NEW DELHI - The Dalai Lama said Tuesday he was feeling much better after being treated in a New Delhi hospital for a pain in his left arm that doctors diagnosed as a pinched nerve.
The 73-year-old exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, who underwent three hours of medical tests Monday, returned Tuesday to the north Indian hill town of Dharmsala, where he has his headquarters.
Speaking to reporters before his departure, the Dalai Lama said he was feeling "much better, almost normal."
This treatment would not affect a visit to Italy and Germany, scheduled to begin Feb. 8, said Tenzin Takhla, his spokesman.
The Dalai Lama has had a number of health problems in recent months that have interrupted his busy schedule of international travel to teach Buddhism and highlight the Tibetan struggle for more freedom under Chinese rule.
The spiritual leader has lived in exile in Dharmsala since fleeing Tibet following a failed 1959 uprising against Chinese rule over the Himalayan region.
In October, he had surgery to remove gallstones, while in August he was admitted to a Mumbai hospital and underwent tests for abdominal discomfort. His aides said then he was in good condition, but doctors advised him to cancel a planned trip to Europe and rest, saying he was suffering from exhaustion.
Following March protests in Tibet, China has stepped up its campaign to vilify the Dalai Lama, accusing him of leading a campaign to split Tibet from the rest of the country.
The Dalai Lama has denied the allegations, saying he is only seeking greater autonomy for the region to protect its unique Buddhist culture.
