Potts Disease Treatment in India

Karan Reddy, a 42-year-old software engineer...

Karan Reddy, a 42-year-old software engineer and father of two from Hyderabad, had always been active. Over six months, he developed a persistent, dull ache in his mid-back that he initially attributed to long hours at his desk. The pain became sharp and unrelenting, and he began to notice a subtle forward stoop in his posture. Simple acts like picking up his young daughter became agonizing. A local doctor prescribed painkillers, but when Karan started experiencing weakness in his legs and occasional tingling, he sought a specialist. An MRI revealed the devastating cause: Potts Disease, a tuberculosis infection that had destroyed parts of his thoracic vertebrae (T8-T10), causing spinal instability and threatening his spinal cord. The neurosurgeon explained that antibiotics alone couldn't fix the structural collapse. He recommended a posterior spinal fusion with instrumentation to stabilize the spine, decompress the neural elements, and correct the deformity, followed by a long course of anti-TB drugs. The surgery was long and complex, involving rods and screws to rebuild his spinal column. Waking up, Karan was terrified of paralysis, but was relieved to wiggle his toes. The immediate post-op pain was severe, managed with medication. His emotional journey was a rollercoaster: initial denial and fear for his family's future, deep anxiety before surgery, and then a grim determination to recover. The first weeks of recovery in a rigid brace were challenging, but gradual physiotherapy restored his leg strength. A year later, though his flexibility is reduced, Karan is back at work, pain-free, and can play with his children. The experience left him with a profound appreciation for his health and a cautious optimism for the future.