Back pain in Worthing

The cost of your back pain care will depend on your individual circumstances. At the time of your appointment, your consultant will discuss all options with you and ensure all your questions are answered.

Our flexible payment options help you spread the cost of your payment across a time period that suits you.

If you have private medical insurance, we can arrange direct settlement with your provider. However, you will need to discuss with your provider directly in advance to assess whether your treatment is covered. For more information, visit our private medical insurance page.

It is helpful to know a little about how the spine is formed, as damage or degeneration in any of the structures can lead to pain. 

The spine is formed from bones called vertebrae. These are stacked on top of one another in a column.

The column is divided into five parts:

• Cervical vertebrae: the neck 
• Thoracic vertebrae: the upper back 
• Lumbar vertebrae: the lower back 
• Sacral vertebrae: the rear of the pelvis 
• Coccygeal vertebrae: the tailbone

Between the vertebrae are shock absorbing structures called intervertebral discs. These discs stop the bones of the spine from rubbing together when moving. Wear and tear over time or excessive force from an incident can damage the discs.

The spine is also held in position by ligaments connecting the bones together and by tendons that connect to muscles that stabilise and allow movement.

Down the middle of each vertebra is a channel called the spinal canal. The spinal cord, which is a large gathering of nerves running down from the brain, runs through the canal.

At each column level, nerves leave the cord and exit the spine. These nerves travel out to many different parts of the body to allow movement and collect sensory information to send back to the brain.

Back pain is an extremely common symptom for people to experience. It most often occurs in the lower back, a condition known as lumbago.

Back pain can also be found at any other point along the spine, from the neck to the tail bone, with the most likely causes changing depending on location. 

The pain may be present all the time or come and go. Some people may find that their symptoms are worse first thing in the morning and then improve over the course of the day. Other people may find that their discomfort is worsened by activity, exercise, or specific movements. 

For many people, there are no more symptoms other than pain. Some, in addition to the pain, experience nerve related symptoms, including tingling or numbness in hands, feet, arms, or legs. 

Back pain red flags

There are a few ‘red flag’ symptoms to look out for. If you notice any of these signs alongside your back pain, you should urgently seek specialist attention. These include:

• Numbness in the genitals or buttocks
• Loss of bowel or bladder function
• Pain associated with weight loss
• Severe pain after trauma to your back
• Chest pain associated with your back pain
• Back pain and a high temperature
• Back pain that is much worse at night

Call 111 or see your GP if your back pain is accompanied by any of the above symptoms, as they can investigate whether this is a sign of a serious condition.

When you see a back pain specialist, they will take a detailed history of your pain. Questions that you might be asked about your pain could include when it started, whether you experience it all the time, if you have any associated symptoms like numbness, and if anything makes it better or worse.

Your specialist will take time to find out what impact your back pain has had on your life, especially if it is preventing you from doing any daily activities.

Another important part of the conversation will be finding out about your medical history. This helps determine whether any conditions you have or medications you take might be contributing to your pain, or if they will affect the treatment that you may receive.

Once your specialist has asked all their necessary questions, they will examine you and your back. This will involve feeling the bones of your back to check for any notable signs and asking you to perform movements. Your examination is also likely to include an analysis of your nervous system to ensure that the nerves exiting your spine have not been damaged. To do this, your sensation, movement, and reflexes in your limbs may be assessed.

Your specialist will then take the time to explain what your possible diagnosis is, talk through any further investigations, suggest potential treatment options for your condition, and answer any questions that you might have.

There are several different investigations that a back pain expert might recommend in order to diagnose the cause of your back pain.

For some people, after taking a full history and examination, their specialist might decide that no further investigations are needed to confirm a diagnosis. For others, some of the following tests might be performed:

Blood tests

Blood tests might be performed to help determine a cause for your pain. They might also be conducted to check the function of various organs, look for evidence of infection, or to see whether your blood clots normally (especially if you are taking blood thinning drugs).

Nerve tests

Nerve conduction studies (NCS) and electromyography (EMG) are tests to determine how well your nerves are working and how well your muscles respond to the messages from your nerves. Your specialist may request these tests to look for injuries to the nerves coming from your spine.

