F Winter - Disc Prolapse

As a 2 year old I contracted Polio. It affected my left leg and foot mainly and my right foot. I needed 7 operations in the following years. The last of these was at age 19 involved stretching ligaments that were causing club feet and cutting bone to reshape my whole foot enabling me to wear normal footwear. As a result my left leg has always been extremely weak, thin and 2 inches shorter than my right one. Consequently my right leg became well developed compensating for the weak one.

My childhood hobby was woodwork and I became a joiner mainly in industry. This work is often heavy but over the years I have experienced no more than usual strains that occur in the job. A couple of years ago I made a career move into training and became a joinery instructor, the work was lighter with only the occasional bit of heavy lifting. Unfortunately due to cut backs I have had two spells of redundancy in between different training jobs, however I was still active with a large garden to look after and my family (a wife and two children aged 5 and 16). I returned to industrial joinery early in 1996.

In May I noticed an unusual pain in my good leg which recurring and wearing off but lasted longer each time. Over the next week or so the pain covered more of my leg and I decided to visit my GP. I was prescribed a two week course of anti-inflammatory tablets and painkillers, however within a week my leg had become numb and the pain had become so much worse that I decided to see the doctor again and was advised that the pills would take their time to work. Again my condition worsened and I stayed in bed and crawled from A to B only when absolutely necessary. I requested a home visit and this was followed by an appointment as soon as possible with Mr. Krishna. Four days later I was admitted to hospital from out-patients following an X-ray as it was obvious I was not coping at home. I was feeling very low at this time as memories of childhood operations and long months spent in hospital came flooding back.

A scan was arranged four days later at Darlington and from the result Mr. Krishna explained using a model of the spine that a disc was pressing on a nerve and what his options were. With my approval he planned to perform keyhole surgery and remove the offending piece of disc, although he had performed this operation many times elsewhere it would be a first in Cleveland. The operation took place 3 days later to my great relief, having heard so many stories of lengthy waiting lists.

The improvement was immediate and I had virtually no pain at all. Within two days, following some physiotherapy, I was allowed to go home with the aid of a walking stick. I have had several appointments at out-patients and gradually over the months my leg has become significantly less numb and much stronger due in part to my attendance at a local multi-gym and by completing the exercises given to me by the hospital physiotherapist. At times I feel disappointed that am not back 100% to my usual self but at this stage I have to admit there is very little that I could do before that I can not do now.

My biggest problems are climbing stairs and from time to time I experience a momentary weakness in my knee due to the reduced strength in, what was my good leg which threatens to send me crashing to the floor but happily the leg in which I suffered polio is now stronger having had to work much harder recently. At present I feel unable to safely resume my work as it involved quite a lot of climbing. Looking back it seems incredible to have been in so much pain and have had an operation, which prior to the keyhole technique I am informed would have been major, and have reached this stage of recovery within the space of 5 months, for this I am indebted to the efficient and warm and friendly care of Mr. Krishna and his team, not forgetting all the help and attention from the nurses on the ward.