My problems started some years ago. Back in 2004 I started to get back ache which worsened over the next few years despite different treatment and therapies.

I lived and worked in Leeds at the time and went to see a Chiropractor every 2 weeks and although it helped, the benefit was hours rather than days or weeks.

I moved to Dewsbury and by back continued to worsen and one day it went completely. I struggled to get out of bed and walk and I ended up having about 3 weeks off work at that point. I saw a pain specialist at the Bupa hospital in Dewsbury and started with a course of physiotherapy. Although I think it helped to strengthen my back it didn’t really help with the pain and sometimes it felt like it aggravated it. After seeing the pain specialist again he recommended facet joint injections. I had those and it did improve slightly for a month or so but was then it went back to  how it was and then continued getting worse. He then recommended a procedure similar to injections but where the nerves were burnt to remove the feeling of pain. That was an uncomfortable procedure with no sedation and I didn’t really get any benefit from this.

I bought tens machines, massage chairs, heat pads, ice packs and have an inversion table too. Quite literally I’ve tried everything to help ease the pain over the years.

It was difficult for my family to see me in pain all the time and frustrating for me to see things that needed doing and I couldn’t do them. It became increasingly difficult to sleep but I also had to get up extra early so I could take pain killers and give them time to work before I could then do some exercises and then go to work.

My back got worse over time but I continued the routine of not sleeping, taking over the counter sleeping tablets at times but then having to get up extra early so that I could take pain killers and get to work.

When I did get home I was often beside myself with the pain and couldn’t bear standing and putting weight on my feet and sometimes couldn’t even sit to eat and was just desperate to lay on the floor.

At the age of 45 I felt like I’d become a burden to everyone including myself and the future didn’t look great. I resigned myself to the fact that my best years were behind me.

In order to get some more relief I thought Id try a local chiropractor Andrew Marshman who started treating me. He said it would be worth going back to my GP and ask to be referred  to Mr Krishna. He then gave me a card. I had a look at Mr Krishna’s website and it seemed too good to be true with some of the stories and I did think that maybe it was only one side of the story.

I went back to my GP and asked to be referred to Mr Krishna.

I saw Mr Krishna in March 2010 and he said he could fix it and it was a disc. I went home feeling so relieved and even as I’m writing this today, how I felt that day will stay with me and brings tears to my eyes.

I had X-rays and a scan and then saw him again a couple of weeks later. He suggested surgery and I immediately said yes. He asked if I wanted to think about it or discuss it but I said there isn’t anything to think about, I was desperate to get it sorted out. I felt like there was no other choice having had and done everything possible in the past.

I continued seeing my Chiropractor and also went to a spinal support group meeting at York prior to my surgery. It wasn’t until I went there and spoke to someone who had been through similar problems, that I realised that it affected their waterworks too. That was another problem I’d been living with and hadn’t associated that being linked.

I had my PLIF done on Thursday 1st July 2010 and have to say I was counting down the days. I woke after the surgery and although it was painful as some pain relief hadn’t worked  as it should,  the pain wasn’t that much worse than I d had previously.

The day after surgery I got out of bed despite feeling that my legs wouldn’t hold me up and by the end of that day I was getting in and out of bed, sitting up and going for walks around the hospital on my own. I went home on the Saturday and this was a 1 hour 20 minute car journey from Stockton to Selby.

It did take some time before I could reduce pain killers but immediately I was home, I could go for walks a couple of times daily. I started doing some gardening after a couple of weeks although limited and I often wondered if I was doing too much.

I started cycling by the end of August – 2 months after surgery and quickly built up to 30 miles per day sometimes for 3 or 4 consecutive days. I’d also vary that with walking and sometimes do 12 miles in a day too.

Although I continued to need pain killers, the number was reduced and over time I improved and had a while where I didn’t’ need any at all sometimes.

After almost a year though it started to feel worse again and the pain travelled through my groin too. Ice packs helped to ease this as it felt inflamed. I had a follow up appointment with Mr Krishna already booked so I told him. He assured me it can be normal and that a full recovery after having PLIF surgery can take up to 18 months and the joints below the PLIF have to work harder. He suggested some sacroiliac injections would ease it.

I had them on Monday 25 July 2011 and was at work again on Wednesday 27th. The main issue the following day was the effect of the sedation.

Although the recovery from these was quick at 2 weeks later it’s not a full recovery and I’m still taking some pain killers but its manageable. I’ve cycled 72 miles one day going from Selby to the Humber bridge and back and walked 10 miles and been camping in a small tent.

I’m confident the need for pain killers will reduce although I remember my Chiropractor telling me my recovery could be a percentage to what it was before surgery. For example, would I be happy with an 80% improvement. When I think back to how I was I would have had surgery for a 50% improvement.

I think it’s important to share my experience as not all people see an instant recovery within a few weeks. But Mr Krishna has told me it’s normal to take longer and can be up to 18 months for a full recovery after surgery, it’s a major operation.

That said, I feel I now have so much more of my life in front of me now (rather than behind me) and I can do so much more. I can live with the discomfort I have now but am optimistic it will only get better. I’m pleased I had the surgery and the associated issues such as nerve pain that went into my foot and issues with water works have all gone away, not to mention, the big improvements with my back pain. I’ve even been told I look so much better and younger now too which is great.

Even though people can’t see what’s wrong with you, living with severe back pain definitely shows in your expression and appearance.

If I did need surgery in the future, I wouldn’t hesitate in saying yes with Mr Krishna. I personally think that leaving it and putting up with it, is far worse for you, your family, your job, your recovery and your quality of life in general.

I wouldn’t wait 5 or 6 years again and as for the cost, although I have private insurance, with what I’ve spent on pain relief, private treatments and equipment over the years, having surgery would be comparable.

If I had to say how much of an improvement after surgery compared to before, I suppose it would be 80%, however, this has meant I’ve got my life back – I really can’t put a figure or value to that, its just amazing.

Thanks to Mr Krishna and his team, my eyes have been opened to a new and more positive future.