X-ray

A simple X-ray image can sometimes be the first investigation for back pain. It can show any changes that may have happened to the bones of the spine due to injury or disease.

CT scan

A CT scan produces advanced X-ray images that can examine your back from all angles. They will highlight any signs of conditions that affect the bones of the spine and any significant nerve problems.

MRI scan

An MRI scan involves using magnetism to take detailed images of the body. It is especially good at looking at any signs of damage or impact to your soft tissues, including the nerves.

There are many different causes of back pain. The only way to be confident of your diagnosis is to consult a back pain expert.

Fortunately, most back pain is due to overuse, poor posture, or your lifestyle. If these factors are causing your back pain, you would very rarely require surgery or other interventions to help resolve this.

Treatment usually consists of changing the factors that led to the back pain in the first place, coupled with physiotherapy exercises to strengthen your back and rehabilitate damaged tissue. 

Causes of back pain that require treatment or further investigation include:

Congenital causes

These are spinal issues that you are born with. They can involve differences in the shape of the spine, for example:

• Scoliosis - you have an abnormal curve to the spine
• Lordosis - your spine curves backwards
• Kyphosis - your spine curves forwards

Other congenital causes of back pain can include differences in how your spine forms in the womb, such as spina bifida.

Injuries to the back

Injuries to the back can occur for many reasons, from sporting mishaps to accidents. Some injuries are considered mild, such as sprains, and usually will resolve themselves with reduced activity and painkillers.

More significant injuries, such as fractures, might require interventions such as surgery to correct.

Any injury to your back that does not resolve quickly or causes new nerve symptoms, you should see an expert urgently to investigate further and prevent any complications. 

Degenerative changes

Over time, particularly with an active lifestyle, wear and tear can accumulate in the spine. Pain from these changes tends to come on gradually, and people may well have dealt with their discomfort for some time before seeking help.

Elements of the spine that can have degenerative changes include: 

Intervertebral discs - they can lose their height, flexibility and shock-absorbing ability 

Facet joints at the back of the spin – they can develop arthritis, leading to pain and stiffness

Nerve and spinal cord issues

The spinal cord itself is well protected within the spine. However, some conditions can put pressure on and compress the cord, leading to a painful sensation. 

These can include growths in the spine, fractures to vertebrae, herniated discs and a narrowing of the canal that the cord sits in. 

Many of these conditions come on slowly, but a sudden onset of nerve symptoms means that you should seek expert help urgently. 

Nerves can also be compressed as they exit the spine resulting in pain and sometimes loss of function. 

Causes of back pain not originating from the spine

There are several causes of pain that may feel like they’re coming from your spine but may instead relate to general medical conditions or diseases inside the abdomen.  

These can include:

• Kidney stones - Solid lumps that form within the kidneys, moving down the tubes to the bladder and urethra. The pain caused by kidney stones can often be felt in your back 
• Endometriosis -  Endometriosis can cause back pain due to inflammation from pelvic organs, nerve compression, or endometrial tissue growing near the spine 
• Fibromyalgia - A condition that can lead to general widespread body pain and fatigue. Pain tends to be worse in areas such as your back or neck 
• Pregnancy - Hormonal changes can relax ligaments and joints, leading to instability and pain in your back. You may also have back pain due to weight gain or an altered posture from your growing belly 

Back pain is a very common symptom that most of us will have during the course of our lives.

However, if it does not improve quickly, interferes with your daily life, or is associated with symptoms of nerve injury, a specialist should be consulted. For back pain, it is a priority to rule out more severe conditions that might require more invasive interventions, such as surgery.

This can only be determined with the help of a back pain expert who can listen to your history, examine your back, and use the correct investigations to make the diagnosis.

Management of short term (acute) back pain

The treatment of short term back pain, once it has been shown not to have a concerning cause, includes:

• Reducing your activity levels to a manageable level (but not complete bed rest)
• Short term use of over-the-counter medications, such as painkillers, muscle relaxants, and topical (on the skin) pain relief
• Gentle exercises, often with expert physiotherapy input, to build up the strength of your back and correct harmful postures and movements

Management of long term (chronic) back pain

Pain is usually considered chronic when you experience it longer than 12 weeks. The management of your chronic pain may be led by a specialist pain doctor to help manage your symptoms.

