Treatment for Occipital Pain
Mr. Surayut’s treatment experience began with treating lumbar disc herniation in 2020 and then cervical disc herniation in 2022. Initially, Mr. Surayut experienced back pain radiating down both legs, feeling like something heavy was pressing on his back, causing numbness in his legs. At night, he felt a constant burning sensation in his legs, making it impossible to sleep without taking painkillers. When the medication wore off, the pain would return as before, making him realize that he couldn’t continue suffering like this every day. He realized that he “needed to find a hospital that truly treats this condition.”
While searching for treatment information on social media, he came across S Spine and Nerve Hospital, a specialized hospital for spinal care. He then started following and researching more about the hospital for over two months, during which his back pain radiating down his legs continued to interfere with his life and the numbness increased. Therefore, he decided to make an appointment and drove from Phichit province to Bangkok for a thorough examination before he would be unable to drive anymore.
When he arrived at the hospital, the nursing staff took his medical history and brought him to see the doctor. The doctor conducted a thorough examination and ordered an MRI scan. He felt extremely scared and nervous because it was his first time undergoing a scan. When it was time for the open MRI, he found it wasn’t as frightening or uncomfortable as he had imagined. After the scan, the nurse called him in to immediately see the doctor again to discuss the results. The doctor explained each step in detail on a large screen, showing him the exact location and area that needed treatment. The doctor also showed a video of the treatment procedure, “explaining that he would undergo a minimally invasive endoscopic surgery”. After understanding the detailed results, he decided to proceed with the treatment that very day.
His first feeling after the treatment was that “the back pain radiating down his legs disappeared like a miracle as if he had never experienced the pain before. It was as though the doctor had picked up and removed that pain, allowing his life to return to normal.” He was very happy to be able to do the things he wanted once again.
Two years later, he had an accident where he fell off a chair, resulting in neck pain. When physical therapy didn’t improve his condition, the pain and soreness in the occipital region worsened, radiating up to his head. He had to constantly massage his head. The symptoms felt very similar to what he had experienced two years earlier. He thought, “Could it be a herniated disc again?” He discussed this with his wife and decided to drive to Bangkok to see the doctor at S Spine and Nerve Hospital again.
This time, he believed that his current back pain must have been caused by the fall from the chair. However, the physical examination revealed that the back pain was only due to inflammation. The pain radiating from the occipital region to the head was diagnosed as being caused by herniated discs in his neck, pressing on nerves at two points, C3-C4 and C6-C7. He was very shocked by the diagnosis of both occipital pain radiating to the head and back pain. Nevertheless, the doctor provided detailed information and treatment options, making him feel more confident. Therefore, he decided to undergo treatment there again, because he believed that “targeted treatment along with diagnosis by a spine specialist is the best choice I have made.”
After treatment, he reflected on himself and felt “déjà vu” (feeling as though he had been in this situation, place or conversation before) like when he first sought treatment, because the pain in his lower back and head have disappeared once again, “as if someone had picked up and removed my pain again.”
Mr. Surayut also shared that receiving treatment for both his neck and back relieved his pain within just one night, avoiding the prolonged hospital stay endured by his friend who needed to recover for a long time. Opting for surgery at this hospital allowed him to return home after just one night. Many may perceive surgery as risky, but the modern technology at S Spine and Nerve Hospital is advanced and less daunting than one might think.
“Targeted treatment for my condition is what I chose and I’m someone who selects the best option for myself. This hospital is what I chose,” Mr. Surayut concluded.
