Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu is suffering from a bout of sciatica, a common degenerative condition that mostly affects middle-aged people who might not be aware of the seriousness of it at first until the pain worsens and affects their mobility.
The Chief Executive’s Office revealed that Lee had sciatica after he attended a swearing-in ceremony for lawmakers on Thursday and a walking cane was spotted nearby.
His condition raised awareness of the at-times excruciating ailment, which is caused by irritation of the lumbar nerves, which are located in the lower back. Symptoms include nerve pain along the spine and lower back region, which can shoot down the lower limb with associated numbness.
The Post has talked to orthopaedic specialists to find out more about sciatica and how it can affect sufferers.
1. How bad is Lee’s condition?
During the 1½-hour Legco swearing-in ceremony, Lee was occasionally unable to stand fully upright. He required extra support and put his left hand on a side table. A walking cane was placed beside him, but he did not use it to enter or leave the Legco chamber.
