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Lower back pain
- No.1 for private orthopaedic and spinal procedures in London
- Appointments confirmed in as little as 24 hours
- Care rated as ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’ by 97% of our orthopaedic patients
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Lower back pain at HCA UK
Why choose us?
We understand how worrying back pain and symptoms can be. That’s why we offer fast access to all the tests and imaging you need, so we can accurately diagnose your condition and recommend the best course of treatment.
Should you need specialist care, our leading spinal orthopaedic and neurosurgical experts will tailor your treatment to your specific injury or condition. What’s more, you’ll be looked after by a team of multidisciplinary clinicians in one of our leading private hospitals and outpatient facilities. We have a higher proportion of 'Outstanding' ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) than any other private healthcare group in the UK.
No wonder 97% of our patients are likely to recommend HCA UK to their family and friends for spinal care.
Should you need specialist care, our leading spinal orthopaedic and neurosurgical experts will tailor your treatment to your specific injury or condition. What’s more, you’ll be looked after by a team of multidisciplinary clinicians in one of our leading private hospitals and outpatient facilities. We have a higher proportion of 'Outstanding' ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) than any other private healthcare group in the UK.
No wonder 97% of our patients are likely to recommend HCA UK to their family and friends for spinal care.
Lower back pain affects the lumbar region of your spine or back. It can result from many different injuries and conditions. Most often, the cause is an injury to muscles or tendons in your back.
Nearly everyone experiences lower back pain at some point in their lives. The pain can range from mild to severe. For most, it’s temporary. Chronic or long-lasting lower back pain is also one of the many causes of sick days in the UK. In fact, it accounts for 11% of disability cases in the UK population. In chronic cases, lower back pain can make it difficult to sleep, walk, or work.
Nearly everyone experiences lower back pain at some point in their lives. The pain can range from mild to severe. For most, it’s temporary. Chronic or long-lasting lower back pain is also one of the many causes of sick days in the UK. In fact, it accounts for 11% of disability cases in the UK population. In chronic cases, lower back pain can make it difficult to sleep, walk, or work.
Causes can include:
- Muscle or ligament strain – heavy lifting or a sudden awkward movement can strain back muscles and spinal ligaments
- Degenerate, bulging or ruptured discs – discs are like cushions between the vertebra
- Chronic conditions such as arthritis
- Spinal fractures brought on by trauma or conditions such as osteoporosis
- Pain in the sacroiliac joint that connects the spine to the pelvis. This is responsible for a quarter of all lower back pain cases
Symptoms can include:
- Sharp pain such as muscle spasms, typically brought on by a specific event such as twisting, bending or even sneezing
- Dull ache that is intermittent or persistent
- Stiffness that comes on when you move or straighten your back
- Posture issues which make you bend forward or to the side
- Pelvic or buttock pain that can occur with sacroiliac joint pain or due to pain referred from a trapped nerve in the spine
- Pain that radiates down the back of your leg (sciatica)
Diagnosis starts with a physical exam. As there are so many causes of lower back pain, a number of tests or scans may be required to check your spine for injuries or underlying conditions. These include X-ray, MRI scans (to view discs, nerves and soft tissue), a CT scan (to look at the bony anatomy in 3D), bone scans, nerve conduction tests and blood or urine tests.
The tests will help identify if the pain is coming from abnormalities in the structure of the spine, such as a disc trapping a nerve or a non-structural issue (many patients have back pain with normal MRI scans). Sometimes the pain is related to causes outside of the spine, such as kidney stones.
The tests will help identify if the pain is coming from abnormalities in the structure of the spine, such as a disc trapping a nerve or a non-structural issue (many patients have back pain with normal MRI scans). Sometimes the pain is related to causes outside of the spine, such as kidney stones.
Many cases of mild to moderate lower back pain get better with a few days’ rest, ice and over-the-counter pain relief including anti-inflammatory medication. Other treatments include physiotherapy, osteopathic or chiropractic adjustments.
If your back pain continues and is severe, you may need a GP referral to a spinal specialist for further investigations.
We offer same-day or next-day GP appointments for peace of mind.
Book a GP appointment
If you’ve already seen a GP, you can request a referral from your GP or insurer to one of our orthopaedic specialists.
If you have any symptoms such as bilateral leg pain and weakness, genital numbness or loss of urinary and bowel control (all signs and symptoms of cauda equina syndrome) then this could be an emergency and you should attend your local A&E department or one of our Urgent Care Centres.
No.1
in London for private orthopaedic and spinal care
30+
different spinal treatments with care tailored to you
97%
of our patients are likely to recommend us to family and friends
Fast access to specialists
appointments confirmed within 24 hours
State-of-the-art diagnostics
with results in as little as 48 hours
Multidisciplinary teams
expert treatment with specialist care for complex cases
Worried about lower back pain?
Get in touch and book a same or next-day GP appointment
Have a referral letter and need to book?
You can book a test, scan or treatment today
Unsure of your diagnosis?
Talk to a specialist and get the answers you’ve been looking for
Lower back pain tests and scans at HCA UK
There can be many different reasons for lower back pain – which makes it challenging to identify a single cause. There are different ways to treat your back symptoms and our consultants are here to discuss the best option for you.
