It takes a special kind of courage to choose the path less trodden, and Dr Na’eem Sadiq is well aware of the challenges that pioneers face. Though he could have opted for a conventional path in the medical field, Dr Na’eem decided to go where few others had gone before – Stem Cell Therapy.
It’s a testament to his hard work, determination, and commitment that he is seen as something of a miracle worker. We had a chance to chat to Dr Na’eem about how he got started, why he chose neurology, and the perks of doing what you love.
Where It All Began
Dr Na’eem says, “I completed my schooling from St Joseph’s college in Bangalore. After 12th standard, I moved to Bellary to pursue medicine. I completed my MBBS from Bellary Government Medical College and Post Graduation in Psychiatry from NIMHANS. I did Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology in London before I started working with medical institutions in Middle East and England.”
He says, about his choice to pursue Neurology, “Neurology is a difficult field. It can sometimes be a depressing field because the patient will come to you month after month with little improvement in the condition. One really needs to have a strong passion and dedication to the field to excel in it.”
It was during this time that he began to explore his eventual specialisation of choice. He was fascinated by the possibilities.
Dr Na’eem says, “I found that there were a lot of medical conditions that were deemed untreatable. Once a patient is diagnosed with difficult conditions like multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries and Parkinson’s disease, it has a negative impact on their personal life, professional goals, marriage and other aspects of one’s life. I was keen on exploring opportunities that would provide an improvement in the quality of life of patients suffering from some of these neurological disorders.”
He continues, “That’s when I started researching about Stem Cell Therapy. Over a decade ago, I found many examples of using stem cell therapy to improve regenerative conditions. They were offering this therapy for over $40,000 abroad. I wanted to bring this back home and provide stem cell therapy at a much lower cost. Over the years, I have seen that most of my patients have benefited from this therapy and have had significant improvement in their conditions.”
The Plexus Story
Dr Na’eem’s passion project, Plexus, explores unconventional methods in order to better patient’s lives.
He elaborates, “Plexus is a comprehensive Neurology and Stem Cell Research centre in Bangalore. We offer services that include Stem Cell Therapy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, traditional Chinese medicine, and Ozone Therapy to treat and rehabilitate patients suffering from neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders.”
With over 5000 success stories under their belts, it’s clear that the team at Plexus has helped many patients overcome neurological impairments. Plexus was also recognised as the Best Stem Cell therapy Centre in India by Praxis Media. Plexus was the winner of Best Stem Cell Therapy Centre in Asia Award at Indian Healthcare Awards in 2016. Plexus was also awarded the most Promising Neurology & Stem Cell Therapy Centre in India by the World Brand Summit.
The Success Stories
Dr Na’eem says, “In the last 26 years as a doctor, the most memorable experiences have been to see my patients getting back on their feet. Some of the patients who come to me are those who have lost hope of getting better. Instilling a ray of hope that one can live a normal life again brings a smile on their face. I cherish these smiles. Once they finish the treatment, I love to see them improve and get better. It’s a fulfilling experience for any doctor.”
He shares, “A couple of months ago, a 65-year-old lady from Jharkhand came to Plexus with a severe condition of Parkinson’s. She came in a wheelchair because she was unable to walk. She was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease almost 7 years ago. She underwent treatment in a number of multi-specialty hospitals where she was prescribed high dosage of Syndopa (a medicine used in the treatment of Parkinson’s). Her condition deteriorated by the day. Her endurance reduced, stiffness in the neck and back muscles increased. She became dependent on others for her daily activities, and her mobility reduced. She had excessive fear of falling, weakness, generalized fatigue, tremors, and episodes of freezing while walking.”
A dire story indeed, until Dr Na’eem and his team stepped in. He says, “I treated her for two months. The treatment included stem cell therapy and rehabilitation comprising of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, traditional Chinese medicine and therapeutic massages. The entire programme was tailored to suit her needs. The focus was to help her regain her strength, endurance and flexibility and help her get back to her household chores. As she went through the programme, her condition significantly improved. By the end of two months she was able to walk with increased speed without any support.”
He concludes, “She was able to perform all her activities independently, her stiffness and tremors reduced to a great extent and her overall physical activity improved to that of a person half her age. Currently she is able to perform all her household chores and fulfil the roles of a homemaker, a wife and a grandmother without any major difficulties.”
Dr Na’eem says, “A couple of years ago there was a young patient with cerebral palsy who came for treatment. The parents were keen to see their child improve and get better. We did stem cell therapy and rehabilitation on the 18 year old boy. After a couple of weeks, the boy had significantly improved. The father was overjoyed to see his son improve. Instances like this motivates us to do better every single day.”
He muses, “A neurologist has to have compassion, patience, and understanding to deal with some of the difficult conditions that a patient is suffering from.”
Thank you for sharing your story with us, Dr Na’eem! We hope to see more amazing stories emerge from you and your team at Plexus.
Takeaway – Habits That Help!
Dr Na’eem says, “I am a stickler for time. I have always followed a disciplined approach in my personal and professional life. Being on time and following a disciplined schedule every day are some of the habits I have cultivated over the years.”
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