Treatment for Symptomatic Tarlov Cysts in India

Craig Wright from Florida was suffering from Symptomatic Tarlov Cysts (a rare condition recognised by the National Organization of Rare Disorders), which is very painful and can lead to paralysis, loss of bladder and sexual control and many other disabilities depending on where it is located on the spine or sacrum.

Craig's medical insurance provider declined cover for this rare (but serious) condition, despite the fact that he had been living with extreme pain in his lower back, hips, buttocks, tailbone and right leg for over a year. Craig had been unable to work for a year and his financial situation and family life were suffering badly; he was forced to look at alternatives.

He remembered a colleague telling him once that he had had heart and hip replacement surgery in India and Thailand and that the hospitals and doctors over there put the US to shame at a fraction of the cost.

Craig contacted PlanetHospital who put him in touch with Dr Bipin Walia who concurred with all the findings Craig had received from top American neurosurgeons who were familiar with his rare condition. Craig checked Dr Walia's credentials and found that he was highly rated. Thus reassured Craig decided to take the plunge and travel to India for treatment.

Craig recalls: " I was scared and sceptical of doing something like this but I was at the end of my rope and felt I had no other options. I checked with others that had done this for heart, spinal and many other surgeries and they all said they were so glad they did and that I would not believe how superior the care in India was to that in the US. After much praying and homework and a lot of dedicated efforts by PlanetHospital and their staff, I boarded a plane with my daughter (35 yrs old) on June 11 for a 22 hour flight to New Delhi India."

The service and treatment Craig received in India was exemplary; from being met at the airport, the Hilton Hotel, the immaculate hospital, pre-op tests and the operation itself, Craig was full of praise for everyone involved and the outstanding facilities.

"When I came to in ICU in a private room with 2 nurses by my bedside I was in a lot of pain. They gave me medication and held my hand, rubbed my legs and kept telling me I was fine and ANYTHING I wanted to let them know. They never left my bedside. Dr Walia came in and sat with me to explain what happened. 

"After working with the Physical Therapist, eating right and the 24 hr care by the dedicated nursing, housekeeping and sanitation staff that bathed me every day, cut my hair, gave me a shave and were just unbelievable, the vice grip that was on my tailbone for a year and the pain associated with it was almost gone."

Less than a month later, back in the US, Craig was experiencing just some mild post-operative discomfort and was hoping to get back to work soon after.

The amazing part of the whole thing was the cost: the airfare for two, surgery, all hospital costs, medications, hotels, meals and shopping; the entire trip cost around $20,000, which is about one fifth of the price Craig would have paid had he stayed home for treatment.

Craig's life has changed enormously as a result of travelling to India for Neurosurgery. He concludes: "God Bless Rudy Rupak for starting PlanetHospital and helping thousands of people get medical care they could never have afforded.  Dr Walia is a talented surgeon with total knowledge of Tarlov Cysts and their treatment ....  I cannot thank him and his team enough for giving me my life back."

Patient story supplied by PlanetHospital.

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