Patient Testimonials

August 3, 2009

Dear Dr. Mudiyam,

This is a long overdue expression of my sincere gratitude. No one, including myself, would have or could have imagined the incredible success that I have enjoyed due to my complete recovery from my triple-level spinal fusion. Of course, I have followed your pre- and post-op instructions to the letter, but I can easily say that I would have had the surgery years ago had I known about the outcome.

I am slowly resuming all of my activities, and am back at work full-time as a Flight Attendant. It was July 24, 2008 that I had the surgery, and a year later I am actually beginning to job from time to time, albeit very slowly and cautiously. In addition, I am also re-training myself to do the butterfly stroke at my local pool.

I can't thank you enough for your expertise, and you helpful and talented staff. I feel like I have a whole new set of opportunities.

Sincerely,
Charles M. Scudder, Jr.

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August 2009

My testimony to Dr. Ram Mudiyam has been long overdue. In November 2005, Dr. Mudiyam skillfully performed surgery on my cervical spine. The results of the surgery far exceeded my expectations.

I am now in my sixth month of recovering from lumbar surgery. I am optimistic of a similar success story as with my cervical spine surgery. Within the first month after lumbar surgery, practically all the weakness in my lower extremities had disappeared. I didn't have to think of raising each leg as I walked up the stairs to my condominium; how wonderful it is now when I reach the top of the stairs and I don't have to sit in a chair by the door while my "noodle legs" recover from the "stair ordeal." Today I continue my core physical fitness program to gain my strength back and my stamina continues to return with each new day. I am confident that one day I may only have to take an occasional pain pill and use my TENS unit a lot less. I know I still have a ways to go with my lumbar surgery recovery, but I see progress each day, and the stiffness and pain is relieved for a longer period of time before I need to take my medications or use my TENS unit. I am looking foreword to the day when my lumbar x-rays reveal a solid fusion like my cervical x-rays revealed.

Thank You Dr. Mudiyam, you are my HERO!!!

Yours Truly,
Deanie Bailey

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July 2009

"I can't sleep. I need drugs. I can't take the pain." Such familiar words. Words that used to get spoken by me constantly...

As I'm writing this, a certain popular public figure has just been laid to rest. As events in his life become increasingly clear, the more I realize how much I used to have in common with this tragic figure, in terms of the type of physical agonies I used to endure, in what seemed like a never-ending cycle of misery.

I'm talking about chronic pain.

Anyone familiar with chronic pain knows how it can swallow your life whole, affect your moods, rule your existence, make you a burden on your loved ones, and ultimately cause such all-encompassing discomfort that one's thoughts can even get as bad as to consider a "permanent solution."

Yes, things can get that bad.

They did for me, some years back.

It was in the fall of 2001, and I was having an increasing bit of soreness in the infamous "lower back" area. Naturally, when this type of pain first surfaces, we do everything we possibly can to cope with and eliminate it.

"Maybe you should see a chiropractor." Some suggest. So you try it.

The pain seems to get better, but naturally it's only fleeting. Of course, as time wears on, nothing seems to improve, so you seek out more and more suggestions on how to "go back to normal"

"Try walking upright." Another suggests, even though this has long become impossible.

"Try exercise."

"Try rest."

"Try heat."

"Try ice."

"Try heat and ice."

Yes, you'll do anything to cope, and you put in a valiant effort. You continue working, playing, living, cooking, cohabiting with your fellow man, until one day you realize that things have not gotten better, and the prospect of living your life in ANY way resembling the way you used to carry on is impossible.

You can't walk. You can't drive. You can't engage in any sort of romantic activity. Sports are out. Lifting is way out.

Oh...and then there's sleep. Yes, good ol' sleep. We remembered it well.

