“From Someone Who Could Run 21 Kilometers… to Someone Who Could No Longer Walk Even 2 Kilometers”
“One Day, A New Life” — From Radiating Leg Pain to Returning to Life and the Activities She Loves
For many people, surgery can feel like a major life decision, especially when it involves spinal surgery. Many may feel afraid, anxious, and unsure whether the surgery will be painful or whether they will be able to return to normal life afterward.
This was also the story of Ms. Kanittha Theerakulpisut, a 55-year-old patient who traveled from Trang province to receive spinal treatment at S Spine & Joint Hospital.
She had always loved exercising, especially trail running and road running. She once ran distances of up to 21 kilometers and enjoyed activities that required physical strength. However, when her back pain and radiating leg pain became more severe, the active life she once enjoyed began to change.
The Beginning of Back Pain She Thought Was Caused by Exercise
Ms. Kanittha shared that she was an ordinary housewife who loved exercising, especially running, both on roads and trails. In the past, she could run up to 21 kilometers and had always lived an active lifestyle.
Around two years ago, she began experiencing back pain. At first, she thought it might have been caused by exercise or overusing her body, so she did not think it was a serious problem.
But as time passed, the pain did not go away on its own. Instead, it began to radiate down her leg, spread to the sole of her foot, and was accompanied by numbness. The symptoms gradually became more severe.
From Being Able to Run to Barely Being Able to Walk
The radiating leg pain began to clearly affect her daily life. She used to be able to run 10 kilometers comfortably, but later, walking just 2 kilometers became difficult. Sometimes, when walking a longer distance, the pain became so severe that she could no longer take another step and had to find a place to sit and rest.
Even when traveling abroad with her child, the symptoms continued to interfere with the trip. She often had to stop and sit down, turning what should have been a happy journey into something she had to endure through pain.
Walking was not the only difficulty. Sleeping also became uncomfortable. Even turning over in bed became difficult because the radiating leg pain and back pain prevented her body from moving normally.
Trying Many Treatments, But the Symptoms Did Not Improve
Before deciding to seek treatment at S Spine & Joint Hospital, Ms. Kanittha had tried medication and physical therapy for six months. However, the results were still not clearly improving. The pain kept returning, causing her to spend money, lose time traveling for treatment, and feel exhausted by a treatment journey that seemed endless.
What she once thought might simply be pain from exercise had gradually become a problem that increasingly affected her quality of life.
A Turning Point Inspired by “Kong Saharat”
One of the key reasons Ms. Kanittha decided to seek treatment at S Spine & Joint Hospital was after seeing the story of Mr. Kong Saharat Sangkapricha, an artist she followed and admired.
Ms. Kanittha shared that she was a fan of Kong Saharat and had seen a video in which he talked about his radiating leg pain, which had affected him to the point where standing on stage during concerts was no longer enjoyable. His symptoms were similar to what she was experiencing.
Seeing someone with a similar active lifestyle and similar symptoms receive treatment at S Spine & Joint Hospital and return to a better quality of life gave her confidence. She decided to travel from Trang to the hospital for treatment.
Another important reason was that she wanted to receive care directly from a hospital specializing in spinal conditions, so she could receive a clear diagnosis and treatment that addressed the root cause.
Fear Before Surgery and Confidence After Meeting the Doctor
At first, Ms. Kanittha admitted that she was very afraid of back surgery. The phrase “spinal surgery” sounded serious and frightening. On the first day she arrived at the hospital, her fear and anxiety even caused her blood pressure to rise. However, the warm welcome and care from the hospital staff helped her gradually feel more relaxed, and her blood pressure returned to normal.
She then met Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pornnarit Chotiyarnwong, also known as Dr. Porn, and underwent a detailed MRI examination. When the results were compared with her previous MRI from the year before, it showed that the nerve compression had become more severe.
The doctor diagnosed her with grade 1 spondylolisthesis, which was compressing the nerve and causing back pain, radiating leg pain, numbness, and difficulty walking.
When the doctor explained in detail that her condition could be treated through a single small incision using an endoscopic technique, with the surgery taking less than one hour, her fear gradually turned into confidence. Everything she learned that day helped her decide to proceed with treatment immediately that same evening.
Minimally Invasive Endoscopic Surgery with Faster-than-Expected Recovery
Ms. Kanittha’s treatment was performed using a minimally invasive endoscopic technique called PSLD. This approach helps reduce tissue injury and allows patients to recover more quickly.
Shortly after the surgery, Ms. Kanittha was able to get up and walk to the bathroom by herself without needing a walking aid.
What surprised her the most was that the radiating leg pain she had suffered from disappeared immediately. She could turn over in bed without pain and did not experience the complications she had once feared, such as throat discomfort from intubation. She stayed at the hospital for only one night before being ready to return home and resume normal daily life.
“One Day, A New Life” — The Value of Deciding to Treat the Problem
For Ms. Kanittha, this treatment felt like receiving a new life. From someone who had back pain, radiating leg pain, difficulty walking, and trouble turning over in bed, she was able to get up and walk just a few hours after surgery. The radiating pain that had disrupted her life had clearly disappeared.
She said, “One day, a new life — it was worth it.” This decision allowed her to return to normal life and gave her the chance to do what she loved once again.
Her confidence in the treatment also inspired her husband, who had similar symptoms, to consider receiving treatment at S Spine & Joint Hospital as well.
