Do you have a Disc Bulge? Here’s Some Useful Info on Quality Treatment!

Are you sitting long hours at your desk?

Well, Sitting is the new Smoking!!

Prolonged sitting is a significant risk factor for spinal disc problems, often starting with a seemingly minor backache that can quickly escalate to more serious conditions like Disc Bulge, Protrusion, and Herniation. I know atleast 4 people working closely with me facing this problem. Hence the motivation to write this article.

My husband, Gopinath Chidambaram , recently experienced a severe case of Disc Herniation, and our journey to recovery highlighted a stark contrast in treatments available.

We initially sought help near our residence in Bangalore, consulting multiple Specialists at renowned hospitals in the city. While I love Bangalore for its best weather & a vibrant city life, our experience with the medical treatment for spinal disc issues was, frankly, disappointing.? Many doctors aggressively pushed for surgery, employing high-pressure “Business” tactics that focused on Fear-Mongering.? We were bombarded with worst-case scenarios, short timelines, and graphic descriptions of surgery, leaving us emotionally drained, panicked, and overwhelmed.

This experience led us to a different direction – Chennai, the health capital of India and also one of the leading destinations for best medical treatment in Asia. I knew of colleagues and friends from Chennai who had successfully recovered from similar severe conditions as Gopi, “without” surgery, through comprehensive Physiotherapy in different hospitals in Chennai.?

My friend Sowmi referred Dr. Hariharan, an Orthopedic Surgeon, in Vihaa Hospital at Anna Nagar, Chennai.? After an Online Consultation with him, I understood that he is our best bet & we made the 300+km trip to Chennai immediately. It was not an easy trip, as Gopi couldn’t move for more than 5 min. I was deeply anxious that the trip could cause his disc to herniate more. I setup the back seat of our car with cushions, pillows & additional support to shield him. We travelled at an extremely cautious speed throughout the journey. I always loved my car ‘Duster’, mainly for its suspension; I’m grateful to it too for making the drive to Chennai much less stressful, contributing to Gopi's door-to-door comfort during his journey for treatment.

When we arrived, the difference in treatments available here was striking.

Right from day one, Dr. Hariharan gave hope and a patient-centered approach. His expertise was evident, his warm and humane demeanor provided much-needed emotional comfort during a difficult time. He is an Orthopedic Surgeon who does advanced surgeries but carefully considers all non-surgical options before recommending surgery, which was very important to me. After checking Gopi’s MRIs & examining him physically, he prioritized non-surgical treatment for Gopi, focusing on a Comprehensive Physiotherapy Program spanning 40 days that required 2 to 3 hours per day.

The hospital's convenient location in the city and nearby amenities made the extended stay convenient.? Gopi’s pain levels became manageable and his mobility steadily improved. On day 1, Gopi could stand or walk for maximum 5 min only. On day 40, he was able to do the same for 3 to 4 hours. We came back home last week, after 40 days, with an 85% improvement. With regular exercises in the next 2 months, Gopi is bound to recover 200%. Also, thanks to all the friends who were there for us. It truly meant a lot!

Vihaa Hospital has a State-Of-The-Art Physiotherapy Department, equipped with ADVANCED IMPORTED MACHINERIES such as DRX, Shortwave, LASER, Ultrasound etc., and staffed by a highly skilled and compassionate team.? The Physiotherapists— Mr. Sathya, Mrs. Priyadarshini, Thamizh Srinivasan , Joseph F. and Ms. Priya—provided expert care in a friendly and supportive environment. Special thanks to Sathiyaseelan Dhanasingh, Senior Physiotherapist, for his extraordinary attention and care even during off-work hours, enquiring Gopi's comfort and progress.

I was surprised to see that Vihaa Hospital is thriving with Indian and Foreign patients, without any extensive advertising, purely with the power of word-of-mouth referrals (Just like us now!).

Honestly, I learnt that PHYSIOTHERAPY is very underrated & can do wonders - a powerful option for non-surgical recovery for various, even serious, orthopedic conditions. Not many Physicians, like Dr. Hariharan, are leveraging Physiotherapy to its fullest potential, “prior to surgery”.

We hope our experience helps others seeking relief from this increasingly common condition.? While surgery can be necessary in few cases, it shouldn't be the quick solution.?Physiotherapy should be leveraged, at the right place, under the guidance of the right experts, for a Successful Non-Surgical Recovery from Orthopedic problems!

Good Luck!

Shravanthi