Mr Kanna Gnanalingham 2018-05-21 Person 5 5 0

"I cannot speak highly enough of Mr Kanna Gnanalingham. I find him a most charming and approachable medical professional. On 14 January whilst out walking close to my home I suffered excruciating pain in my lower back. I managed to get home but thereafter was limited to either crawling on all fours or lying on my back, but always in pain. My GP prescribed Co Codamal, which had limited effect; this was then upgraded to Morphine a few days later. During the ensuing two weeks I had three private treatments with an osteopath which provided some brief and temporary pain relief; however, It was apparent that a scan was required to determine the cause of the problem. Following my pleading, my GP wrote to the Area Health Authority recommending I had an MRI scan. A week later I received a letter from the Health Authority inviting me to see a Physiotherapist (apparently the physio would examine me and determine whether a scan was necessary!). Frustrated by this bureaucracy I decided that I would pay to see a specialist at the BMI Alexandra Hospital, Cheadle. I looked on their website and was impressed by the many good reviews of Mr Gnanalingham. Within a few days I saw him for consultation. He arranged an MR scan which showed I had a left L3-4 lumbar disc prolapse trapping the 'motor' nerve that operated my left leg. My options for treatment were explained but it was clear surgery was required. I took a copy of Mr Gnanalingham's report to my GP who immediately wrote off to the Health Authority recommending I be considered for an operation. A week later I received a letter from the Authority requesting me to contact them. I contacted Mr Gnanalingham's very helpful PA (Vaani) requesting he call me to discuss this situation. I was pleasantly surprised that at 8:30 that same evening I received a call from the Vaani advising that Mr Gnanalingham had only just finished in theatre and he would contact me the following day (a Saturday) and to my further pleasant surprise he did telephone me that lunchtime. The following Monday I visited him again and after further examination, he booked me in for an operation (on the NHS) for that coming Saturday, saving almost three weeks of waiting, in pain, for the consultation and who knows what period for the operation. Due to Mr Gnanalingham's skills, I was immediately relieved of any pain from the prolapsed disc. What a relief!