Patient Stories

"I developed a severe pain in my back and left leg. The pain became so great that I was forced to give up playing golf and bowls. I could barely walk 100 yards and was considering other methods of mobility. An x-ray on my lower spine identified the problem as spondylolisthesis."

"During my consultation, Mr Rai clearly explained to me what needed to be done to correct the problem and answered all my questions."

"Much to my amazement there was no pain after the operation and within weeks, following physiotherapy to help strengthen my muscles, I was already getting back into a normal routine. One year on, I'm playing a full round of golf, back on the bowling green and walking several miles without discomfort."

"My heartfelt thanks go out to Mr Rai for his care and expertise, without which I would not be enjoying life as I do now."

Spondylolisthesis is a spinal condition where one vertebra slips forward over the vertebra below it. It can cause back pain, leg pain, and other symptoms. Treatment options include physical therapy, medication, and surgery. Learn more about spondylolisthesis, including risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.

"When the back pain started I was pretty sure it was due to all the years of hard physical labour building up my engineering company and then renovating my home. So I ignored it and kept going. For two years I took anti-inflammatory painkillers but without them the pain was unbearable. The problem didn't go away, it just got steadily worse."

"My whole life was affected. I love playing golf but had to stop and I couldn't work on the house. I'd always wanted to water ski but the back problem put an end to any hope of this. I couldn't even tie my shoe laces. Just standing too long caused my legs to tingle and I had to sit."

"It was a shock to hear that at 48 I had the spine of a 65 year old, mainly due to the wear and tear on my back from years of heavy physical work. It's a salutary lesson for those in the building industry - take good care of your back."

"I thought I'd have to have major back surgery and months of rehabilitation that would end my renovation project but Mr Rai suggested I have a device called an X-STOP implanted in my spine."

"I was in and out of hospital in just two days and within eight weeks I was back to my normal daily routine and able to lift heavy loads."

"I am delighted with the result. I can play golf again and am looking forward to starting to water ski but most importantly I can finish my house!"

"I'm only in my late 40s and I've a lot more life to lead."

"I thought I'd have to have major back surgery and months of rehabilitation but with the procedure Mr Rai recommended, I was in and out of hospital in just two days and within eight weeks, back to my normal daily routine"

Discover comprehensive insights into spinal stenosis, including its symptoms, causes, and treatment options. Rely on our expertise for support on your journey to relief and recovery.

"I had a bout of sciatica which never really cleared, even with regular visits to a chiropractor. A sudden twist or turn would stop me straightening up and I frequently resorted to ibuprofen tablets. However, things suddenly got much worse and I found myself in excruciating agony, unable to straighten, walk or lie down, without nerves screaming all the way down to my fingers and toes."

"It was a deteriorating existence - I could only walk fifty yards at the most and stand for only a few seconds without leaning on something. By this time I was seeing a physiotherapist, who organised an MRI scan. Armed with the results I made an appointment to see Mr Rai (highly recommended by many people I met) and he diagnosed severe spinal stenosis."

"Six weeks later, I had decompressive surgery. I had complete confidence in the procedure, because Mr Rai made it sound so routine and manageable and the obvious solution to my problem. Immediately after coming round, I experienced the joy of being able to stretch in a way that had been impossible for years. Within hours I was standing and walking and after four nights in hospital, I went home confident of being able to manage."

"Just two weeks later, I was walking half a mile to get my daily paper and happily standing to chat to people. To anyone who has the chance of improving their existence with back surgery, I'd say 'go for it!' Mr Rai, with his expertise, has given me back my life and I will be forever grateful."

Discover comprehensive insights into spinal stenosis, including its symptoms, causes, and treatment options. Rely on our expertise for support on your journey to relief and recovery.

"After nearly a year of intense pain in the lower back during and after activities, I couldn’t concentrate and had to be signed off work as increased amounts of pain medication made it impossible to function in my position. I was also extremely conscious of how I looked doubled over walking with a stick, which affected my mental health."

"Literally the next morning after surgery I could stand pain-free and straight. One week after surgery, I’m now taking 30-minute walks along the beach. It has been remarkable and life-changing. I’m so relieved that I feel and look more normal, and I can now see a real chance to get back to work and sport."

Discover comprehensive insights into spinal stenosis, including its symptoms, causes, and treatment options. Rely on our expertise for support on your journey to relief and recovery.

"I first realised something was wrong when I was 12. I was lying on the floor and felt quite uncomfortable. I asked mum to have a look at my back and she said it seemed out of place."

"Until that point I had a fairly normal childhood - I was healthy and had never broken any bones. Mum would often tell me to stand up straight though and I'd say 'I am standing up straight'. It was so frustrating."

"I didn't find it difficult to decide to have the operation. I just wanted it put right."

