Back surgery (spinal surgery) at Spire Thames Valley Hospital

At Spire Thames Valley Hospital, our orthopaedic (bone and muscle) consultants and neurosurgeons have wide experience in performing back surgery in our clean and modern facilities. They’ll offer you a treatment and recovery plan that’s personalised to you, to relieve your symptoms and help you get back to your everyday activities. We have many expert nurses and physiotherapists who’ll provide you with the aftercare you need to make a full recovery.

At Spire Thames Valley 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
• Synthetic bone substitutes for spinal fusion so there’s no need to remove and use bone from elsewhere in your body

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

Getting here

We’re only a 10 minute drive from both the M4 and M40 motorways and less than half an hour from central London by train. We have free parking on-site for you and your visitors.

Your consultations

Your initial consultation will take place in one of our 10 accessible consultation rooms, so don’t worry if you have difficulty walking. During your consultations, we’ll:

• Ask about your medical history
• Say whether you need an X-ray, and/or an MRI or CT scan so your consultant can examine your back in more detail if you haven’t been diagnosed yet
• Tell you about the particular surgical method your consultant recommends and what it'll involve
• Explain about the general anaesthetic and how it may affect you
• Give you a chance to ask any questions you have about your surgery

When you come in for your operation, you’ll be with us for one to four days. You’ll stay in one of our 38 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 your room 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

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

• TV
• Window
• Armchair
• En suite bathroom with towels
• Lockable bedside table

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: