Question: Hello Doctor,

I am writing this regarding my dad's health concern who is 58 years old. My dad is suffering from inability to walk for more than 5 minutes from past few years. He had been to many hospitals and gone through several tests and consulted several neurologists and orthopedic and no symptom was detected. And last year, we got an MRI done for Lumbar spine which showed disc bulge at L4, L5. and we got PELD endoscopy surgery done for that. However, that did not solve any purpose and he is still finding difficulty in walking for long time. If he is walking continuously for more than 5 minutes, he feels tingling sensation in the legs and then numbness. He then has to sit for few minutes and he will be able to walk again.

We recently got another MRI done which showed the same findings (I attached the latest reports with this message) this MRI showed the spinal canal measurement as 5mm at L4 and L5. We consulted another neurologist who suggested to go for a regular surgery (not endoscopy) to get the disc removed which might provide better relief to the spine and he maybe able to walk normally. But he was not assuring if he will be able to walk normally after that.

I am reaching out to you to request for your suggestions in this regards and to know whether the surgery would be apt and if there are any complications after the surgery? If surgery is done, would it take several months to recover and will he be able to walk normally?

Also, my dad was in a severe depression last year due to all these medical issues and got treated with ECT and anti-depressants - he is still using the anti-depressants. He though now recovered from depression, it makes us more difficult to convince him for this surgery as we are afraid of his mindfulness and not certain about the outcome. He is otherwise very fit person with active life style - he is still trying to manage to walk every morning for an hour (with intermittent breaks to get relief from his leg numbness)

Awaiting for your comments and suggestions.

Regards,
Vikram

Thank you so much doctor.

We have consulted you for my mother's problem and she is completely better now. With that trust, I am requesting you, if we can consult you for this surgery whether you would like to take up this case? or can you please suggest us any surgeon?

Awaiting your response.

Regards,
Vikram