"When I got out of bed after the surgery, I couldn't believe how much taller I looked, about three inches, and how upright. It made such a difference. Now I get out a lot more, do more active things and have a lot more confidence. I am so thankful that Mr Rai was able to help me and make me so much happier with myself."

Scoliosis is a condition that causes the spine to curve to the side. It is most common in children and adolescents, but it can happen at any age. This article provides information on the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of scoliosis. It also includes information on the benefits and risks of treatment, as well as recovery time and prevention.

"I was being bullied at school because my shoulders were getting more and more rounded and I looked as if I was leaning forward all the time. I felt shy and found it hard to talk to people."

"Since the operation, life is so much better. I look like my friends now and don't stand out. I fit in and I'm not bullied any more. The operation has improved my life so much. Thank you."

Kyphosis is a condition that causes the upper back to curve excessively. Learn about the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of kyphosis.

"I had always been fit and healthy and loved sailing and swimming. However, over the course of a year I got increasing pain in my neck, shoulders and back. I also developed pins and needles and numbness in my right arm and leg. The pain was so bad I was swallowing painkillers like sweets to deal with it."

"Just before I saw Mr Rai I could barely move my head to the left which meant I couldn't drive properly. I had to ask my wife to look for me when I was turning right. I was miserable."

"I saw Mr Rai two weeks after the referral from my doctor. Following an MRI scan I was told my spinal cord was being restricted and compressed - and this was clear to see on the scan pictures. Mr Rai explained that my condition was unlikely to improve with conservative treatment and likely to progress. Delaying wasn't an option either because it could only halt deterioration by that point and not reverse the damage. So I went ahead with surgery immediately."

"Five days after the operation most of the aches and pains had gone, just some muscular soreness as the body re-adjusted. I didn't realise how much pain and discomfort I was tolerating until it all went away."

"A month later, I spent a whole day teaching my god-daughters to sail. I felt like a new person. My whole life has changed for the better."

Gain in-depth insights into herniated discs, including their symptoms, causes, and effective treatments. Trust our expertise for a path to relief and recovery.

"I had suffered from rheumatoid arthritis for six years. However, three years ago my neck and shoulders became terribly painful and some of my fingers felt numb. I'd worked on offshore platforms for 20 years, but I couldn't manage any longer because of the pain and had to transfer to shore work."

"An MRI scan showed two discs in my neck had prolapsed and one was much worse than the other."

"Mr Rai carried out a disc fusion operation on my spine and this reduced pain in my shoulders and restored the feeling to my fingers. However, just a year later I felt the same familiar symptoms again ruining my work and social life. Apparently, it was the adjacent disc. Now I needed a disc replacement because fusing the next two vertebrae as well could stop me moving my neck properly in future."

"I didn't feel that uncomfortable after the operation and I was fully recovered and back at work a few weeks later."

"I have had no further pain and have full flexibility of my neck. I am able to continue working twelve hour shifts and on my days off I frequently cycle up to 40 miles with no ill effects."

Gain in-depth insights into herniated discs, including their symptoms, causes, and effective treatments. Trust our expertise for a path to relief and recovery.

"I had suffered with back pain for years and it had grown steadily worse. Two years ago, I had an operation on my upper spine, which cured the problems in my neck. But this still left the lower back which became progressively more painful. Life was tough and I often used to wake in the night, sitting on the edge of the bed trying to ease the pain and find a comfortable position. Come the morning I could hardly move and had to roll out of bed. The pain also started affecting how I walked. I had to keep stopping to find a wall to lean against because this gave me a moment of respite. Or I'd look for a bench and wedge my back against it because this eased the pain just a little."

"I went ahead with treatment with injections. Since having these, I have been 100% pain free. I couldn't believe it at first and was tentative because I thought that at least some pain would return. It didn't and now after four weeks I can sail, garden and walk freely."

Gain in-depth insights into herniated discs, including their symptoms, causes, and effective treatments. Trust our expertise for a path to relief and recovery.

"I'd had on-off back pain for eight years. The back of my leg was also painful and I mistakenly assumed this was a badly-healed hamstring injury. I had tried physiotherapy, acupuncture and many prescriptions for painkillers, none of which had helped substantially. Eventually, unable to walk upright, my GP referred me to Mr Rai."

"I play sports so I was concerned how an operation might affect my ability to move around so I chose to start treatment with an injection to see if this would reduce the swelling first. But after further consultation I decided to go ahead with surgery after all. This was successful and I was discharged the next day."

"For the first three months I did rehabilitation exercises, Pilates and had physiotherapy. I feared my back pain would stop me being so active. But since the operation I can do anything I want without having to plan around a bad back."

"I have resumed my sports training and just completed a 388-mile cycle ride. Although many parts of my body ached, my back wasn't one of them!"

