Doctors: Arroyo’s health ‘remarkably’ improving

Former President and incumbent Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s health is “remarkably" improving following the series of operations she underwent two months ago to correct a pinched nerve in her neck, her doctors said Wednesday. In a medical bulletin, five doctors from the St. Luke’s Medical Center in Taguig City attested to Mrs. Arroyo’s stable health condition but said she should continue taking medication for “bone mineral disorder." “The former President has had remarkable improvements of her neurologic status. She no longer suffers from neck pain, shooting pain through arms and hand, feels no more weakness or numbness in her upper extremities," the medical bulletin read. The medical bulletin was signed by Mrs. Arroyo’s attending physician Juliet Cervantes, nephrologist Brian Cabral, orthopedic surgeon Mario Ver, endocrinologist Roberto Mirasol and another doctor, Bernie Laya. The bulletin was released a day after Mrs. Arroyo went to the hospital for her scheduled post-operative check-up. Mrs. Arroyo underwent a series of “risky" surgeries two months ago to treat a pinched nerve in her neck — formally known as "multilevel cervical spondylosis radiculopathy with kyphosis"— which doctors said could lead to paralysis if not treated immediately.

Good bone healing In the medical bulletin, the doctors also said Mrs. Arroyo’s x-ray results showed “good bone healing" and “early signs of bone deposition and formation." They added that the device implanted on Mrs. Arroyo’s cervical spine is stable, with no signs of loosening or dislodging. The doctors, however, said that the former President should continue taking calcium, magnesium and vitamin D supplements so that her health will further improve. Mrs. Arroyo was also earlier diagnosed with hypoparathyrodism, a “rare" condition which causes the body to absorb low levels of calcium and which requires a “lifelong" treatment. Her allies at the House of Representatives revealed last week that her family is considering her treatment abroad, but the congresswoman herself is hesitant to go on a foreign trip unless her doctors say so. The recent medical bulletin, however, did not prescribe any medical treatment abroad for Mrs. Arroyo. The former President is currently on the Immigration watch list in connection with the string of plunder charges filed against her for her alleged abuses during her nine-year rule. She also currently faces an electoral sabotage complaint for supposedly tampering results of the 2007 senatorial polls to favor candidates who ran under her party. — KBK, GMA News