Mohammad first contact us in July 2016, from Melbourne Australia, with his good friend Ali. They were both destined to have the exact same surgery in Germany on the same day.
When asked to describe his pain Mohammad said,
“The pain started in my lower back in 2009, but after exercises it went away. In the last 4 months it started again, and this time is higher in my back. It also shoots down my left leg down to the knee.”
Sitting made his pain worse, which affected his work as a taxi driver – requiring him to be in a seated position for many hours. He could no longer make an income for his family, and he knew something needed to be done.
We informed him of his options in Germany coordinated his assessment of his case.
Diagnosis:
Degenerative Disc Disease (DDD) L5/S1
Treatment Plan:
Total Discectomy by anterior surgical approach and disc replacement of L5/S1.
Ali discussed his options with his trusted personal physician at home, and decided to proceed with the surgery alongside his good friend Ali. They were each other’s perfect support partners.
Malte Petersen (ONZ Patient Coordinator) met up with Mohammad during his recovery at Medicos Aufschalke – Europe’s largest rehab centre, where Ali shared his experience travelling from half a world away.