“No One Understands This Pain Unless They've Been Through It”

These were the heartfelt words of Mr. Somchai, who had to endure a recurrence of herniated cervical disc pressing on the nerve.

The Beginning of the Pain

Eight years ago, Mr. Somchai underwent open surgery for a herniated disc. After recovering, he returned to his normal life. However, as the owner of a construction company, he frequently worked in the field and spent long hours leaning over his drafting table. The strain from this posture placed a heavy burden on his neck.

When the Pain Got Worse

This time, his symptoms began with neck stiffness, sleeplessness, and restlessness. At first, he thought it was nothing serious.

“My arm hurt so badly I couldn’t even lift it to eat. Even standing to brush my teeth was difficult. The pain was unbearable during flare-ups—I lived like that for months. It felt like all treatments were just temporary fixes,” he explained, his voice filled with pain.

Treatments That Didn’t Work

He tried various treatments including physical therapy, acupuncture, and medication, but nothing could truly relieve the pain.

“It was like treating the symptoms, not the cause,” he said. “The pain improved temporarily, but once I stopped the medication, it always came back.”

“It helped while I was undergoing treatment, but afterward, the pain returned,” he added, clearly disheartened.

Finding the Right Answer Through Specialized Care

Eventually, he began doing his own research and chose to visit S Spine & Joint Hospital. Mr. Somchai said that from the very first consultation, he felt confident he had come to the right place.

The doctor explained everything clearly and truly understood what he was going through.

“No one can truly understand this pain unless they've had it,” Mr. Somchai said, expressing a deep sense of relief at finally finding the right care.

He also explained the difference between neck pain from muscle strain and nerve compression:

“Muscle pain goes away when you massage it. But nerve pain—coming from deep inside, from the joints or spine—it radiates down the arm. It’s a kind of agony that’s hard to put into words.”

A New Surgical Approach

This surgery was completely different from the previous one, which involved a large incision and a long recovery.

This time, it was a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure with only a small incision, and Mr. Somchai was able to return home the next day.

“Shortly after the surgery, the pain disappeared completely. I felt like jumping with joy—it was as if the pain had been lifted from my body,” he recalled.

Returning to a Normal Life

Mr. Somchai is now able to return to work without pain.

“The treatment here was absolutely worth it—it gave me my normal life back so quickly,” he said.

He concluded by expressing his gratitude to the medical team and said with confidence that he no longer has to live in pain.

Thank you, Mr. Somchai, for allowing S Spine & Joint Hospital to be part of your recovery and for helping you reclaim the best moments in life once again.