Your consultant will take your medical history and discuss your symptoms with you. This will help them to make a diagnosis and advise you on which scans and diagnostic tests would be best to do next.
Your consultant will take your medical history and discuss your symptoms with you. This will help them to make a diagnosis and advise you on which scans and diagnostic tests would be best to do next.
Fast treatment for lower back pain at HCA UK
Options for pain management and treatment
Treatment of lower back pain depends on the cause. In most cases conservative management, involving gentle exercise and pain medication is enough.
If symptoms don’t settle within a few weeks, physiotherapy, injections and psychological therapies focused on pain management may be really helpful. Finally, surgery can be a good option, where clinically appropriate.
Each case is assessed individually and your consultant will discuss your treatment options with you.
If symptoms don’t settle within a few weeks, physiotherapy, injections and psychological therapies focused on pain management may be really helpful. Finally, surgery can be a good option, where clinically appropriate.
Each case is assessed individually and your consultant will discuss your treatment options with you.
Accessing private healthcare
Self-pay
You don’t need health insurance to be seen quickly. If you’re looking for a diagnosis or treatment and don’t want to wait, all our private healthcare services – from private GP appointments through to surgery and aftercare – can be paid for as and when you need them.
And to give you peace of mind from the start, we’ll offer you a clear and transparent quote outlining exactly what treatments you’re paying for.
Find out more
Lower back pain FAQs
Lower back pain is very common and can affect all age groups, from the young to the elderly. In the UK, lower back pain alone accounts for 11% of the total disability of the population.
Lower back pain is a symptom of underlying causes which may be injury related, congenital (something you’re born with) or degenerative (wear and tear). The pain typically occurs between the lower rib margins and the top of the buttocks. It can be associated with pain in one or both legs. Patients often complain of stiffness in the back as well. Some patients also have sensations of numbness, tingling and weakness in the legs.
The causes of back pain can be multi-factorial and difficult to assess and treat in a lot of cases. There are different ways of treating your back symptoms so it’s important to discuss the best option available to you with your doctor.
The causes of back pain can be multi-factorial and difficult to assess and treat in a lot of cases. There are different ways of treating your back symptoms so it’s important to discuss the best option available to you with your doctor.
Most cases of lower back pain resolve without active treatment, but recurrence is common. In a minority of people, the pain can become persistent and disabling. When this happens you should seek help from your doctor.
If conservative treatment has failed, then a spinal injection may be recommended to help manage lower back pain or sciatica as well as pinpoint the source of pain.
For some lower back conditions we offer surgery, including minimally invasive options. Your spinal specialist may also recommend a referral to one of our pain management specialists for further non-surgical intervention.
For some lower back conditions we offer surgery, including minimally invasive options. Your spinal specialist may also recommend a referral to one of our pain management specialists for further non-surgical intervention.
Yes, at HCA UK we offer some of the latest minimally invasive spinal surgery techniques, including basivertebral nerve ablation, or BVNA. This is typically considered for patients with chronic lower back pain caused by degenerative disc disease. A probe is inserted via a small incision under X-ray guidance to heat the nerve and disrupt the pain signal.
Another minimally invasive technique used to decompress trapped nerves from slipped (herniated) discs, spinal stenosis and other nerve compression conditions is endoscopic spinal surgery. Offering precise visualisation using a specialised, high-definition endoscope camera, it has less impact on the surrounding tissue.
Some patients have lower back and leg pain due to a deformity in their spine such as spondylolisthesis or scoliosis (curvature of the spine). In these cases, a spinal fusion may be required and our surgeons can also offer modern minimally invasive techniques where appropriate. In some of our hospitals, we offer computer navigation technology and robotics to increase accuracy of screw insertion.
Another minimally invasive technique used to decompress trapped nerves from slipped (herniated) discs, spinal stenosis and other nerve compression conditions is endoscopic spinal surgery. Offering precise visualisation using a specialised, high-definition endoscope camera, it has less impact on the surrounding tissue.
Some patients have lower back and leg pain due to a deformity in their spine such as spondylolisthesis or scoliosis (curvature of the spine). In these cases, a spinal fusion may be required and our surgeons can also offer modern minimally invasive techniques where appropriate. In some of our hospitals, we offer computer navigation technology and robotics to increase accuracy of screw insertion.
If you have had previous spinal fusion surgery, which has failed or you are still symptomatic, some of our highly specialised spinal consultants may be able to find a reason for your ongoing pain and help by performing revision surgery.
Patient stories
Getting back to normal after spinal surgery: Ruth’s story
When consultant spinal surgeon Mr Robert Lee first glanced at the MRI scan of retired music teacher Ruth’s lumbar spine, he did a double take.
Rhiannon’s courage: Recovering after scoliosis surgery
Rhiannon was an active 14-year-old girl. When she occasionally complained to her parents about aches and pains in her back, there was no reason to think it was anything more sinister than sore muscles from one of her dance classes, or something she’d pulled while horse riding.
Back on track: How surgery helped a visitor from America get free from pain
Brandon Zuck had just arrived in the UK from America. It was the beginning of a holiday he’d been looking forward to, a chance to catch up with friends, a little sightseeing. Needless to say, a complex surgical procedure was not on the must-do list.
“I can't compliment Mr Lee enough – a totally reliable and professional person. It was all so reassuring. The nurses were also outstanding.”
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This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.