THE SPINE

Spinal Treatments

These are classified as conservative (non-operative) treatments and operative treatments. Many conditions affecting the spine can be effectively treated by non operative treatments e.g. pain killers, anti inflammatory drugs, physiotherapy or even a combination of medication and rest. Others require special injections into the inflamed or diseased area or surgery.

The Pain Medicine Unit at The Wellington Hospital is a special resource for when your quality of life is compromised by chronic pain. Pain medicine is extremely important with some of the same procedures being performed both by pain medicine doctors and spinal surgeons. Using a wide range of treatments, we provide the best possible pain medicine to improve your physical, psychological and social functioning.

Pain Specialists are specially trained doctors, usually from an anaesthetic back ground who can optimise the drug treatment of patients who fail to get better after standard pain killers. They also perform injections into painful areas or use acupuncture. Behavioural therapy can also be helpful in certain cases.

Physiotherapy and the wide range of other support services provided by the Wellington Rehabilitation Unit are an important adjunct to the long term effective treatment of many spinal conditions. Occasionally, spinal patients need complex rehabilitation support, with comprehensive multi-disciplinary treatment programmes designed to maximise patients' functional abilities and we assist with psychological and emotional support in adapting to disability. We are recognised as the independent sector’s premier centre for the care of patients with neurological conditions including head injuries, spinal cord injuries and strokes. We also provide comprehensive therapy programmes for patients suffering from conditions as varied as amputation, post complex orthopaedic surgery and post critical illness.

The Wellington Neurosurgical Unit treats all forms of spinal disorders and has gained an international reputation for its high standards of surgery and care.

Surgical Treatments

The Wellington Neurosurgical Unit is constantly adding and improving our techniques for spinal care. Below we have listed some of the more common operations and procedures. Please click on one to find out more.