85 weeks for treatment, Ms Kean set up a private appointment via her corporate health insurance.

Choosing a sciatica expert

Mr Chopra's dual qualification in spinal and neuro surgery meant that Ms Kean found it easy to choose his services, which were convenient and comprehensive. Once she selected Mr Chopra, she received a same-day appointment at his clinic at Nuffield Health Vale Hospital. As a result, an MRI scan at Nuffield Health Cardiff Bay Hospital was arranged within two days.

Ms Kean, who had a degenerative facet joint cyst, was offered spinal surgery based on the lack of improvement in her sciatica symptoms after taking every route of non-invasive treatment.

Mr Chopra recalls: "Ms Kean presented with sciatic pain in her leg with subtle weakness in her left foot. This was due to compression of her spinal nerve root due to a degenerative facet joint cyst.

"As her symptoms did not respond to non-operative management, she was offered surgery which involved removing the cyst and most of the degenerate joint to decompress the nerve with further stabilisation to the spinal segment by putting in pedicle screws."

Going into further detail, Mr Chopra spoke about how microscopic techniques assist in the procedure: "Adequate decompression of spinal nerves using a microscope helps the nerve recover, relieving the sciatic pain quickly and further restoring strength in the affected leg and foot."

A life without sciatica sooner, rather than later

After her sciatica surgery, Ms Kean found that she was free of the pre-surgery pain that had affected her daily life so much, and was able to get out of bed the next day.

She spent four nights at the hospital and couldn't have been more thankful to Mr Chopra and the healthcare team that supported her recovery: "Every member of staff at Nuffield Health's Vale Hospital was absolutely first class - all of them. The cleaners, the staff bringing food, and nurses and physiotherapists were so nice and kind.

"Mr Chopra really knows his stuff and this got me back to work much more quickly that waiting on the NHS. Without a doubt, I would recommend Mr Chopra and Nuffield's private hospitals."

And as well as getting back to work, Louise is now taking care of her three grandchildren completely free from the sciatica symptoms that were holding her back from leading a fulfilling life just a year earlier.

Visit Mr Chopra’s Top Doctors profile to arrange an appointment that could kickstart your journey to sciatica relief, or expertly address other back or spinal conditions.