Spire Healthcare hospitals, previously known as BUPA hospitals, provide the highest standards of private spinal surgery at their 25 hospitals located throughout the UK. With over 25 years of experience, their highly trained clinical and support staff are dedicated to looking after you.
Spire publish annual clinical outcome measures including rates for MRSA infection, for unplanned readmissions to hospital and for unplanned return to the operating theatre. You can check out key patient satisfaction measures at each Spire Healthcare hospital and find out how Spire Healthcare keep MRSA rates so low in its 25 hospitals.
All Spire Healthcare hospitals are registered with the Healthcare Commission.
Spire Manchester Hospital
Back pain treatment and surgery
Spinal surgery
Spinal surgery is usually performed to relieve pressure on one or more nerves. There are various different operations to relieve nerve compression. The exact operation that you will have depends on the cause of the pain. Back operations are performed under general anaesthesia, which means you will be asleep throughout the procedure and will feel no pain.
Some of the most common procedures are described below. Sometimes, more than one procedure is done during a single operation. Your surgeon will explain which is most suitable for you and the benefits and risks of having a back operation, together with any alternatives.
- Discectomy – the soft centre of the disc that is protruding and putting pressure on the spinal cord or nerve is removed.
- Nerve root or spinal decompression – any bone, disc tissue or other material putting pressure on the nerve root or spinal cord is removed.
- Spinal fusion – vertebrae are joined together, using bone taken from your hip, metal implants or a specially designed cage.
A physiotherapist will visit you after your operation and discuss exercises you can do in bed to help speed up your recovery. Before you go home, your physiotherapist will make sure that you can use the stairs and can sit comfortably for about 10 minutes.
Depending on the operation you have, you will usually need to stay in hospital for two to seven days.
Back surgery is commonly performed and generally safe.
Epidural injection
“Epidural” refers to the space surrounding the outer protective covering of the spinal cord.
For some people, an injection into the epidural space can help to relieve back pain or sciatica (shooting pain from the back down one or both legs) at least in the short term. This period of pain relief may allow them to become more active. Keeping active is crucial to recovery from chronic back pain.
The epidural injection for chronic back pain consists of a steroid, a local anaesthetic or a combination of the two. These drugs are put into the epidural space using a special needle. The position of the injection depends on which spinal nerves are responsible for the pain. This is usually in the lumbar region of the back (below the level of your lowest rib).
The procedure is routinely carried out as a day case, with no overnight stay. The injection is usually given under a local anaesthetic. This means you will stay awake during the procedure, but you may be offered a sedative to help you relax.
Spire Wellesley Hospital - theatre recovery
Facet joint injections
The facet joints which link together the bones in your back help to stabilise the spine and control the degree of movement. With age, they are prone to injury and deterioration and are a common cause of lower back pain, especially the type that is worse while sitting and improved by walking.
An injection into a facet joint is given to treat the pain, inflammation and any restriction of movement caused by the deterioration. A steroid medicine (which reduces inflammation) or a combination of a steroid and a local anaesthetic is injected into the joint.
Facet joint injections are usually performed as an outpatient or day case procedure with sedation. The treatment usually only takes a few minutes and more than one joint can be injected during the same session. Some people have the injections done under general anaesthesia, which means that they are asleep during the procedure
After a facet joint injection you may feel more pain and tenderness in the area during the first 24 hours as the anaesthesia wears off. Sometimes this lasts for a few days. You will be given painkillers to help with this.
It can take up to a week for the full benefits of the injection to be felt. The effects of a successful injection can last anything from a few weeks to several months. The benefits last longer than six months only in a minority of people. Repeat injections (usually up to a maximum of three) are possible.
To find out more about having back surgery and treatment in a Spire Healthcare hospital, please call their treatment enquiry team on 0800 434 6600 (lines open 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday; 9am to 1pm Saturday).
Where can I get treatment?
Self-pay prices for spinal surgery
You can choose to have one-off private treatment at a Spire Healthcare private hospital for most types of operations, procedures and tests. You’ll be seen quickly and receive your treatment at a convenient time.
As a self-pay patient, you don’t need private health insurance. Spire Healthcare willl give you a single, all-inclusive fixed price for your treatment.
Benefits of one-off private treatment with Spire Healthcare
- Quality-assured medical and nursing care
- Treatment in a clean and comfortable private hospital
- Choice of appointment times
- Tour of the hospital before admission
- Continuous care from your consultant
- Pre-admission information about your procedure
- Written discharge guidance
- Private room with en-suite bath or shower, if you’re staying overnight
- Healthy vegetarian and snack options for all meals
- Use of a phone* ,TV and radio in your room
- Visitors at any time
- Free tea and coffee for your visitors
- Meals for visitors*
- Free parking for you and your visitors (subject to availability)
* You’ll need to pay extra for this
To request an information pack, a guide price for any one-off private treatment or to discuss your personal situation please call 0800 434 6600.
Contact details
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