Diastematomyelia Treatment in India

Karan Mehta, a 28-year-old software engineer,...

Karan Mehta, a 28-year-old software engineer, had always been active but noticed a gradual decline over the past five years. He experienced increasing stiffness and weakness in his left leg, frequent tripping, and a persistent, dull ache in his lower back. Initially dismissed as a sports injury, his symptoms worsened. An MRI revealed diastematomyelia, a congenital spinal cord split, with a bony spur at the T12 level that was tethering his cord. His neurosurgeon, Dr. Sharma, recommended a laminectomy and spur resection to untether the cord and prevent further neurological decline. Karan was terrified of spinal surgery but knew inaction meant losing mobility. The 5-hour surgery went smoothly. Post-op, he faced significant pain and a month of strict movement restrictions, followed by intensive physiotherapy. The weakness in his leg improved dramatically within six months, though some residual stiffness remained. Emotionally, he journeyed from frustration and fear of a future in a wheelchair to profound relief and cautious optimism, now advocating for early diagnosis in young adults with unexplained neurological symptoms.