Khun Somchai
A Patient Undergoing Treatment for Back Pain Radiating Down the Leg
Before seeking treatment at S Spine & Nerve Hospital, Mr. Somchai had been suffering from back pain and numbness extending to his lower back and radiating down his right leg for over four years. The cause of his back pain dated back to a day of heavy rain when previously dry ground became slippery and soaked with rainwater. That day, Mr. Somchai had just returned home from running errands. As he stepped onto the polished granite stairs leading into his house—now wet and slick from the rain—something unexpected happened. He slipped and fell down the front steps, tumbling down seven to eight stairs, landing forcefully on his back and lower body. At the moment of his fall, no one was around to witness the accident. By the time someone found him, he had already managed to stand up on his own. At that point, the pain was still bearable, so his family took him to their regular hospital. The doctors conducted an initial examination, prescribed medication to relieve the pain, and sent him home.
Not long after, Mr. Somchai began experiencing pain in his lower back and tailbone at the exact spot where he had fallen. His family took him back to their regular hospital for another check-up. After a thorough examination, the doctor prescribed ongoing physical therapy and pain medication, which he continued for over four years. During that time, his back pain was unpredictable—sometimes better, sometimes worse. After each physical therapy session, the pain would subside, but within a few days, it would return, requiring him to rely on medication constantly. It became a cycle: “Whenever the pain struck, the medication had to be on hand immediately.” As time went on, his condition worsened. Walking became increasingly difficult—he could no longer walk as far as he used to, and his walking distance gradually decreased.
“The more I walked, the worse it got. After just 10 minutes, the pain would start, and I had to look for a place to sit. I needed to stretch my legs before I could continue walking. It was like this every day,” Mr. Somchai said, describing the pain he had endured for over four years.
As his condition increasingly affected his daily life, he returned to see his doctor and explained the back pain radiating down his leg. After an evaluation, the doctor concluded that open surgery would be necessary. Mr. Somchai asked for some time to discuss it with his family before making a decision.
While discussing with his family the necessity of spinal surgery, Mr. Somchai’s son—who was experiencing neck pain radiating down his arm—was also researching treatment options for himself. During his search, he came across information about S Spine & Nerve Hospital, a specialized spinal treatment center. He then told his father, “Dad, you should get treated here instead. It’s close to home, and I’m also thinking of going there for my neck pain.” This convinced Mr. Somchai to call the hospital and schedule an appointment for both himself and his son.
On the day of the appointment, Mr. Somchai and his son met with the doctor and thoroughly described his back pain radiating down his leg. The doctor performed an initial physical examination to assess the severity of the condition. Then, he was sent for an MRI scan and X-rays in various positions to determine the exact cause of his symptoms. Shortly after leaving the examination room, a nurse called him back in to review the test results with the doctor. The doctor explained the findings while displaying the MRI images, showing that a herniated disc was pressing on his nerve. The doctor then turned to him and said, “You should undergo endoscopic surgery to restore your normal life.” At that moment, Mr. Somchai was still uncertain—should he return to his previous hospital for open surgery or proceed with the less invasive endoscopic procedure? He decided to discuss it with his family once more before making a final decision.
During this time, his son, who had been enduring severe neck pain radiating down his arm, could no longer tolerate the pain and decided to seek treatment at S Spine & Nerve Hospital using laser therapy. After the treatment, his son was able to resume his normal life, and the pain he had endured for so long was gone. With a joyful look in his eyes, he told his father that he had finally escaped the pain he had endured for so many years. “At the other hospital, they were going to perform open surgery, which would require a long recovery period, plus physical therapy after the surgery. Here, it’s much better—it’s all finished in one day.” This convinced Mr. Somchai to call the hospital again and schedule his own surgery to treat the pain radiating down his leg.
On the day of the treatment, Mr. Somchai shared his feelings, saying, “The pain I’ve endured for over 4 years is finally coming to an end.” After the treatment, he found that when he woke up, the back pain was gone. The phrase “walking in just one day—it’s really possible” was true. In that moment, it felt as though he had regained his former life, one without back pain. What surprised him even more was that “I only needed one day to recover, and I could already walk!”
Mr. Somchai ended with a joyful expression, saying, “If it were the old way, it would have been more difficult. Also, I’ve had knee surgery before, and it took 3 months to recover before I could walk again. But for the back surgery, just one hour, and I could already walk. That’s what’s great about it. After the surgery, I was ready to hop on a plane to Chiang Mai.”
This is another touching story where S Spine & Nerve Hospital played a part in bringing a smile to Mr. Somchai and his son, freeing them from the pain and helping them return to the life they wanted. We thank them for sharing their experience with us.