I'm not going to spend the rest of this testimonial going into the nightmarish sleep deprivation that I used to experience, the molotov cocktail of pills, booze, and other "antidotes" that I used to cope. I am not going to talk about the terrible rock bottom that I reached as a human being, when I finally became useless to my friends and family and was resigned to the fact that I would never work anymore, or be of any benefit whatsoever to my fellow man.

I won't talk about that, because if you're reading this far, you've probably been there too.

Well, I tell you in all humility and seriousness that there is a solution.

Eight years ago I was put under the care of a brilliant man named Ram Mudiyam - an individual that I don't know on any sort of personal level, yet I consider him to be one of the most important people that God has ever put in my life.

See... he fixed my back.

And when I say "fixed" I'm talking about the reduction of "PAIN"

And when I say the reduction of pain, I'm not referring to a serious and expensive painkiller habit that many disreputable Doctors out there might condone, and even encourage.

No.

Dr. Mudiyam's first miracle was getting me off of the painkillers that I had become dependent on, and immediately recommended a regimen of alcohol and tobacco cessation.

That's when my life began to change for the better.

Far before the miracle procedure that the Dr. Mudiyam did on my back, he began to prepare me for healthy living.

He took note of the "sedentary lifestyle" that had helped cause the back problem. He pointedly took me to task for my alcohol, "legal" drug consumption, and cigarette smoking. He got me to realize that for good back health and a good lifestyle in general, I would have to take accountability for my own body and mind.

Two weeks after setting foot in his office, the Doctor went to work on me, and so help me God he FIXED MY BACK. Even a "very severe" case like me, and he had done what I had thought was impossible, 95% pain reduction. From the agonizing slouch that I had worn like Quasimodo from the Bell Tower, with physical therapy, and careful exercise, I was able to walk again, run again, be human - AGAIN. It wasn't just the reduction of pain, but the restoration of my mobility, my flexibility, and most of all...

My dignity was restored too.

I spent 6 months confined to a wheelchair in 2001. This year, I'm taking up swing dancing.

I owe it to Dr. Mudiyam. From what I gather, many, many others do too.

You still have the power to have a great life.

He'll help you to get there.

Scott King

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March 2003

My name is Judy Kidd and I want to share the amazing results from my Microdiskectomy. I began having hip pain in early December of 2002 and thought it was due to arthritis that I have in both knees and ankles. I made my appointment with Dr. Mudiyam, who did a thorough examination, x-rays and eventually scheduled me for an MRI of my lumbar spine. The x-rays showed that I had no arthritis in my hips. I had been experiencing severe pain in my feet and ankles for two years and attributed it to arthritis! The MRI showed a herniated disc at L4-5. Due to risk of severe nerve damage, (which was evident in my physical exam and symptoms), Dr. Mudiyam recommended urgent surgery.

The procedure is done as an outpatient. Surgery was scheduled for 7 am and I was home at 12:30pm!!! I woke in the recovery room pain free! I didn’t need any medication. The pain in my feet and ankles was completely gone and my hip pain has continued to diminish. I go to physical therapy three times a week to strengthen my muscles. I cannot believe how well I feel! I stand straighter and walk pain free. I cannot say enough about my care from Dr. Mudiyam and his staff. I certainly have a new lease on life.

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February 2002

Osteoporosis and falls from my beloved horses left me with compressed lumbar fractures and severe degenerative cervical disc disease. I was forced to retire from nursing; disabled from severe Fibromyalgia and Osteoarthritis. My life was consumed with pain and my activities were so limited...I sincerely hoped there would not be too many more tomorrows because I didn't really care to feel like this for too many more years.

I could only sit for 15 minutes at a time because of the burning back pain. That took all enjoyment out of reading. I even slept in a cervical collar to try to minimize the pain and numbness in my arms and hands. I could no longer type on my computer...I could not even raise my arms. Medication was not an answer...I had adverse side effects to everything...and you can guess how sweet my disposition was...

November of 2000, Dr. Mudiyam "fixed" my upper body with a 3-level cervical laminectomy and finished the job in April of 2001 with a 4-level lumbar laminectomy. The improvement is amazing!