Common treatments for chronic pain include:

• Over the counter pain relief, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen
• Prescription only medications, including tramadol, codeine, and other opioids
• Specialist nerve pain medications, such as gabapentin
• Guided exercise with a physiotherapist to ensure that you are keep active
• Psychological support to aid your mental health while tackling the pain

Advanced treatments for back pain

Some back pain, especially chronic back pain, may need specialist interventions to help. These are often performed by spinal specialists or pain specialists. Some of these advanced treatments might be:

• Epidural injections - where pain-relieving or anti-inflammatory medications are injected into the epidural space within the spine
• Facet joint injections - this involves injecting medications around the facet joints in the spine
• Radiofrequency ablation (RF ablation) - this treatment method uses strong radio waves from the end of a needle to destroy a small amount of the nerve tissue that is transmitting pain signals

If you choose to visit one of the specialists at Goring Hall Hospital, you can be assured your needs will be at the centre of all our discussions and will lead decisions about how to treat your back pain. We ensure fast access to our services, with appointments often available within 48 hours.

Back surgery is an advanced option for back pain and is only suitable for a select few patients.

Most people with back pain do not need surgery. It is usually performed when there is damage to nerves or if the problem causing the pain is likely to get worse without surgery.

Operations of the spine can be ‘open’. This is when a cut is made on the skin that is long enough to be able to see what is causing the issue and operate on the area of the spine that requires it. 

Another option is ‘minimally invasive’ spinal surgery. This is when only small cuts are made in the back and then either the spine is directly operated on or a small camera, called an endoscope, is passed through one of the cuts to help visualise the spine and guide treatment.

Operations on the spine for back pain can include:

• Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty - this procedure is done to correct damage to the vertebrae 
• Spinal laminectomy - this procedure is done to decompress the spinal cord 
• Discectomy - this surgery is done to remove portions of an intervertebral disc, usually if it is pressing on a nerve 
• Foraminotomy - this procedure helps enlarge the space that a nerve has to exit the spine, if it is being compressed 

It is important that you seek a specialist’s advice if you are experiencing back pain that is not getting better with rest or time. This will help you to ensure that the cause of your pain does not need intervention.

Once both you and your specialist are happy that there is no serious cause for your pain, there are a number of things you can do in your day-to-day life to help you alleviate your back pain.

These can include the following interventions:

Education

Learning about how your back works and what you can do to take care of it can help you avoid situations that may lead to pain.

Exercise

Your back is not meant to be kept still. Taking part in regular exercise, at whatever level you are comfortable at, has a host of benefits.

From improving your heart’s health to better mental wellbeing, exercise can help with many things including your back.

Even if you are already experiencing back pain, it is important to keep moving. You will quickly find that your ability to get back to the activities that you love will be greatly held back by a long period of inactivity.

Start with gradual and careful movements if you are worried about further impacting your back, working your way up in terms of exercise intensity. This can help avoid any further damage and be more a comfortable experience for you, as you are working to improve your capacity to exercise more over time rather than all at once.

A physiotherapist can guide you to the best exercises to help your back pain.

Maintain a healthy weight

If you are over your ideal weight, this can have a few effects on your back. Most notably, excess weight can put an extra strain on the tissues of your back, particularly your discs and joints.

If you have back pain, you may find that losing weight will greatly improve your symptoms. If you want extra support in your weight loss journey, speak to one of our specialists. They will be able to advise you and signpost you to services that can help you lose weight.

Make work adjustments

For many of us, particularly those who have a sedentary job, our work environments can present a considerable risk to our back health.

Sitting for long periods, using uncomfortable chairs, equipment at the wrong height, and heavy lifting can all lead to back pain and injury.

Occupational therapists are experts who can advise you in making work related adjustments to help you cope with back pain and reduce the chance of repeat injury.

