Mr Ankur Saxena

Written by a private patient at The Alexandra Hospital - part of Circle Health Group

I was recommended to see Mr Saxena after several MRIs with another specialist revealed a disc issue at L4/L5. Mr Saxena was able to recommend and perform an endoscopic bilateral micro discectomy to resolve the issue. worried as I was about the prospect of surgery Mr Saxena was professional at all times and gave me every piece of information I asked for and talked me through the entire process. The results of which have been a full recovery in an amazing timeframe thanks to the “keyhole” style of his procedure. The procedure provided instant relief from the pain I was experiencing and I went from operating table to walking within 5 hours managing several flights of stairs the next day (with physio supervision)

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Written by a private patient at The Alexandra Hospital - part of Circle Health Group

I have had chronic pain for about 20 years. Nerve pain running from my bottom to my feet. I had previous surgery 13 years ago and was told that it was a dermoid cyst on the spinal cord at L3/4 and I would need to have surgery for the rest of my life. The pain was getting more debilitating as the months passed and I knew it was time. I had great difficulty walking, stairs, sleep was disrupted and I was frequently off work. It affected every aspect of my life and was really depressing. There was no one close to where I lived so I had to look further afield. The Alexandra Hospital is 2hours away but I read about Mr Saxena's specialities and he seemed like the ideal person to see. From my first consultation with Mr Saxena I trusted him. He really listened to me with his full attention. He put me at complete ease. He was very honest about the serious risks with the surgery but I felt safe in his and his teams care. He arranged for a nerve conduction specialist to be there for my safety due to the high risks of paralysis and loss of continence. It was all explained thoroughly but still I felt in safe hands. It was a very long day for the team. 7.5hr operation, then overnight in ITU. I had some nerve pain in my feet but first thing the next day the physios got me out of bed and I was walking. I went in on Monday and was discharged Thursday morning. I was looked after wonderfully by the fabulous staff. I have no complaints whatsoever. The pain that has plagued me has almost gone. I do have some numbness in my buttock leg and foot but my mobility is very good and improving. I'm back at work. No continence issues. The best part is that Mr Saxena told me it was actually a very rare tumour (mature teratoma) and he's confident he has removed it all. He wants to keep an eye on me with MRI scans yearling for a few years to be certain. I can't thank him enough for his expertise, excellent care and for being such a lovely, warm person. I would 100% recommend him and the fabulous team at the Alexandra Hospital.

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Written by a private patient at The Alexandra Hospital - part of Circle Health Group

I was referred to Mr Saxena by another surgeon as he was pioneering less invasive surgical options for spinal conditions. I had developed quite severe sciatic pain in my left leg caused by a vertebrae shifting and compressing a nerve. Added to this was a bone growth that was also compressing the nerve. The CT scan, MRI scan and X-Ray showed the channel through which the nerve passed was severely narrowed. The symptoms were pain and reduced movement to the buttock, thigh, lower leg and pain into the foot. The pain was so severe that walking for more than 15 - 20 minutes was not possible. Physiotherapy had been tried along with a steroid injection in the affected area with no improvement. The next course of treatment would have been a 5+ hour operation on my back with screws and rods being used to support my spine. My surgeon at the time went to a spinal surgical meeting, where my case was discussed, with a view to arranging the surgery. Whilst there he also discussed my case with Mr Saxena who agreed to take my case on. Right from the outset I felt totally confident with Mr Saxena, he was very pleasant to deal with and listened closely to my symptoms. He explained that he may be able to help and the process he would use would be much less invasive. He then ordered more scans and arranged a second appointment. At the second appointment we discussed the findings from the scans where he showed me the narrowing of the nerve channel and explained why it was causing the problems. Mr Saxena went on to explian, in detail and very clearly, how he may be able to help my condition without the need for for major surgery. By using an endoscopic procedure he could remove the bone growth and open the nerve channel therby relieving the pressure and the associated pain. He went on to explain in detail the inherent risks involved in the procedure and he went to great lengths to ensure I understood these and the fact that this was not a guaranteed cure. Bearing all this in mind I decided to proceed with the endoscopic technique as the major surgical option would still be available. The operation was scheduled and went ahead as arranged. I saw Mr Saxena prior to the surgry where he again went over the procedure, the risks and the possible outcomes. I was surprised how good the experience was, I had no noticable post operative pain or discomfort and I was discharged home with self care advice the next day. Following surgery I noticed an improvement almost immediately and that improvement continued over the coming days. It is now 4 months since my surgery and my sciatic symptoms have gone completely. I am able to walk and use stairs without issue. I would highly recommend Mr Saxena to anyone with a back issue. He is very pleasant and easy to speak to. He explains clearly what is wrong, how he can help, the risks and possible pitfalls and he is honest about the possible outcome.

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Written by a private patient at The Alexandra Hospital - part of Circle Health Group

Before going to see Mr Saxena my mobility was really bad because of the pain in my back. I was constantly having to sit down and could only stand briefly. I had an MRI scan which revealed compression of my lower back and I was referred to Mr Saxena. When I went to see him he explained in great detail what was wrong and the various treatment options. I elected to have surgery and it has made a tremendous difference. The operation went well and I could stand and walk without pain almost immediately. My daughters were amazed to see me walking upright out of the hospital when they picked me up. After a few weeks any discomfort had disappeared and I could resume a normal life again. I am extremely grateful for the care and treatment I received.

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Written by a private patient at The Alexandra Hospital - part of Circle Health Group

After having back problems for years with previous treatments including back injections, physiotherapy, etc. I went to see Mr Saxena and after consultations and MRI scans he carried out Lower back surgery to the left and right L4/L5 region which has resulted in me having 0 pain post operation and I can now walk miles without pain. To put this in context, before the operation I could manage about 50 meters before having to stop and crouch down to try and relieve the pain in my lower back and numbness in my legs and feet, the pain was so bad I often went white and felt drained. My mood has improved vastly as I am no longer in constant pain and feel very upbeat about my ability to walk, exercise and generally go about normal life without the constant issues presented with lower back pain and numbness in my legs. I am so thankful to Mr Saxena for his clear communication of what he would be doing and the fantastic surgery he performed to finally leave me pain free.

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