Do you suffer from lower back pain and sciatica pain?

Photo: BMI The Highfield Hospital

Do you suffer from lower back pain and sciatica pain?

Back pain is a common problem that affects most people at some point in their life.

Your spine is made up of bone and intervertebral spinal discs, which separate the vertebrae from one another. A spinal disc is a like a jelly doughnut, a soft centre encased within a tough exterior. A herniated disc occurs when some of the softer "jelly" pushes out through a crack in the tougher exterior due to a number of reasons including natural wear and tear (disc degeneration).

Lower back pain can often be triggered by bad posture which is usually mechanical muscular pain, and sciatica is a term used to describe leg pain that radiates from your back into your buttock and down the back of your leg. Usually, sciatica pain is associated with numbness and tingling, caused by pressure on the nerve roots in your lower back.

Unlike the short-lived numbness, and pins and needles of an asleep leg, numbness and tingling coming from a lower back problem can be continuous and severely affect a person’s quality of life.

Depending on the cause, acute sciatica typically resolves with rest, exercise, and other self-care measures. However, some people suffer from chronic pain that continues despite treatment.

Causes

There are several possible causes of sciatic pain and they all stem from compression or irritation of the sciatic nerve roots. Some of the most common causes are disc degeneration, disc herniation and spinal stenosis.

Treatment

• Non-surgical treatment - Your doctor can prescribe you with medication for pain and spasm and can refer you for physiotherapy treatment depending on your condition. If medical treatment and physiotherapy fail to help the symptoms then a steroid injection directly into the source of pain (epidural, nerve root and facet injections) may provide pain relief. 
• Surgery - This is usually only recommended if conservative options are not helping and you have a proven problem on a MR scan.

Minimally invasive techniques have now been developed and two of the most commons operations; Microdiscectomy and Laminotomy are performed under a microscope. These procedures are both performed at BMI The Highfield Hospital, and are carried out by making a very small incision, so recovery is quicker. Patients usually return home on the same or next day.

Prevention

Recurrences of sciatica are common therefore the key to avoiding recurrence is prevention. You can aid prevention of sciatica by:

• Adopting proper lifting techniques
• Maintaing good posture during sitting, standing, moving and sleeping
• Undertaking regular exercise 
• Maintaing a normal weight and body mass index
• Refraining from smoking

Mr Shafqat Bukhari and Mr Ajit Sofat, Consultant Neurosurgeons at BMI The Highfield Hospital specialise in spinal surgery disease and lead the service.

With the right guidance and treatment, much can be done to manage and alleviate your pain, putting you back in control of your life.

How can I access treatment?

Following your first consultation you may need a diagnostic investigation to assist your consultant in determining which treatment option is best for you. You will be informed of any costs which may be incurred prior to these investigations taking place. If treatment is required, we will provide you with a written quotation before proceeding.

You will know exactly how much your treatment will cost in advance with no hidden extras, giving you full peace of mind if you do not have private medical insurance.

Flexible finance option available:

You can spread the cost of treatment using the BMI Card† with 12 months’ interest free credit - representative 9.9% APR (variable) thereafter. Terms and conditions apply. For more information visit bmihealthcare.co.uk/bmicard

If you do have private medical insurance, you will need to check your cover with your insurance company before confirming your appointment; you also may require a GP referral depending on your policy.

For more information

For more information or to make an appointment, please call 0800 0962631.

Alternatively, you can be referred via your GP and the hospital will follow up your GP referral for you if necessary.

BMI The Highfield Hospital
Manchester Road, Rochdale, OL11 4LZ

www.bmihealthcare.co.uk/highfield

Serious about health. Passionate about care.

†BMI Card is a credit facility offered by BMI Healthcare Limited, BMI Healthcare House, 3 Paris Garden, Southwark, London, SE1 8ND. 0% interest for 12 months then 0.79% per month, representative 9.9% APR variable. Up to £20,000 available (subject to status). Monthly repayment 5% of balance or £25 whichever is greater or balance if lower than £25.