Spinal Surgery
A Palmerston North woman who spent years in such severe pain that she was prescribed opioids and needed a wheelchair, has had “life-changing” spinal surgery in India.
Karolyn Carroll contacted Stuff after reading about Tauranga nurse Claire Olsen, who needed a double hip replacement and, instead of waiting “years” or paying “$80,000 in New Zealand”, had robotic surgery in India for $20,000.
Carroll told Stuff she paid just $13,000 for spinal surgery in India last Christmas Eve, after she was quoted a minimum of $85,000 to have the surgery in New Zealand, which would have meant using her KiwiSaver.
“This story resonated with me 100%… New Zealand needs a huge wake-up call. We need to make noise ‒ it’s unbelievable how far we are behind in medicine ‒ I totally agree with Claire Olsen that it’s third world,” said Carroll.
After almost “two years in a wheelchair and on really, really high doses of pain medication”, she is now walking, going to the gym, has a new career as a nail technician, and has even taken up line dancing.
Carroll said she struggled to get help in the public system even though her GP referred her to a specialist.
“I was unable to stand for longer than two minutes, had to use a chair in the shower and then rest aft
Not only was the private cost prohibitive in New Zealand at a minimum of $85,000, but she was told it would be a “a massive operation here, cutting me in half, front and back, to work on my lower spine.”
In desperation, she researched online and, like Olsen, landed upon India, through a private healthcare operator, Indicure, which facilitates surgery in India for overseas patients.
“I was worried but they had testimonials from some New Zealanders who I found and spoke to,” Carroll said.
“Mumbai has state-of-the-art equipment. I only have two scars horizontal to my spine and moving a day later. I was doing so well, I flew home a week after it.”
Back home, Carroll was referred to Sport Manawatū’s green prescription team, to help her get moving again with the support of trainers and coaches.
Have you gone overseas for surgery? Share your story with Stuff at newstips@stuff.co.nz
One of her coaches told Stuff they plan to feature her in its next newsletter, which confirmed Carroll had joined the Green Prescription programme at the beginning of the year, after being referred by a physiotherapist at Palmerston North Hospital.
“For Karolyn, this marked the beginning of a transformative journey toward reclaiming her independence and rebuilding her life following a major spinal injury and surgery in India.
Claire Olsen, a registered nurse from Tauranga, had a double hip replacement in India, paying a fraction of the NZ cost, and avoiding long waiting lists.
“Prior to joining, Karolyn was largely wheelchair-bound and living with significant daily pain… and her overall health had suffered due to long-term use of high-dose pain medication,“ the planned newsletter read.
Carroll, once fearful of movement, now exercises up to five times a week, walks, and line dances twice a week.
She no longer takes opioids, she said.
Meanwhile, more Kiwis struggling to get help here are heading exploring their options overseas.
Jackie Brown, a friend of Olsen who accompanied her to India, said they had both been so inundated with interest from New Zealanders keen to find out more about surgery that Olsen has been fielding questions about robotics and hip surgery - “two of her favourite subjects” - while Brown is planning to accompany a group to India in September.
Brown runs Bums, Gums and Tums in Tauranga, which organises cosmetic surgery in Thailand and bariatric surgery in Mexico and, wants to add India to the surgical tourism destination.
Health Minister Simeon Brown said the government’s Elective Boost programme would ensure more Kiwis get access to life-changing operations.MONIQUE FORD / The Post
Health Minister Simeon Brown, in a statement to Stuff, said ensuring all New Zealanders have access to “timely, quality healthcare” was his priority.
“Last week I announced that the successful Elective Boost programme would be extended to deliver an additional 21,000 elective procedures over the next year,” he said.
“This will ensure more Kiwis get access to life-changing operations like hip and knee replacements and cataract surgeries sooner.”
