Back surgery (spinal surgery) at Spire Little Aston Hospital

Treatment to relieve pain from compressed nerves in your spine.

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0121 580 7151

At Spire Little Aston Hospital, our highly skilled consultants perform back surgery to remove or repair damage to your spine using trusted and clinically proven techniques and innovations.

Sometimes also called

  • Discectomy
  • Laminectomy
  • Lumbar decompression
  • Microdiscectomy
  • Spinal decompression surgery
  • Spinal fusion test

The procedure(s) listed above are examples only and may not be available at all Spire hospitals.


At a glance

  • Typical hospital stay
    1-4 days

  • Procedure duration
    At least an hour, varies according to type of surgery

  • Type of anaesthetic
    General

  • Available to self-pay?
    Yes

  • Covered by health insurance?
    Yes

Why Spire?

  • Fast access to a wide range of treatments
  • Consultants who are experts in their field
  • Transparent pricing
  • Rated 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission

By Wallace Health I Medically reviewed by Adrian Roberts.
Page last reviewed: October 2018 I Next review due: October 2023

Back surgery: what to expect at Spire Little Aston Hospital

At Spire Little Aston Hospital, we have a choice of expert orthopaedic (bone and muscle) consultants and neurosurgeons who perform back surgery to help you return to your everyday activities as quickly as possible. They’ll provide you with a treatment and recovery plan that’s personalised to you and your needs. Our dedicated nurses and physiotherapists will provide expert aftercare to help you get the most from your operation.

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How much does Back surgery (spinal surgery) cost at Spire Little Aston Hospital

People often choose to have this type of surgery done privately, and our inclusive prices and access to payment plans make it easy and more affordable, even if you don’t have medical insurance.

Back surgery (slipped disc) lower back
Initial consultation £175
Treatment price £8,815
Aftercare Included
From price From £8,990
Monthly treatment price

(Loan applicable to the treatment cost and excludes the initial consultation)

£250
Representative example
Loan amount £7,815
Deposit £1,000
Loan period 36 months
Representative APR 9.9%
Total amount repayable £9,000
Back surgery (trapped nerve release)
Initial consultation £200
Treatment price £10,187
Aftercare Included
From price From £10,387
Monthly treatment price

(Loan applicable to the treatment cost and excludes the initial consultation)

£224
Representative example
Loan amount £8,937
Deposit £1,250
Loan period 48 months
Representative APR 9.9%
Total amount repayable £10,752
Back surgery (slipped disc) lower back and facet joints
Initial consultation £220
Treatment price £9,546
Aftercare Included
From price From £9,766
Monthly treatment price

(Loan applicable to the treatment cost and excludes the initial consultation)

£273
Representative example
Loan amount £8,546
Deposit £1,000
Loan period 36 months
Representative APR 9.9%
Total amount repayable £9,828

The price shown is the ‘from price’ (ie the minimum cost of the procedure). Please note that for some procedures the actual price you are quoted may vary significantly and can increase depending on your choice of Consultant (who is an independent practitioner and not an employee of Spire). The fees charged by Consultants and Anaesthetists are set independently and are outside the control of Spire. The price may also vary depending on the type of anaesthetic, implant or drug used, and your medical history.

Spire Little Aston Hospital can provide you with a single, fixed price for your procedure so there are no surprises. Please read Spire Healthcare's terms and conditions for full details of what’s included and excluded in your fixed price when paying for yourself. Finance options are available through our partner Omni Capital Retail Finance Ltd, 10 Norwich Street, London, EC4A 1BD.

