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The Harborne Hospital
Expert spinal care in Birmingham
- Specialists in spinal surgery and minimally invasive techniques
- Latest imagining technology to diagnose symptoms
- Tailored treatment plans
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SPINAL CARE AT THE HARBORNE HOSPITAL
Why choose us?
For all types of back pain, from the unexplained pain that won't respond to pain medication and physical therapy to injury or chronic conditions, our team of spinal surgeons and neurosurgeons can help.
Our state-of-the-art facilities, including the latest diagnostic and surgical technology, mean you can have all your tests, scans and procedures in the same location.
You’ll be looked after by some of the UK’s leading spinal specialists along with skilled nurses and physiotherapists. They'll tailor every aspect of your treatment to your specific needs. It's why 97% of our orthopaedic patients are likely to recommend us to their friends and family.
The spine is a complicated structure and it’s best to get any pain checked by a specialist, who can then diagnose and treat your condition as quickly as possible.
We recommend that you meet with one of our consultants if you’re experiencing any of the following:
We recommend that you meet with one of our consultants if you’re experiencing any of the following:
- Persistent pain in your neck or back
- A change in the alignment of your spine or one shoulder is higher than the other
- Unexplained weakness or numbness in your arms, hands, legs or feet
- Neck pain that is accompanied by arm pain
- Back pain that is accompanied by leg pain
- A spine condition that is still causing pain or discomfort despite ongoing physiotherapy or taking of pain killers
- Lower back pain and leg pain that’s accompanied by bowel or bladder incontinence
Yes. Our spinal specialists are experienced in treating a full range of conditions affecting the cervical spine (neck), thoracic spine (middle of the back) and lumbar spine (lower back). Whether you're experiencing pain, stiffness, nerve symptoms like sciatica, or more complex spinal problems, we can provide an expert assessment and personalised treatment options tailored to your needs.
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onsite level 3 ITU beds for the highest levels of care
24/7
acute admissions for unplanned and urgent patients
97%
of our patients rate our care very good or excellent (2024 patient satisfaction surveys)
Fast access to spinal specialists
Appointments confirmed in as little as 24 hours.
Seamless experience under one roof
Imaging and diagnosis through to pre- and post-operative care.
Treatments for complex conditions
Including minimally invasive surgical treatments.
SPINAL CARE SERVICES
Expert diagnosis and treatment
When you come to The Harborne Hospital, you’ll have access to leading spinal neurosurgeons and spinal surgeons. Our team can help with a wide range of conditions that affect the spine, from osteoarthritis and sciatica to scoliosis and complex spinal surgery.
We offer the following treatments:
Spinal injections
Spinal injections can help pain in your back, leg, neck or arms and may be considered when you haven’t responded to other therapies.
Radiofrequency (RF) ablation
Radiofrequency ablation, or RF ablation, is a nonsurgical procedure used to treat conditions affecting the body's neurological and cardiac systems – from chronic pain to irregular heart rhythm.
Minimally Invasive Spinal Surgery (MISS)
Minimally invasive spinal surgery (MISS) involves performing spinal procedures through small incisions, using specialised instruments and advanced imaging techniques. This approach aims to minimise tissue disruption. It’s used to treat spinal stenosis, slipped discs and other spinal conditions that cause persistent pain.
Spinal disc surgery
Effective treatment for back pain and disc injury. Slipped, prolapsed or herniated discs may benefit from a microdiscectomy procedure which is a minimally invasive operation to help relieve the back and sometimes leg pain.
Cervical disc replacement
Disc replacement surgery for the neck area of the spine. Cervical discs that become damaged can cause you considerable pain, numbness and weakness that radiates into your arms.
Lumbar decompression
Surgery to the lower spine. We have the technology and expertise to carry out surgery on your lower spine using minimally invasive surgery.
Vertebroplasty
A minimally invasive surgical operation to repair and stabilise a damaged vertebra or compression fractures.
Foraminotomy
Our advanced surgical procedure helps to relieve nerve compression causing pain and numbness in the back and legs.
Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)
A spinal fusion procedure that fuses the front and back section of the spine through a posterior approach. If you have nerve or disc problems in your spine, our consultants can treat you with minimally invasive fusion surgery.
Posterior cervical decompression
Also known as a microdiscectomy.
Thoracic disc surgery
A surgical procedure to repair a slipped disc.
Lumbar discectomy surgery
At HCA Healthcare UK we can give you a fast diagnosis and effective treatment to alleviate back pain. A lumbar discectomy is a surgical procedure to remove part of a damaged spinal disc in your lower back. Book a consultation today.
Steroid injections for joint pain
Steroid injections in localised areas that relieve pain in the joints.
Locations
Your extended network in Birmingham
The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2TQ Birmingham
Urgent Care Centre at The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2TQ Birmingham
Accessing private health care
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’s included in your self-pay package.
Your patient journey
What to expect
From the moment you step through the door, until you’re ready to leave, we want you to feel as comfortable and reassured as possible.
One of the ways we can put you at ease is to let you know what to expect at each stage of your andrology investigation and treatment process.