I have more titanium in my back than Tiger Woods has in his bag, but I have my life back!!! I am a full-time law student, reading and writing for hours at a time, without discomfort!!! I thank God every day for the talent and brilliance he bestowed upon this wonderful man. Oh, and by the way, I turned 64 in December.

"Thank you, Dr. Mudiyam, for giving me back my life..."

Joan Todisco

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January 3, 2002

Dear Dr. Mudiyam,

I don’t know how to thank you for all that you have done for me. Before I found you I was in pain and I felt that no one believed me or understood. I was even beginning to wonder if I was imagining the pain I was feeling. I had sleepless nights and pain that were hard to describe. Pain like I had never experienced before in my life. Before I came to you I had been treated as though I didn’t have a real problem and wasn’t taken seriously. Before you helped me, I had not even been given an MRI. To be honest I was so discouraged that I almost given up hope when I came to you, but I hurt so much that I had to keep trying.

You were and are nothing short of a miracle for me. You and your professional staff treated me with kindness, compassion and understanding. You have always taken time with me and made me feel that I was the only patient you were working with. You helped me understand my problem and explained exactly what procedure I needed. You made me feel comfortable to ask questions and gave me diagrams and information to take home about my surgery. After more than a year of suffering with chronic back pain before you helped me, I had forgotten how I felt before my injury. I can’t say enough about how comfortable you and Marianne and every one of your team made me feel when I came for office visits and before my surgery. I felt like part of your office ‘family’. I felt so special and cared for when I received phone calls at home, just to check on me. My surgery was at seven a.m., by ten a.m. I was walking! The pain was gone. It was clear to me that you have the respect of the hospital staff too. I have also never had such professional, kind, care at a hospital. I know that my treatment there was due to your influence as well. It was apparent that you take personal pride and individual care with all your patients from the way the hospital staff spoke of you and responded to you. You have restored my faith in people and the medical profession. Your continued support and treatment have given me my life back.

I have heard so many stories and seen so many people who were not as fortunate as I and didn’t get good are and are still suffering to this day. I’m sad for them and tell them about you! If I could have one wish it would be for everyone who is sick or in pain to have someone as wonderful and talented and caring as you to be there for them as you have been for me.

I don’t have medical training, but there was a line in a movie that said, “You make me want to be a better person”. You and your staff set an example to be followed. You make me want to be a better person and to do my best to help others.

Thank you again, and when I say my prayers I thank God for you and the wonderful team you have and for all that you do for so many of us.

Wishing You Many Blessings,
Diann Johnson

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November 11, 2001

I recently suffered a work related injury, which ultimately had me spending the greater part of the day at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital. While I was in the emergency room, x-rays and MRI were ordered. The findings in these exams revealed an 8 mm disc herniation of my lower back. Upon my release form the emergency room, the attending physician referred me to Dr. Mudiyam. I called Dr. Mudiyam’s office and scheduled an appointment. Prior to my appointment, I was in contact with four other medical professionals, who questioned me as to which doctor I would be seeing. When I mentioned Dr. Mudiyam, all four said, “ Dr. Mudiyam is an excellent surgeon”.

When I went to my first appointment, I understood why Dr. Mudiyam received such praise. I immediately felt comfortable in his office. Dr. Mudiyam’s staff is so kind and very caring, all of which eased the pain, fear and anxiety over possible back surgery. Dr. Mudiyam explained the extent of my injury and answered all of my questions.

Microdiskectomy, a surgical procedure, was performed three days later. I received several calls from Dr. Mudiyam’s office, after I returned home from a brief hospital stay. These follow-up conversations answered all my questions and made post-operational instructions easily understood. Words cannot express how wonderfully I am progressing, and for all the gratitude felt for Dr. Mudiyam and his staff. Now, I am starting my recovery and looking forward to a new way of life.

Donald Lacey

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