he News on Sunday (TNS): The spine is generally recognised as the domain of neurosurgeons. Why should orthopaedics trespass on this domain?

Dr Afzal Hussain (AH): Spinal asymmetry can develop at any age due to several reasons including accidents and incorrect postures, etc. Excessive use of mobile phones and laptops by the youth has led to incorrect posture, therefore, spinal deformity. Pain is a natural unpleasant feeling or sensation a human body feels. It is your body’s way of warning you against a more severe problem. When an individual feels pain, their initial response is to take a pain killer, suppress the pain and go about their day. In doing so, they are actually ignoring the root cause of the pain. Investigating the cause of pain is better and may save the patient from a more serious problem developing in their body.

TNS: What are the effective treatment options for treating chronic back and neck pain?

AH: Generally, a patient showing up with back or neck pain is advised to take painkillers. However, when we talk about chronic back and neck pain, managing it is entirely different. Relying on painkillers, physiotherapy or other treatment options is not always possible. At the point where painkillers are no longer an effective treatment option for chronic pain, physicians generally suggest surgery as a last resort. But only a small number of patients with back pain require surgical intervention.

TNS: What makes KKT Treatment different from other non-invasive treatment options?

AH: Several non-surgical treatment options exist today, and people are being treated in numerous ways all over the world. Painkillers and surgery are some of the most common forms of treating spinal ailments. However, KKT Orthopaedic Spine Centre brings a revolutionary, non-surgical approach to treating patients dealing with chronic back or neck pain. A plus point of the approach is that its Spinalytics X-rays focus on analysing the spinal asymmetry. Unlike other non-surgical treatment options, this is not a symptomatic treatment. It addresses the underlying cause of the pain, reactivating the body’s self-healing process.

TNS: Being an orthopaedic surgeon, what appealed to you to practice the KKT treatment?

During my FCPS training in orthopaedics and spine, I conducted research for my thesis, Pedicular Fixation on Spinal Trauma. The research revealed that only three percent of patients with spinal disc disease require surgical intervention as their treatment option. However, this ratio is high in Pakistan. Spinal surgeries have faced a massive increase since the installation of MRI machines. Based on the research I came across in my thesis, a non-surgical treatment option was quite appealing to me.

AH: During my FCPS training in orthopaedics and spine, I conducted research for my thesis, Pedicular Fixation on Spinal Trauma. The research revealed that only about three percent of patients with spinal disc disease require surgical intervention as their treatment option. However, this ratio is high in Pakistan. Spinal surgeries have faced a massive increase since the installation of MRI machines. Based on the research I came across, a non-surgical treatment option was quite appealing to me. This is the reason why I have been with the KKT for the last ten years or so. This is an advanced technology for spinal treatment that focuses on realigning the spine by working on the principle of iso-resonance. Not only does it release excessive stress on the spine, but also strengthens and improves the functioning of muscles, spine nerves and ligaments. Spinal issues can have a huge impact on any person’s day-to-day activities as well as their mental health. Therefore, our focus is on helping the patients understand their underlying issue(s) and assist them in getting rid of those without relying on pain medications and surgery.

TNS: How do you treat patients at your institution?

AH: Individuals using laptops or using mobile phones for prolonged periods of time develop faulty postures. It is not advisable to watch television while lying on the bed. Incorrect posture leads to back, neck and spinal issues, particularly spinal asymmetry. When a patient comes to KKT, they have a detailed discussion about the issue they are facing with our highly qualified orthopaedic consultants. Based on the symptoms and detailed clinical examination of the patient, they are advised specialised KKT X-rays. These advanced X-rays help in determining the misalignment of the spine and the degree of spinal asymmetry at a micro-level. Treatment is provided via quantum acoustic waves (sound waves) using a special device. These soundwaves focus on realigning the spine to its original form without any incision or surgery. The treatment has no known side effects. More than 95,000 people have been successfully treated across Pakistan so far. We are continuously improving and enhancing our healthcare standards, helping patients suffering from spinal asymmetry. We have centres in eight major cities of Pakistan including Lahore (JT/DHA), Rawalpindi, Karachi, Peshawar, Multan, Faisalabad and Hyderabad.

The writer is a senior reporter at The News International