“I am a 34 year old woman and have suffered debilitating back pain since 1996. My back pain forced me to resign from a career path I had worked hard to follow. I was referred to a Consultant at York where they said they were unable to help me. I knew Martin Knight and his pioneering ELF technique could alleviate my suffering. However, due to the withdrawal of funding for the Randomised Control Trial (RCT), NHS patients have to be referred only through another Orthopaedic Consultant, I no longer have this hope available to me. I saved for 2 years to have a consultation with Mr Knight and he is keen to perform ELF on my upper spine. Ironically, if I could be referred to Mr Knight and have keyhole laser surgery on the NHS, I could return to full-time work, and would no longer face a miserable future claiming benefits and taking medication for the remainder of my life. This procedure was developed in the UK and many, many UK residents have had their lives transformed through the amazing work of Mr Martin Knight. I want the right to be referred to The Spinal Foundation and not lose my dignity and self-respect at an early age, because I have the misfortune to experience chronic back pain.”
