Spinal surgery in Brentford

If you're struggling with back pain, you're not alone. According to The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), up to 60% of adults in the UK¹  are expected to have lower back pain at some point in their life . While many causes of back pain will ease naturally over time, more severe, debilitating, and prolonged pain can cause significant problems and require expert medical guidance and oversight to manage.

If you are concerned about persistent pain along your spine (from your neck to your pelvis), it is sensible to get specialist assessment and guidance from an expert.

At Syon Clinic in Brentford, Middlesex, we have a dedicated team of back pain specialists on-site throughout the week to help manage and even eliminate your back pain. We offer a range of sophisticated diagnostic testing and effective treatment options for debilitating back pain, lower limb problems, and other issues caused by spinal conditions and compressed nerves.

As part of Circle Health Group - the UK's largest network of over 50 private hospitals - our team at Syon Clinic can help you access tailored care quickly and without hassle.

Your back is an incredibly complex and important structure made up of a series of small bones (vertebrae), vertebral discs, nerves, joints, ligaments, and muscles. It acts as the central support structure of your entire body, while also providing protection for your spinal cord as it runs down your back.

Problems in your spine are often caused by wear and tear. Given its importance, though, any problem in your back can have a significant impact on your health, your mobility, and your overall quality of life. Due to its crucial involvement in many aspects of your movement and function, a problem anywhere in your spine can cause a wide range of symptoms. Some common reasons people visit the spinal surgeons at Syon Clinic for help include:

• Back pain
• Neck pain
• Pain radiating down their leg into their foot (sciatica)
• Pain in their hip, buttock, or thigh (this is known as referred pain)
• Numbness, weakness, or tingling in their leg
• Spinal deformity

If you have any of the symptoms above —  or any other symptoms that you are concerned about — it is important to see a doctor for assessment and advice. 

You can read more about back pain on our back pain treatment page.

If you are struggling with a back problem, you will no doubt want to get treatment as soon as possible. Before starting any treatment, however, it is important to find out exactly what is causing your symptoms. When an accurate diagnosis has been made, your treatment can be tailored to your specific needs.

Your first visit

When you first visit us, your appointment will be with a consultant spinal surgeon. They will talk about your symptoms with you to learn about:

• The symptoms you have
• When they first started
• Whether they have been getting worse
• Any treatment you have already received (e.g. physiotherapy or prescribed pain relief medication)

They will also want to know the ways in which your symptoms are affecting your daily life. For example:

• Are there things you can no longer do?
• Are you struggling to get comfortable at night due to pain or stiffness in your back?
• Can you drive safely, or are you having difficulty turning your head to check traffic when navigating a junction?

They will carry out a physical examination of your back, and any other relevant areas (e.g. shoulders, legs or arms).

Imaging tests

MRI scans can show problems like inflammation and bulging discs. They can be particularly helpful when investigating spinal problems. Some people come to us having previously had an MRI scan, but if you haven't yet had one, we can arrange this for you at your consultation.

Some back problems may benefit from additional investigations like X-Ray, ultrasound, CT, or nerve conduction studies. These are all available on-site if you do require any of them.

Once any results are back, your consultant will talk about them with you and explain your diagnosis. If treatment is recommended, they will discuss options with you so that you can make an informed choice.

It is normal to have questions or concerns about your diagnosis and/or treatment, and your consultant will be very happy to talk through these with you.

If spinal surgery is advised, your consultant will discuss the operation and what to expect during your recovery. Spinal surgery options include:

Spinal decompression (vertebral laminectomy)

Lumbar spinal decompression is often performed to treat compressed nerves caused by spinal stenosis. During this procedure, the muscles in your back will be raised to expose your spine. Your surgeon will then remove any tissue (bone or ligaments) at the back of your spine that could be compressing your nerves

Spinal fusion

Spinal fusion surgery treats severe pain in your lumbar (lower) spine. During this surgery, your consultant will fuse together two or more of your vertebrae (the bones that form your spinal cord) using a bone graft

Minimally invasive spinal surgery (MISS)

This is a keyhole surgery procedure for diagnosis and treatment, carried out under local anaesthetic and sedation

Discectomy (cervical or lumbar)

Discectomy surgery will relieve spinal cord or nerve root pressure and alleviate corresponding pain, weakness, numbness and tingling

Percutaneous discectomy

This is a minimally invasive procedure that is used to reduce a herniated disc. A small needle is used to reach the disc, remove tissue and alleviate pressure

Whatever symptoms you may be struggling with, your consultant at Syon Clinic will ensure you receive the most appropriate support and treatment for your needs.

Whether that is with input from the physiotherapy team, a neurophysiologist for nerve conduction studies, or a consultant in another field of medicine, choosing your private care through Circle Health Group ensures fast, simple access for you to a wide range of healthcare specialists.

If anything is found at any point that needs additional specialist care - for example, a serious infection - your consultant will liaise with the appropriate specialist at Syon Clinic to ensure you are seen by them quickly.

Please note that if you do require spinal surgery, it will be carried out at our sister hospital, The Clementine Churchill Hospital.

Spinal problems should never be ignored, particularly if they have not improved after six weeks or more.

Expert assessment at an earlier stage can give you peace of mind and clarity about the most appropriate way forward. If no treatment is needed, it can be a relief to know that. Similarly, if treatment of any kind is advised, it is helpful to be able to begin it without undue delay.

If you live in or around Brentford in Middlesex, Syon Clinic is the perfect choice for private care for any spinal condition.

In the hospital, we can provide you with:

• Fast, easy access to consultants who specialise in treating back problems
• An experienced and compassionate physiotherapy team
• Flexible appointments throughout the week
• On-site imaging, including X-ray, CT, MRI and ultrasound
• Very short waiting times for assessment and treatment
• Exceptional standards of care within a safe and comfortable hospital environment

Whether you have recently injured your back or have been struggling with a longer-term problem that isn’t going away, a private appointment at Syon Clinic is an excellent way to get the help you need as soon as possible.

It is very easy to book an appointment with one of our experienced consultants. You can make an booking online here, or you can phone us on 0141 300 5009

¹ Lower back pain: how common is it? NICE

Content reviewed by Circle in-house team in October 2022. Next review due October 2025.