Edmund’s intermittent lower back pain began before the pandemic. It steadily progressed in 2022. Three years of chronic pain had affected his quality of life, and it was not good to regularly take lots of pain medications. The past year saw a decline in the number of his golf days. He enjoys playing golf very much, especially when he is winning. In the past year, he couldn’t participate in competitive golf or join tournaments anymore.
Edmund has researched everything there is to know about back pains. He already knows the medical terminologies and suggested treatments. But what kept him to continuously search and research was the doctors. Different doctors have different approaches or methodology in treating patients.
Many of his friends have undergone back surgeries for back pains similar to but not exactly like his.
Many have given him recommendations. Etong doctor na ito magaling, iyung doctor na yun magaling.
The biggest challenge has been which doctor and hospital to choose.
He has visited several doctors and hospitals in Manila. UERM, Cardinal Santos, and Philippine General Hospital (PGH).
He has consulted with specialists at the University of California San Francisco Hospital (UCSFH). He was impressed with the service at the Stanford University Hospital, and the doctor’s explanation. The doctor didn’t pressure Edmund into surgery. He assured him that it was not urgent and Edmund could decide when he was comfortable.
Despite good referrals, Edmund was not 100% sure. He continued his search. He was overflowing with information about his spine. He recently went to Mount Elizabeth Hospital in Singapore and consulted with two surgeons. He came home unsatisfied. He didn’t hear what he wanted to hear.
Before going to Seoul, I told him that by this time he already has all the information he wanted.
He’s been to many doctors and hospitals in Manila and abroad. I advised him to choose one doctor that will do the back surgery, otherwise we’ll end up going around the world searching for this one doctor.
We arrived here in Seoul last August 6. Friends think we’re having a vacation. Nope.
When the flight attendant heard that we’re here for a medical check-up, she concluded that we’re going to have beauty treatments. Korea has become known as a beauty treatment destination. Dito magaling daw ang liposuction, face and body restructuring, stem cell, including turning your set of teeth into a perfect smile.
When Edmund found out that his friend Carlos had his back done at the Wooridul Spine Hospital here in Seoul, he immediately contacted him and became more or less confident that who ever Carlos’s doctor was, could be a good candidate to do the surgery. At first, my husband was prepared to have it done right away but I told him, not to rush. We’ll go to Seoul, consult with this doctor, check-out the facilities, then come back some other time for the surgery.
We met with Dr. Bae here at the Wooridul Spine Hospital and my husband and I felt comfortable with his simple explanation. The recent MRI done in Singapore clearly showed Edmund’s Lumbar 4 and Lumbar 5 as the problematic areas. His spinal columns have and are deteriorating from age. And to ease the pain, some minimally invasive procedures must be done. The doctor said the operation will take one and a half hours, then four hours recovery and my husband will start walking within the four hours. This empowered Edmund to decide right there and then to schedule the surgery on August 11, 2025.
With prayers and hope that he has found the right place, our journey continues here in Seoul.