Stop smoking

Stopping smoking has a huge range of health benefits, including for back health.

Giving up may allow you to be more active, engage in physiotherapy exercises for your back, and will have considerable benefits if you go on to need an intervention like surgery.

How long does it take for nerves to heal after back surgery?

Nerve healing after back surgery is a gradual process. It can often take several months to two years to fully heal, depending on the severity of your nerve damage, the type of surgical procedure, and individual factors such as age and overall health.

Some patients notice initial improvements within weeks after treatment. However, full nerve recovery may continue for longer

When is it necessary to have back surgery for bulging disc?

Back surgery for a bulging disc is usually only necessary if your symptoms are severe, long lasting, or causing nerve damage that can’t be managed by non-surgical treatments.

Most people with a bulging disc improve with rest, physiotherapy, pain medication, and time. Surgery is often considered as a final intervention option for a bulging disc.

How long after back surgery can you bend over?

After back surgery, bending forward is usually restricted to help protect your spine and heal safely.

For the first three months after surgery, it’s important to avoid any forward bending at the waist. During this time, you may be encouraged to do gentle walking and movement without bending, lifting, or twisting your back.

Between three and six months after surgery, your specialist may allow you to do shallow, careful bending, but only if your healing is progressing well and tests are showing your spine is recovering as expected.

After six months, most patients gradually return to natural bending. However, you should still be careful and avoid extreme bending or heavy lifting until your care team tells you it's safe.

Recovery is different for everybody. Only participate in movements and actions as directed by your specialist. They will know best how well you are doing in your recovery and your capability to move after surgery. If you want to make certain movements during your recovery, it is recommended to speak to your consultant first before exerting yourself.

Goring Hall Hospital in Worthing is home to experts in back pain management.

If you choose to visit us, you can be assured that our multidisciplinary team will take the time, not only to fully understand and diagnose your back pain but also take the time to understand you.

Through the whole process, they will ensure that you feel safe, cared for and listened to. All treatment plans will be focused on your wishes and what you see as the optimal outcome.

Our spinal specialists are experts in diagnosing and managing all types of back pain.

Specialist pain management and procedures

Our centre has experts in minimally invasive spinal surgery, which uses smaller incisions and can result in a quicker return to normal life.

Goring Hall Hospital has specialists in advanced pain management, with long experience in managing complex and chronic back pain. A multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, and physiotherapists will care for you.

Specialist pain management procedures, including nerve blocks, epidural injections and facet joint injections can be performed.

Goring Hall Hospital is a friendly, safe and comfortable environment for your back pain treatment. The hospital is situated within extensive beautiful grounds with views out to sea.

From the moment you first meet your back pain specialist in one of our clean, modern consulting rooms you will be treated with dignity and care.

Our diagnostics and imaging department has access to the latest technology to ensure a rapid and accurate diagnosis of the cause of your back pain, including X-ray, ultrasound, CT and MRI.

If you are having surgery, our three main theatres are staffed by a highly skilled healthcare team to ensure the very best outcome for you. After your operation, you will wake up in our recovery unit before heading to one of our 52 private rooms.

Our 24-hour nursing and medical staff will ensure that you get back to full health safely and quickly.

The first step to access private back pain treatment with us is to arrange an appointment with one of our specialists. They will be able to assess and diagnose your condition and talk you through your available treatment options. Together, you will decide on the best treatment route for you and your individual needs.

To book a consultation with one of our back pain specialists near you, use our online booking system, or give us a call and one of our dedicated advisors will help you find an appointment time that suits you.

When you choose to go private with Circle Health Group, you can expect:

• Flexible appointment times to fit your schedule
• The freedom to choose your hospital and your consultant
• Bespoke, consultant-led treatment plans tailored to your individual needs
• Private en-suite rooms as standard
• Tasty and nutritious meals cooked onsite to your dietary requirements
• Support from the same compassionate clinical team from beginning to end
• Affordable, fixed-price packages with aftercare included
• Flexible payment options to help spread the cost of your care

If you would like to learn more about back pain treatments, book your appointment online today or call a member of our team directly.