Date of surgery: March 2023
Date of testimonial: March 2026
Grigori Ulanov, Gelendzhik, Krasnodar region, Russia.
I learned about the Institute in 2020, when I had my first full Spine MRI and discovered I had cervical and thoracic syringomyelia. I wasn’t experiencing any symptoms at the time, and due to COVID, I wasn’t able to confirm the diagnosis then.
I researched all the available information on syringomyelia and realized that the Institute offers minimally invasive surgery, backed by extensive experience and numerous positive patient testimonials. Oher clinics proposed various types of procedures with greater risks and without addressing the underlying cause of the syringomyelic cysts.
I would like to especially highlight the website of Dr. Andréi Aleksándrovich Zuev, an excellent neurosurgeon who, however, strongly disagreed with Dr. Miguel B. Royo-Salvador regarding the use of filum terminale sectioning surgery to halt the progression of syringomyelia. I had my doubts. That is precisely the challenge: at a time like this, people face a difficult decision without knowing who to trust.
The neurologists I consulted personally, both in Russia and Malta, simply told me that syringomyelia wasn’t affecting me and that I might well live like this until I was ninety…
In 2022, I repeated the MRI, which showed a negative evolution: the cysts had increased considerably. I reached out to Russian patients who had already undergone this surgery at the Institute and were very satisfied with the results. They all replied and confirmed the success of the procedure. That was a turning point for me, and I decided to contact the clinic.
I decided that this operation was the least I could do for myself to continue living life to the fullest.
I also would like to emphasize that all communication with the Institute is very well organized: everything is clear, convenient, and accessible. I am very grateful to the Institute’s staff for their work.
After reviewing my MRIs, they suggested I travel to Barcelona to confirm the diagnosis and undergo the procedure. The diagnosis was: Neuro-cranio-vertebral Syndrome and grade 0 cerebellar tonsils descent.
In March 2023 I arrived in Barcelona. My coordinator at the Institute was Mrs. Nina Arutyunova. Dr. Marco Fiallos Rivera performed the necessary tests and explained the diagnosis and the procedure. I agreed, and on the following day I underwent the surgery.
Among my symptoms, I remember that I couldn’t lift my left leg more than 20 degrees while lying on my back. After the operation, my leg began to rise normally, just like my right one. I was genuinely surprised. The pain I felt when pressing on the left side of my back also disappeared.
The next day, I was already strolling around Barcelona. A month later, I returned to my normal life.
Before the operation, because of herniated discs in the lumbosacral region, I went to a rehabilitation center where I performed many leg‑stretching exercises—bringing my legs toward my body and using weights and resistance bands. Now I believe that may have been a mistake: those exercises could have created excessive tension on the filum terminale, which was already compromised, and this might have contributed to the rapid progression of the syringomyelia.
After being discharged, I was prescribed several medications, but I was unable to take one of them because I was experiencing a panic disorder at the time.
In 2025, I underwent another MRI and, after consulting with specialists in my city and later with the Institute online (with the assistance of Mrs. Nina Piorkowska), we confirmed that the growth of the cysts had stopped.
At this point, my condition has remained stable, which I consider positive. I understand that I made the decision in time, and I see the day of the operation as my second birthday.
I am deeply grateful to the team at the Institute and to its founder, Dr. Miguel B. Royo-Salvador, not only for their invaluable work and dedication to patients, but also for creating an opportunity for people like me to halt the progression of this disease. They have faced skepticism from many doctors and individuals, yet they have continued with determination and confidence in their work. The thousands of patients who have improved, their testimonials, and the lives that have been changed are, to me, the strongest evidence that their approach has real value. For any of us dealing with such a complex disease, that holds immense significance.
I am also grateful to the patients who helped me make the right decision.
Together with my family, I wholeheartedly wish the Institute continued growth and future achievements. Thank you for being there.
Sincerely,
Grigori Ulanov.
My contact information is available for anyone who may need it, just as other patients’ contacts helped me when I needed guidance.
E-mail: [email protected]
Phone: +7 9054382046