Mr Ishaque and the team of staff working with him have provided an exemplary professional service.

I had been suffering a great deal of right sided leg and hip pain as well as low back pain for 6 months when my GP agreed to refer me to Mr Ishaque for a consultation. I had been on codeine based medication for much of these 6 months as well as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as Naproxen and Ibuprofen both tablets and topical gel. Walking and standing in particular were very painful. 

 

Mr Ishaque arranged for me to have an MRI and standing lumbar spine x-ray and then met with me review the results. I was found to have degenerative scoliosis with multiple level degenerative disc disease and facet joint arthritis with lateral recess stenosis that resulted in my back and leg pain. It was suggested that I had some spinal injections to reduce the pain and inflammation. Two or three weeks later I was admitted as a day case for Right L2/3, L3/4 and L4/5 transforaminal epidurals and nerve root blocks. Mr Ishaque was very approachable and explained at every stage what he was suggesting as interventions and what the possible benefits and risks might be. The injections were painless, having had a light general anaesthetic. After two hours bed-rest I was allowed up and after assuring myself and everyone else that I could walk around I was allowed home. I had the slightest of pain at the injection sites and this disappeared entirely after 48 hours.

 

From there on what was required was patience. This is not a treatment that had immediate effect. Things gradually improved over the next four or five weeks. I then started physiotherapy to improve the strength of the muscles supporting my back and now, three months on I am entirely without pain in my leg and have only a residual amount of low back pain that causes me no problems. I walked two miles yesterday without pain and can sleep at night without waking with the pain. From my point of view the procedure has been very worthwhile and has avoided the potential for surgery.

 

Mr Ishaque and the team of staff working with him have provided an exemplary professional service in which I, the patient, was clearly their priority. I hope I don’t have to have further treatment but I am realistic enough to know that this may be a possibility in the future and would have no hesitation in returning to Mr Ishaque and team at the Priory Hospital.