Dr Thanthullu Vasu

Dr Thanthullu Vasu

Consultant in Pain Medicine

MBBS, MD, DNB(Anaesthesia), FRCA, DIp Pain Mgt, FIPP, FFPMRCA


Specialises in

  • Spinal pain (back and neck pain)
  • Abdominal / pelvic pain
  • Botox injections for chronic migraine
  • Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
  • Fibromyalgia and Long COVID Syndrome

I have been a consultant in pain medicine since 2006 and specialise in a variety of chronic pain conditions, including spinal pain (back/neck), widespread pain including fibromyalgia, chronic regional pain syndrome, neuropathic pain, abdominal/visceral pain, chronic headaches and more recently, pain in Long-COVID syndrome.

I perform a variety of interventions and injections for pain conditions. My particular interest is in radiofrequency denervation injections for back and neck pain. I have over 20 years' experience in performing a variety of pain injections. I run a weekly NHS theatre based list for injections, as well as a non X-ray injection list every week.

I have published many scientific articles in esteemed journals in pain and have authored many chapters in various textbooks on pain. I have authored the Pain chapter in the Royal College of Surgeons CCrISP manual.

I have written five textbooks in medicine, including books on Long COVID syndrome, Chronic Pain Management, and Fibromyalgia. My book on long COVID syndrome is the first international evidence-based textbook on this condition. I have won a national award for innovations in paediatric pain which is quoted as an example of excellence on the Royal College of Anaesthetists website.

I am invited to lecture in various specialities of chronic pain both nationally and internationally. I have lectured in many patient forums and groups including the Marvellous Medicine lecture in Leicester (2022, 2019 and 2016), the Fibromyalgia group Leicestershire (2019) Bangor Science Cafe (2010) and Yns Mon Fibromyalgia group (2011). I delivered the Leicester University and UHL Grand Rounds Lecture in 2019.

In the past I led the Association of Anaesthetists' pain workshop in their Winter Scientific Meeting and chaired the National Pain Exchange Meeting. I have been a Judge for the National Grunenthal Pain Awards for innovation and excellence and have previously organised the Annual Midlands pain forum. I was the founder organiser of the North Wales Pain forum. I represented the pain specialty in the first England Pain Summit in Westminster, London in November 2011. I gave the prestigious national 'Change Pain' lecture at the Kings Fund Conference Centre, London in September 2018.

I am the audit lead for the chronic pain service in Leicester. 

I was the Lead for pain medicine in University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust between 2016-2018 and in North Wales between 2009-2010. I was the elected Council Member of the British Pain Society between 2009-2014 and for the Welsh Pain Society between 2009-2012. I held the position of Chief Editor of Pain News, the official publication of the British Pain Society between 2011-2014. I have also been a member of the Communications Committee and the Science/Research Committee of the Pain Society and was a member of the Research Ethics Committee of North West Wales.

Read more...

General Medical Council Number: 5203749

Treatment information

Some of the principal treatments carried out by Dr Thanthullu Vasu at Spire include:

Pain management

Other treatments

  • Injections of complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
  • Intravenous lignocaine infusions for widespread pain
  • Radiofrequency and pulsed radiofrequency
  • Spinal injections
  • Trigger injections

Get in touch

Important information about COVID-19 tests

COVID-19 testing or antibody tests are not available as a standalone service at Spire Leicester Hospital.

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Additional information

Pain management

Special clinical interests: Back pain and neck pain, fibromyalgia and widespread pain, neuropathic pain, abdominal pain, headaches, post-surgical scar pain, and pain and fatigue in long COVID syndrome.

MBBS / The Tamilnadu Dr MGR Medical University / 1993
Bachelor of Medicine, bachelor of Surgery

MD (Anaesthesia) / Thanjavur Medical College, India / 1999
Doctor of Medicine

Dip NB (Anaesthesia) / National Board, India / 1999
Specialism post graduate studies

FRCA / Royal College of Anaesthetists / 2002
Fellow of the Royal College of Anaesthetists

Dip Pain Mgt / Cardiff University / 2006
Diploma in Pain Management

FIPP / World Institute of Pain / 2007
Fellow of International Pain Practice

FFPMRCA / Faculty of Pain Medicine, London / 2008
Fellowship of the Faculty of Pain Medicine of the Royal College of Anaesthetists


Professional memberships

Fellow of Royal College of Anaesthetists, London

Faculty of Pain Medicine, RCOA, London

I have authored many books, recent ones include:

  • CRQs in Anaesthesia (ISBN 9781910079799, Aug 2019)
  • Chronic pain management (ISBN 9781910077911, Sept 2020)
  • Managing Long COVID Syndrome (ISBN 9781913755201, Mar 2022)
  • Fibromyaliga (ISBN 9781913755249, July 2022)
  • Interviews for Medical School - MMI interviews  (ISBN 9781913755324)


Articles

Spinal Interventions in Pain Management (Oxford Specialist Handbooks in Pain Medicine) Chapter: Drugs, equipment, and basic principles of spinal interventions
March 2012

Spinal Interventions in Pain Management (Oxford Specialist Handbooks in Pain Medicine) Chapter: Thoracic spine interventions
March 2012

Pain News: A rare case of facioscapulohumeral syndrome with widespread chronic pain:-Page 114
September 2017

Consultant in Pain Medicine, University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, Leicester

Telephone 0116 265 3685
Private secretary Spire Leicester Medical Secretaries
Private secretary telephone 0116 265 3014
Private secretary email lcmedsec@spirehealthcare.com