Malcolm Huntington MBE, is a 77 year old semi-retired York Sports Journalist who has been involved in sport – playing, writing and officiating all his life. Here is his story of recovery after severe back and leg pain.

I had been fortunate to remain fit throughout my seven decades until I experienced back and left leg pain nearly 4 years ago. I saw one of the doctors in the practice and sciatica appeared to be the problem. A spell of physiotherapy (6 visits) followed and exercises recommended with no improvement.

We had bought a new deep seat armchair in that period and my wife and I thought that this may have had an effect (not so as it turned out). The pain got worse as the coming months and stretched into years. I was never told that surgery might be an option.

I saw two more physiotherapists, another doctor and a chiropractor with no improvement. Last year my daughter-in-law, a nephrologist, said I should definitely have a scan. I did so and round about the same time, Dr Robert Porter, the then York City Football Club Doctor, strongly recommended that I should see Manoj Krishna.

I saw him at the Nuffield Hospital in York and within a few minutes after he had looked at the scan disc I was told I had spinal stenosis. Arrangements were made for an operation at the North Tees Hospital Spinal Unit, Stockton-on-Tees, under Mr Bhatia, one of the experienced team of Spinal Surgeons.

A 3 hour operation on 11.5.11 (L4/5 central decompression and L4-S1 dynamic stabilisation), went perfectly and I was walking up and down stairs within 12 hours. I drove my car within a fortnight and now swim regularly, play 9 holes of golf and have plenty of exercise. My original ‘sciatic’ pain has all disappeared.

The moral of the story is…. Don’t be afraid to ask for another opinion if you have a back problem – and be certain to have a scan.