“I Could Neither Sit Nor Sleep” Due to Spinal Nerve Compression
For some people, radiating leg pain may initially be mild enough to tolerate. Medication may provide temporary relief, while physical therapy may appear to ease the symptoms. However, if left untreated for too long, the condition can gradually worsen until it affects sitting, sleeping, walking, and even emotional well-being.
This was the experience of Ms. Saifon Rueangyubon, a 60-year-old business owner who had lived with radiating pain in her left leg for approximately five years. Her condition eventually worsened, causing pain in both legs, particularly on the left side, to the point where she “could neither sit nor sleep.”
Five Years of Radiating Leg Pain: From Manageable Discomfort to Unbearable Pain
Ms. Saifon explained that she had experienced radiating pain in her left leg for approximately five years. Initially, the symptoms were still manageable, so she relied on pain medication to help her continue with her daily life.
However, after returning from a trip to Japan, her condition became noticeably worse. The pain, which had previously affected only one side, began radiating down both legs. The pain on her left side became so severe that she could no longer sit or sleep normally.
She constantly had to get up, walk around, massage her leg, or keep changing positions because the pain radiating down to her calf was extremely distressing.
The persistent pain affected not only her body but also her mood and emotional well-being. Ms. Saifon recalled that she became easily irritated during that period. Everything people said seemed to bother her because her body was constantly enduring pain.
Medication and Physical Therapy Provided Only Temporary Relief
Before deciding to visit S Spine & Joint Hospital, Ms. Saifon had tried several treatment approaches, including medication and physical therapy.
Although her doctor told her that she had already been prescribed the most appropriate medication available, her symptoms did not resolve. Physical therapy provided some relief, but the improvement lasted for only about two days before the pain returned.
The seemingly endless course of treatment left her trying to endure the pain until she completed the program, even though she had begun to realize that this episode might be more serious and that medication alone might no longer be sufficient.
Fear of Surgery After Hearing That “Spinal Surgery Could Leave You Unable to Walk”
Despite the severity of her pain, Ms. Saifon admitted that she was initially afraid of spinal surgery. She had heard stories suggesting that patients might be unable to walk after surgery or could become bedridden.
This fear made her decision even more difficult because she still had a career, responsibilities, and a life to continue. If surgery truly left her unable to walk, the consequences would be life-changing.
However, when the pain became so severe that she could no longer sit or sleep, she began to think:
“Why should I continue suffering when the medication is not making me better?”
Her suffering became the turning point that prompted her to seek a more definitive treatment.
Her Daughter Researched Treatment Options and Found a Specialized Hospital
Ms. Saifon’s daughter, who worked nearby, helped research possible treatment options. She discovered that S Spine & Joint Hospital specializes in spinal care and recommended that her mother consult a specialist there.
After consulting Dr. Suthavee and undergoing a detailed MRI examination, she was shown that the underlying cause of her symptoms was significant spinal degeneration and collapse compressing the nerves. Surgery was recommended to address the problem.
What helped ease Ms. Saifon’s fear was the doctor’s clear explanation of her condition and the proposed treatment plan. The doctor also reassured and encouraged her, helping her feel more confident.
Although she had previously been afraid of surgery, she then made an immediate decision:
“If surgery is what it takes, then I will have the surgery.”
By that point, her symptoms had become so severe that she could neither sit nor sleep, and she no longer wanted to continue living in pain.
One Day After Surgery, the Long-Standing Radiating Pain Was Gone
Following treatment, Ms. Saifon said that the hospital’s information about rapid recovery and pain improvement after treatment reflected what she genuinely experienced.
Just one day after surgery, the radiating leg pain that had troubled her for more than five years had noticeably disappeared. The only discomfort she experienced was mild soreness around the surgical incision.
What surprised and delighted her most was that she could get up, walk comfortably, and use the bathroom independently during the night without anyone supporting her.
The outcome she had feared—being in severe pain, requiring assistance to stand, or being unable to walk—did not occur.
When Ms. Saifon sent a video to her daughter, her daughter could hardly believe that her mother’s pain had improved and that she was able to walk again so quickly.
From Pain and Irritability to Renewed Smiles and Confidence
Before treatment, the constant pain left Ms. Saifon feeling irritable. Whether she was sitting, sleeping, or walking, the radiating pain was always present.
After treatment, once the radiating pain had disappeared, she felt like a different person. Her emotional well-being improved, she smiled more often, and she was once again able to enjoy her life.
Having once feared that surgery might leave her unable to walk, she now feels completely confident in her decision and says that the treatment and care have “won her heart completely.”
In addition to the treatment outcome, Ms. Saifon was impressed by the staff members, who cared for her with warm smiles and attentive service. Their support helped patients arriving in pain and anxiety feel less stressed and less alone.
Making New Plans for Life, Taking Better Care of Herself, and Returning to Japan
After her condition improved, Ms. Saifon planned to follow her doctor’s advice by exercising to strengthen her muscles. Stronger muscles would help support her spine and other joints that were beginning to show signs of degeneration.
She also set a goal of returning to Japan once she had fully regained her strength. Her previous trip had marked the point when her symptoms worsened and made her realize that she needed prompt treatment. For Ms. Saifon, this treatment was not simply about becoming pain-free—it was about regaining her quality of life.
After years of being unable to sit or sleep comfortably, struggling to walk, and enduring radiating leg pain, she can now get up, walk, use the bathroom independently, and enjoy a better quality of life. She also has renewed hope for the future.
