Back pain in children and teens

Back pain in children and teenagers

The Portland Hospital is the only private hospital in the UK dedicated to treating children
The first private hospital to use the EOsedge low radiation X-ray scanner
Home to the Scoliosis and Spinal Surgery Centre

BACK PAIN IN CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS AT HCA UK

Why choose us?

At The Portland Hospital, we’re experts in treating a range of back conditions in children and teenagers, from common muscular strains and spinal conditions, such as scoliosis, to rare spinal tumours.

We work with leading paediatric spinal specialists, whose expertise is supported by the latest diagnostics to find the source of your child’s pain as quickly as possible. Your child will receive a personalised treatment plan that’s unique to them and, if they need surgery, this will be carried out in our state-of-the-art facilities, purpose-built for our young patients.

Find a paediatric back pain specialist

No.1

in London for private orthopaedic and spinal care

1st

private hospital to install a low-radiation X-ray scanner

24-hour

one-to-one care

Fast access to specialists

Appointments confirmed within 24 hours

State-of-the-art diagnostics

With results in as little as 48 hours

Treatments for complex conditions

We focus our breadth of expertise on your child

Worried about your child’s back pain?

Get in touch and book a same- or next-day GP appointment.

Book a GP appointment

Have a referral and need to book?

If you already have a referral letter for your child, it couldn’t be simpler. You can book a test or treatment directly.

Book a test or scan

Unsure of a diagnosis and need some answers?

We’re happy to help. Just book in and one of our consultants will talk you through everything you need to know.

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BACK PAIN TESTS & SCANS FOR CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS AT HCA UK

A diagnosis you can trust

We offer state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities at The Portland Hospital, which are purpose-built for our young patients. Your child will have access to the latest tests and scans, including the EOSedge. This low-dose X-ray scanner allows us to scan your child’s entire spine in less than 20 seconds while they’re seated or standing.

We understand how worrying waiting for results can be, especially when it’s for your child, so we aim to deliver test and scan results in as little as 48 hours.

The scans and tests we offer, include:

Blood tests
MRI scan
EOSedge (low-dose X-ray)
Ultrasound

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TREATING BACK PAIN IN CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS AT HCA UK

Expert care for your child

Our breadth of expertise means we can treat everything from common muscular strains to complex spinal conditions. We’re proud to offer a Spinal and Scoliosis Centre at The Portland Hospital, which has dedicated facilities to diagnose and treat your child. Our team of spinal surgeons, neurosurgeons and physiotherapists offer exceptional, wraparound care for children with a wide range of spinal conditions.

Our spinal team meets regularly to discuss paediatric patient cases in depth, ensuring that your child benefits from the best all-round knowledge, advice and treatment for their specific condition.

Some of the treatments we offer, include:

Physiotherapy and exercises to carry out at home
Medicine, such as antibiotics
Surgery

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Accessing private healthcare

Self-pay

Health insurance

Transfer

Self-pay

You don’t need health insurance for your child to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all of our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.

And we’ll give you a clear and transparent quote from the start, outlining exactly what’s included in your self-pay package.

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Health insurance

If your child’s treatment is paid for by insurance, simply give us your details and we’ll take care of the rest. All our consultants are covered by major medical insurers.

Your insurer will need to see a referral letter from a GP (NHS or private). Once you have your referral, contact your insurer for a procedure authorisation code which you’ll need to bring with you when you bring your child to their appointment.

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Back pain in children and teenagers FAQs

When should my child or teenager see a doctor for their back pain?

Muscular back pain should get better over time with light exercise. But if your child’s back pain doesn’t improve, it could indicate that they have a spinal condition. This may have been caused by an injury, particularly if the spine has been fractured. It may also be an early warning sign that they have a malformation of their spine.

It’s a good idea to book in with a specialist, if:

You notice your child has an unusually shaped back
Their shoulders are misaligned
Their spine has been fractured
They experience numbness and tingling in the legs
They have trouble walking and experience bowel and bladder problems
They experience a great deal of pain, aggravated by standing, sitting, twisting and bending, which is only eased when resting

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What causes back pain in children and teens?

Back pain in children can be developmental or acquired. Your child could have been born with a condition that led to the pain (developmental), or they could have received an injury or suffered an illness since (acquired).

What are the different types of back pain in children and teens?

Acute back pain

Acute back pain is back pain that typically lasts between three to six months. This is usually the result of damaged tissue.

Chronic back pain

If your child’s back pain lasts longer than six months, they may have chronic back pain. This can be caused by poor posture, weak core muscles or strain from being overweight. It can also be the result of conditions such as scoliosis, which is a curvature of the spine. Scoliosis can either develop when your child is young or first become apparent during adolescence.

Neuropathic back pain

Neuropathic back pain happens when your child’s body continues to feel pain even though there’s no tissue damage. This happens when a nerve in your child’s spine has become compressed, possibly by a herniated disc or an injury.