Patient stories

Scoliosis surgery

Sumedha’s story of healing and hope

Sumedha was a vibrant, curious teenager who loved singing, playing, and reading. She carried heavy schoolbooks everywhere she went — to school, to tuitions, and back home again. "My parents thought the weight of the books was causing my pain," Sumedha recalled. "They even cut my books into parts so I wouldn't have to carry as much."

For years, Sumedha and her family were unaware that something more serious was at play. The back pain she experienced was quietly dismissed, its true cause hidden beneath the surface. "I was completely clueless," she said. "I didn't know what was happening to me or why."

It wasn't until a visit to an orthopaedic doctor for her chronic back pain that scoliosis was first suspected. The family was referred to a scoliosis surgeon, and a full-body X-ray revealed the truth — Sumedha had adolescent idiopathic scoliosis, a condition with no known cause. Her curves were severe: 64 degrees in the upper spine and 58 degrees in the lower spine. "We found out it was much worse than the doctor had first thought," she said.

Seeking answers, Sumedha's family consulted multiple specialists. Every doctor gave the same advice: surgery was the only option. "I was scared and nervous," Sumedha admitted. "I was crying and telling them I couldn't do it." But with constant encouragement from her care team, she found the courage to move forward.

The surgery went well — and the very next day, her team helped her stand up and take her first steps. "They made me walk the day after surgery," she said. "I couldn't believe it."

Recovery brought gradual relief as her pain slowly faded. Today, Sumedha is thriving. Her surgeon has cleared her to swim and even join the gym, with gentle reminder to increase weights gradually. "I can sit for hours now with no problem," she said. "I can sing. I can play. People around me complain about back pain from sitting too long — but I don't have that anymore. I'm free."

Sumedha's message to others is simple and heartfelt: "If you have been living with back pain for years, please see a doctor as soon as possible. Early detection makes the whole process so much easier. Mine was detected late — I had neglected it for years without even realizing what it was. Scoliosis isn't always visible from the outside, so don't wait. The sooner you know, the sooner you can heal."

Scoliosis surgery

Vinith’s story of courage and new beginnings

Vinith V Shetty was an ambitious 18-year-old from Udupi, Karnataka, with one clear goal in mind: to become a doctor. He had just completed his twelfth standard and earned admission into a medical college — a dream he had worked hard to achieve. But quietly, a physical problem had been growing alongside him.

For some time, Vinith had noticed a slight change in his posture and mild back pain when sitting for long periods. A small hump had appeared on his back, visible even through his clothes. "My daily routine was normal — getting up, going to college — but people could see that something had changed," he said. It was this visible change that first prompted his family to seek answers.

When doctors confirmed that Vinith had scoliosis, the news shook both him and his parents. "It made me a little scared, thinking about my future," he admitted. "My aim was to become a doctor, and I thought that would be difficult if this problem continued — back pain would make everything harder."

His family visited their local doctor, who initially recommended braces. Vinith wore them faithfully for a year, but the improvement was limited. The family knew they needed to explore further options and sought a second opinion from a specialist.

It was there that robotic surgery was recommended. Vinith's parents were understandably anxious — it was a spine operation, and the weight of that decision was not lost on them. "They knew what the consequences could be," Vinith said. "They were not sure what would happen, but they believed it would help me in my future. So they made that bold decision." His mother turned to the internet to learn more. "I went to Google to read up more about robotic surgery, after that, we had full confidence" she said. 

What gave Vinith his own confidence was the precision the technology promised. "Because robots are used, the accuracy is very high," he said. "That made me feel better about going ahead."

The surgery was a success — and the recovery was remarkable. Vinith was discharged the very same day, walking on his own. "It was a very speedy recovery," his mother said. "I feel very happy to see him like this. Now I feel confident he can pursue his medical career very well."

For Vinith, the surgery didn't just straighten his spine — it straightened his path forward. Today, he is stepping into medical college with renewed strength, ready to become the doctor he always dreamed of being.