Man paralysed for 25 years finally able to move his body

SHARJAH — A patient, who had been suffering from paralysis waist down and severe spasms in his legs for 25 years after an accident, has been fitted with a device that has stopped the spasms.

The surgery was done by doctors of University Hospital Sharjah (UHS) and it is said to the first-of-its-kind implantation surgery done in Sharjah on the 49-year-old Emirati quadriparetic patient, Ali.

In the accident, the driver, who was Ali’s long-time friend, was killed and Ali was left paralysed from the waist down. Since then, he has been completely dependent on nurses to turn him in bed and assist him with virtually all of his daily needs. In addition, his body was racked by painful and uncontrollable muscular spasms that were triggered by the slightest touch, and there was nothing he could do to stop them.

Dr Rajshekher Garikapati, specialist neurologist at UHS, advised Ali to undergo a procedure to implant a device called Intrathecal Baclofen Pump, that delivers medicine directly into his spine. “The surgery has been a new beginning for me. I would like to thank the entire team at the hospital. Not only am I comfortable, but I am free of pain and the spasms are gone,” said Ali.

“This means it is easier for me to be turned in bed and for my assistants to help me with daily needs. You can’t imagine the difference this makes in my life.”

“Ali is still paralysed but he no longer has spasms, the stiffness in his limbs has reduced, and he is pain-free,” said Dr Yogesh.