Gain in-depth insights into herniated discs, including their symptoms, causes, and effective treatments. Trust our expertise for a path to relief and recovery.

"It all started when I played cricket and was in intense pain afterwards. I had sciatic pain down my left leg, my left foot was numb and my lower back hurt. The pain intensified over the next few weeks and by the time I saw Mr Rai I could only walk a few steps before collapsing in agony. By then I felt numb below the waist and had trouble with bladder and bowel control. Life was dreadful. I couldn't walk, sit or drive far. My job involved sitting down, but I couldn't concentrate because of the pain. I couldn't play sports or play with my daughter."

"Mr Rai told me I needed surgery and clearly explained that if the disc wasn't removed I might lose the use of my legs and have permanent bowel and bladder damage. Five hours later I was in the operating theatre."

"Once the anaesthetic drugs had worn off I still felt numbness in the left leg, buttocks and genital region, but no pain in my legs or back. It took a while to regain feeling and strengthen my back muscles and gain bladder and bowel control again. I had to be patient and work with a physiotherapist twice a week."

"Nine weeks after the operation I am still having physiotherapy but I'm 100% better than if I hadn't had the operation. I'm swimming, cycling, doing things around the home, back driving up to an hour at a time. I can play with my daughter again, as long as it does not involve lifting or twisting my back. I am also back working from home."

"Since the operation I've read articles about 'cauda equina' syndrome and how it can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms are similar to sciatica. I'm lucky to have had the consultation with Mr Rai when I did, as delays could have led to a very different outcome for me. Mr Rai immediately knew the condition I had, prior to the MRI scan, so I consider myself a very fortunate man."

Gain in-depth insights into herniated discs, including their symptoms, causes, and effective treatments. Trust our expertise for a path to relief and recovery.

"I initially met Mr Rai after my disc burst and I had an emergency operation to remove it. I'd been in such severe pain and could barely walk and the operation brought huge relief from my symptoms. I had regular physiotherapy and did exercises at home. This helped but about eight months later I was still in pain and couldn't stand for long."

"Mr Rai told me that it was likely there wasn't enough disc left to do the job it was supposed to do - support my back. I was too young to start taking things easy so I chose to go ahead with the operation he advised to fuse two vertebrae together."

"The first hours after surgery were pretty uncomfortable but within a couple of days I was back on my feet and taking short walks up and down the hospital corridors. I spent seven days in hospital, with a further six weeks off work. I returned to work part-time for a couple of weeks, but soon resumed full time."

"My quality of life has improved enormously. I now feel like a 33-year-old instead of twice that age! I am back in the gym, and yoga has helped a lot too. I am so pleased and eternally grateful to Mr Rai and all the hospital staff who looked after me."

Gain in-depth insights into herniated discs, including their symptoms, causes, and effective treatments. Trust our expertise for a path to relief and recovery.

"Interacting with my young family was the worst part. I was unable to participate in any sports and restricted to only walking short distances. The pain was also starting to affect my work as I was unable to visit sites. I spent most of the day in the office chair in pain."

"The treatment and care undertaken by Mr Rai was absolutely fantastic; his reassuring guidance and positive attitude towards my health was second to none. His personal interaction around the procedures really made me feel I was in very good hands at all times. I cannot thank him enough as his expertise has given me my normal life back. I would highly recommend his services to any one with back problems."

Gain in-depth insights into herniated discs, including their symptoms, causes, and effective treatments. Trust our expertise for a path to relief and recovery.

"After years of a grumbling back, my back finally gave up the ghost and crumbled, leaving me in excruciating pain, unable to play golf (my favourite pastime!) at Sheringham Golf Club. A consultation with Mr Rai in October 2019 was followed with an MRI which revealed a prolapsed disc, followed by surgery."

"Mr Rai was extremely professional, knowledgeable and fixed me! After a period of rehabilitation first with the Spire Physiotherapist and then Tonya Patten, a rehabilitation sports specialist, I was able to start playing golf again in June, and I am now enjoying a full and active life. A big thank you to Mr Rai and his team."

Gain in-depth insights into herniated discs, including their symptoms, causes, and effective treatments. Trust our expertise for a path to relief and recovery.

"I heard a crack upon falling and instantly I was unable to feel anything in my body for around 3-5 minutes. This felt like 3-5 hours! Slowly the feeling returned in my legs and my right arm, however my left arm remained very weak and tingly."

"Mr Rai has saved my life and allowed me to walk again. I will forever owe him for what he did, there is no way you can repay somebody in the way that he deserves. Not only his treatment but his attitude towards what he does is phenomenal and his confidence in his own work made me feel very safe in his hands from start to finish."

Spinal fractures can be serious injuries, but with prompt diagnosis and treatment, most people make a full recovery. Learn about the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of spinal fractures.