"I returned home without pain – thank you very much"

For two years I suffered with pain in my left leg and back. X-rays didn’t reveal the problem and physiotherapy made matters worse. An MRI scan revealed that I had a disc bulge in my spine at L5 S1.

I was referred to a surgeon at the Orthopaedics and Spine Specialist Hospital by my GP and that was the best thing that could have happened to me.

The surgeon asked me to consider having an operation to relieve the pain I was in and explained that this would involve a decompression and fusion of the spine at L5 S1.

I readily agreed to this course of action.

I was admitted to hospital early on Monday 1st August 2016. At 9am the surgeon started my operation. At midday I woke to find that the pain I had suffered for so long had gone away. On Wednesday 3rd August I returned home.

From my first meeting with the surgeon I felt completely confident in their ability to help me.

I now feel immensely privileged to have had such an esteemed and eminent surgeon operate on my spine

This surgeon was very attentive during my three day stay visiting me regularly to check on my progress.

Prior to my operation the anaesthetist spoke to me and reassured me of the procedure and visited me after the operation.

All of the staff - receptionist, physiotherapist, chef, the lady who cleaned my room, radiographer and especially the nurses and the theatre team put themselves out to ensure that my stay was as comfortable and as stress free as possible.