Procedures offered for back surgery at Spire Little Aston Hospital

At Spire Little Aston Hospital, we offer trusted and clinically proven surgical techniques for a variety of conditions. Your consultant will be able to recommend which type of surgery is best for you. This may include one or more of the following:

  • Discectomy – used to treat a slipped disc by removing a damaged or worn disc
  • Laminectomy – used to relieve pressure on the spinal cord by removing part of a protruding or fractured vertebra
  • Spinal fusion – used to strengthen your back when you have wear and tear or damage

We’re able to offer surgical techniques and innovations that have been designed to improve outcomes. These include:

  • Minimally invasive discectomy, which uses smaller incisions than traditional techniques, intended to improve recovery time
  • Endoscopic discectomy where the surgeon makes very small incisions and is able to remove a spinal disc without removing bones and soft tissues
  • Interspinous distraction can sometimes be used for lumbar spinal stenosis, where a device is implanted between two vertebrae to relieve a trapped or compressed nerve

We also have three laminar flow operating theatres that regulate air flow to minimise the risk of infection.

Preparing for back surgery at Spire Little Aston Hospital

Getting here

You can find us just to the north of Sutton Coldfield, we're a short 25 minute drive from Birmingham city centre. Birmingham New Street is the nearest mainline station to Spire Little Aston Hospital. We have free parking on-site for you and your visitors.

Your consultations

During your consultations, you’ll meet one of our expert consultants who’ll:

  • Discuss your medical history
  • Recommend tests and scans if required, such as an X-ray, an MRI or a CT scan, so they can look at your back in more detail
  • Discuss which type of surgery you’ll need for your condition and what it’ll involve
  • Explain about the general anaesthetic and how it may affect you

All of your consultations will take place in one of our 20 consultation rooms which are all accessible making things easier for you if you have difficulty walking. These consultations give you an opportunity to ask questions and get advice about what’s best for you.

Once you’ve decided to go ahead with back surgery, your consultant and your physiotherapist will explain your recovery plan.

Back (spinal fusion) surgery

Watch how back surgery takes place

Back surgery: your procedure

When you come in for your operation, you’ll be with us for one to four days. You’ll stay in one of our 33 large, bright, private en-suite rooms, which has a locked space for your belongings and entertainment to keep you occupied as you start your recovery.

If you’ve come with a friend or family member, they’re welcome to wait in our lounge or restaurant while you have your operation.

Here’s what will happen on the day of your back surgery:

  • You’ll meet your surgery team and anaesthetist
  • Your anaesthetist will administer the general anaesthetic, which will send you to sleep for the operation
  • Once it’s taken effect, your surgeon will make the first incision and carry out the type of back surgery that you’re having

Q & A

Alwyn Jones, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Talking about back surgery

Back surgery: your recovery

You’ll start your recovery back in your private room. All of our private rooms have:

  • TV
  • Window
  • Armchair
  • Telephone
  • Patient information booklet
  • Bathroom

After surgery, you’ll probably feel some pain or discomfort – this is normal after surgery. Our nursing team will give you painkillers to help you with this and may provide medications to prevent infection and reduce the risk of clotting.

One of our physiotherapists will help get you moving again and provide you with some exercises you can do throughout your recovery to help you get the best possible outcome.

Although everybody’s different and you should always follow your consultant’s advice, here’s a typical recovery timeline for back surgery:

1-4 days

Leave hospital

2-6 weeks

Able to drive

4-6 weeks

Return to light work

Up to 12 weeks

Return to manual labour work

2-3 months

Return to your usual activities

  • 1-4 days


    Leave hospital

  • 2-6 weeks


    Able to drive

  • 4-6 weeks


    Return to light work

  • Up to 12 weeks


    Return to manual labour work

  • 2-3 months


    Return to your usual activities

The treatment described on this page may be adapted to meet your individual needs, so it's important to follow your healthcare professional's advice and raise any questions that you may have with them.

How to get to us

You can find us just to the north of Sutton Coldfield, in the rural area between the villages of Mere Green and Aldridge. We're a short 25 minute drive from Birmingham city centre and our main motorway links are the M6, M5 and M42.

We’re just a short taxi ride from Blake Street Rail Station on the Birmingham to Lichfield line.

Find us on Google maps

Use geographic coordinates/what3words

Spire Little Aston Hospital,

Little Aston Hall Drive
Sutton Coldfield
B74 3UP

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Important information about Covid-19 tests

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

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