If you have any questions that aren’t answered here or in the FAQ section below, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. Our team will be happy to help in any way they can.
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Initial consultation
Whether you’ve self-referred to us or have a referral from your GP, the first step is always an initial consultation with one of our spinal specialists.
At this appointment, your consultant will ask about your medical history and symptoms, and carry out a physical examination of your back and neck. They’ll also arrange any necessary investigative diagnostic tests.
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Tests and scans
At HCA UK, you’ll have access to the UK’s more comprehensive private diagnostics network.
Your consultant may arrange for you to have an MRI scan, a CT scan or a full-spine standing X-ray. These will let your consultant view your neck and spine in more detail so they can make a diagnosis.
In some cases, additional tests such as nerve conduction studies or specialist referrals (e.g. neurology or pain management) may be part of the assessment process.
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Treatment
You’ll meet with your consultant again, who’ll discuss your test and scan results with you and make a diagnosis. Treatment will depend on your condition and symptoms, and will be carefully tailored to you. It may include non-operative measures such as specialist physiotherapy, spinal injections, and multidisciplinary pain management.
If surgical intervention is required, this will be carefully planned and may involve input from neurosurgery or other specialties. You’ll be kept informed throughout the process and your consultant and the rest of our team will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Spinal care FAQs
Our specialists treat a range of conditions, including the following:
Yes. We offer different types of spinal injection depending on the cause and location of your pain. An injection can help diagnose sources of pain and is used to treat pain by helping to reduce inflammation. Spinal injection can help pain in your back, leg, neck or arms and may be considered when you haven’t responded to other therapies.
It depends on the surgery you have. Spinal surgery is very broad and includes everything from surgery at the front of the neck to decompressing the spine, spinal fusions and treating spinal tumours.
At The Harborne, we offer a wide range of surgical procedures. Our state-of-the-art hospital is equipped with the latest surgical technologies, so we can offer minimally invasive treatments to our patients for greater accuracy and faster recovery times.
Our team will be on hand to help and advise you on pain relief, before, during and after your procedure with us.
At The Harborne, we offer a wide range of surgical procedures. Our state-of-the-art hospital is equipped with the latest surgical technologies, so we can offer minimally invasive treatments to our patients for greater accuracy and faster recovery times.
Our team will be on hand to help and advise you on pain relief, before, during and after your procedure with us.
The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that connects the central nervous system with the rest of the body. Its main purpose is to carry nerve signals throughout your body. These nerve signals control your body's movement (motor) and involuntary (autonomic) functions, such as bowel and bladder control. They also send sense signals to the brain from the rest of the body.
The spinal cord is housed in the spinal canal, which is a protective tunnel running inside the spinal column – the stack of vertebrae that runs from the base of your skull to your pelvis.
Usually, there is enough room for the spinal cord and nerve roots to sit comfortably and function normally. However, various conditions can cause the spinal canal to become narrow and put pressure on the spinal cord. In some cases, this narrowing can compress and damage the spinal cord, interfering with the nerves and causing pain.
The human body contains 23 discs between each of the vertebrae in the spine. The tough outer part is called the annulus fibrosus and is made of collagen fibres. This sits around a softer, gel-like core, known as the nucleus pulposus.
The core aids the spine's mobility while also acting as a shock absorber – for example, taking some of the impact away from when you jump or run. Discs are primarily composed of water, so hydration is key to them functioning properly and remaining healthy.
The core aids the spine's mobility while also acting as a shock absorber – for example, taking some of the impact away from when you jump or run. Discs are primarily composed of water, so hydration is key to them functioning properly and remaining healthy.
Discs are categorised as sitting between the vertebrae, which are assigned letters and numbers depending on their location in the spine. For example, the fourth vertebra in the lumbar spine would be L4; the disc between it and the fifth lumbar vertebra would be referred to as the L4-L5 disc.
The vertebrae and discs in the spine are categorised by their location:
The vertebrae and discs in the spine are categorised by their location:
- Cervical spine: The first seven vertebrae, which are in the neck
- Thoracic spine: A group of 12 vertebrae that sit in the chest area
- Lumbar spine: Five vertebrae in your lower back. This is where it's most common to experience a slipped disc.
- Sacral spine: Five vertebrae that are found below the waist. The tailbone (coccyx) is located here
Our patients’ stories
"I took an eight-hour flight to the States ten days after spinal surgery"
After suffering months of discomfort, Sara’s lower back and shooting leg pain became so excruciating she could barely stand, and was diagnosed with a slipped disc. Her consultant referred her to Mr Irfan Malik, a highly experienced consultant neurosurgeon at The Harley Street Clinic who could perform endoscopic ‘keyhole’ spinal surgery.
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.
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.
“The Harborne Hospital was designed from the onset for complex care. The state-of-the art theatres are fitted with the most up-to-date equipment, including a 3D C-arm so that we can do 3D imaging of the spine during surgery and spinal navigation. This technology allows for a more accurate placement of metalwork, such as screws and cages.”
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*Across HCA UK
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.