Times of India
14 May 2010
By Pratibha Masand

Painkillers or injections or even surgeries to treat spondylosis or acute spinal problems may not be needed and sound waves could do the job, if an Oshiwara clinic’s claim is to be believed.

While sceptics dismiss the claims as bringing ‘temporary relief’ or having merely a psychological effect, the clinic says it is the first in India to treat spinal problems through noninvasive sound waves, sent from the start of the spinal cord in the neck down the whole length. Around 120 patients have already been treated for core spinal distortions and disturbances by this procedure, and another 200 are in the queue. “The procedure has 20 sessions on an average and the patient is subjected to 10–15 minutes of sound wave vibrations in the spine,” says the technician at KKT clinic.

Not all doctors agree the sound wave technique works. “I am not aware that sound waves heal or align the spinal cord. Spine problems are so common that there are a lot of these magic remedies all over the world,” said Dr Sameer Dalvie, spine surgeon from Hinduja Hospital. Dr Pradeep Bhonsale, head of orthopedic department in KEM Hospital says sound waves may bring only a temporary pain relief and not a permanent solution. “The patient might feel pseudo–satisfaction andpsychological relief. What we need to do is identify each problem and correct them accordingly. You cannot expect a magic wand to work,” said Dr Bhonsale.

But 47–year–old Parminder Singh believes otherwise. In mid–March, Singh started complaining of pain in his back and right leg. The diagnosis revealed he had two inflamed slip discs touching the nerves. No amount of painkillers or minimally invasive injections helped. An operation was suggested. He heard of the sound waves technique and decided to give it a try. “I couldn’t walk more than a few steps and could not even stand for a couple of minutes. I had to eat lying on the bed. I was given 10 sessions of the treatment at a stretch. After four sessions, I could walk to the bathroom and by the 17th, the pain vanished,” said Singh, who has one more session to go. The procedure cost him around Rs 1,28,000.

Dr Nishad Telang, a physician at the clinic, says every patient is diagnosed by a combination of doctors and machine. “We give the patient a 10–15 minute sound wave vibration every alternate day. But if his condition is very bad, we give him sessions at a stretch. We even give diet, exercise, and ergonomics (proper postures) plans for during and after the process,” said Dr Telang.