"Foot drop was progressing. Council said: this isn't a wait-and-see case — surgery, this month."
— Lalit Khanna, 55 · Vasant Vihar, Delhi
Before Orthosist
"My back issues went back 15 years. I'd managed them all my life with physio and care. In early 2025 the situation changed — I started tripping on my right foot. The toes wouldn't lift properly when I walked. A surgeon at a leading hospital said decompression surgery, urgent. Quote: ₹4.5 lakh."
"I'm skeptical by nature — I'd avoided surgery for 15 years. I wanted Orthosist to tell me there was a way to fix this without an OR. I sent everything — MRI, neuro examination notes from two doctors, video of me walking."
The Orthosist Council Verdict
Diagnosis: Severe lumbar canal stenosis L4-L5 with foot drop (motor deficit). Neurological signs progressing over 6 weeks.
Surgery required? Yes — and urgently. Progressive neuro deficit is one of the few absolute surgical indications.
Reasoning: Conservative care is no longer safe — every week of delay risks permanent foot drop. We're not in "should we try physio first" territory.
Next steps: 2 surgeon options specifically experienced in lumbar decompression for this pattern. Surgery within 2 weeks recommended.
After surgery
"They didn't soften the news. They didn't sell me a 3-month program when the council had concluded it would harm me to wait. Surgery happened 12 days later. The foot drop stopped progressing within a week. Full strength took 4 months of structured post-op rehab. Today I walk normally — no tripping, no weakness."
"They didn't try to keep me as a non-surgery customer. They told me the truth and pushed me to act fast. That probably saved my walking."
- • Free Council Assessment
- • Urgent surgeon referral (no commission)
- • 16-week Post-op Rehab Package
- • Pain management bridge during recovery
- • Foot drop: resolved
- • Normal walking restored
- • Back at desk job full time
- • Permanent damage avoided by timely surgery