Roonie Kaphiksha from Zambia Receives a Lumbar Decompression Surgery in India at Manipal Hospital for His Long Term Back Pain

Roonie Kaphiksha endured increasingly debilitating back pain for over fifteen years before finding relief. The Zambian resident first tried conservative treatments: pain medications, physical therapy and epidural injections but nothing worked. The pain intensified in his lower back and radiated down his left leg. It was hard for him to sit for long periods of time at home in his living room. Additionally, he couldn’t engage in his active lifestyle, and it was becoming more difficult to climb stairs in the building where he lives. “The pain was excruciating, and I couldn’t take it anymore,” said Roonie, 65.

In Zambia, Roonie was told by a spine surgeon that he needed a multi-level fusion. However, he was not sure about the treatment; moreover, in 2002 he wasn’t able to take the necessary time off work along with a months-long rehabilitation process – so he planned to live with the pain until he retired. But the pain kept getting worse, and he couldn’t endure it any longer.

Dr. Vikas Gupta, MD, head of Neurosurgery and Neuro-interventional Surgery at Manipal Hospital Dwarka, presented him with a Lumbar decompression surgery, which had a quicker recovery time – 3 weeks – and which could provide him relief for years to come.

“Mr. Kaphiksha had both severe spinal stenosis and spondylolisthesis. Despite the complexity of his diagnosis, our team successfully treated him,” Dr. Gupta said. “Patients usually spend about three to five days in the hospital. Each patient's ability to return to normal activity is determined by their pre-operative condition and age,” he added.

Roonie decided to undergo the surgery from the Best Spine Surgeons in India in order to return to his normal activities. For him, this procedure proved to be life-changing. “When I met with Dr. Gupta, I told him that I was willing to do whatever he recommended helping my pain,” says Roonie. “I really felt like surgery was the answer. He thought it would greatly improve my condition. I knew I wasn’t getting any younger and it was worth having the surgery while I still was healthy enough to have a complete recovery. I was ready to get my life back!”

Roonie had his surgery on 15th August and spent five days at Manipal hospital, one of the Best Neurosurgery Hospitals in India. “Everyone was amazing and answered all of my questions,” says Roonie. “The staff helped me manage my pain and made sure I was comfortable during my recovery process. Dr. Gupta’s staff that assisted him in the surgery stopped by to see me to make sure I was comfortable and all was going well.” After his procedure, Roonie spent a week in a rehabilitation facility to help regain his strength and range of motion.

One month after his surgery Roonie was back home in Zambia taking walks outdoors, taking part in activities around the house and going shopping. “My back pain and the numbness were gone right away,” says Roonie. “I would recommend this procedure to anyone. My life had been so limited for over a decade and I was not able to live it to its fullest.” When asked about his experience with Vaidam, Roonie says, “The entire experience was made easier thanks to Vaidam, I was not sure about the treatment and whether my trip to India would be a success; but after speaking to my case manager I felt sense of huge relief.”

Vaidam would like to wish Roonie a full and speedy recovery and a healthy and fulfilling life ahead.