How We Work

When you arrive at the Back Pain Centre Sunderland, you will first fill out a case history form with your personal details (name, address, etc.) and few questions about your problem. Our goal is ‘To get you out of PAIN and KEEP you that way’. To achieve this as quickly and safely as possible we use a unique 4 stage approach:
Stage 1: Diagnosis
After completing a case history form. You will then be taken through to meet your practitioner. Your practitioner will take a full medical history, followed by a comprehensive musculoskeletal examination. After diagnosing your complaint, your practitioner will clearly explain the examination findings to you and the proposed treatment plan.
Stage 2: Initial intensive care
Most new patients come to us because they are in pain and want to get out of pain as quickly as possible. The Initial Intensive stage of care is designed to do just that. It usually lasts 4 to 6 weeks, during this time patients usually attend the clinic 2 to 3 times per week, depending on the severity of their problem, and treatment is aimed at providing pain relief as quickly and safely as possible.
Stage 3: Corrective Care
Once you are out of pain and your condition has stabilised the option of undergoing Corrective Care will be available to you. The aim of this phase of your treatment program is to treat any other underlying spinal problems that you may have; in addition to this you will work with one of our Physiotherapists who will prescribe specific exercises & stretches to help improve your overall spine’s flexibility & strength. Remember, the majority of the conditions for which people come to us for have developed over many years therefore, it takes time to correct. Patients, who choose to discontinue care at this time, are more likely to have their spinal problems come back weeks, months or years later.
Stage 4: Maintenance care
Once your spine is fully rehabilitated and functioning to the best of its ability, regular ‘Spinal MOT’s‘ are recommended to maintain your improved spinal health, prevent the return of the original painful condition, and catch small spinal problems before they become serious. A good way to look at Spinal MOT’s is to relate it to dentistry. We all know it takes a long time to develop tooth decay, but with regular maintenance and check-ups, the plaque doesn’t have a chance. Similarly, it often takes a long time to develop spinal problems, but with regular maintenance they don’t have a chance to develop. To maintain good spinal health we believe most people should get their spines checked every 1 – 4 months. How often you should have a Spinal MOT is dependant on where you and your practitioner feel you are on our Spinal MOT ‘Sliding scale’.

Your Treatment Plan
Your treatment plan is the “Master Plan” that coordinates how often, what type and when you should be receiving treatment. We generally schedule your treatments so that there are specific intervals of time between each visit. We do this because each visit builds on the one before. Consequently, it is important to stick to the treatment plan established with your practitioner in order to avoid delays in your progress.

At specific stages of your treatment plan your practitioner will conduct a “Progress Exam”, which will consist of some of the same tests carried out at the initial consultation. The purpose of the progress exam is for you and your practitioner to be able to objectively see how you are responding to treatment and therefore determine your next treatment plan.
Changing an Appointment
If you need to change an appointment we appreciate the courtesy of 24 hours notice as we often have a waiting list of patients requiring urgent treatment. Failing to attend an appointment rescheduling or cancelling without 24 hours notice will incur a £15 charge.

If you happen to be running late we always appreciate a phone call as we can sometimes ‘juggle’ things at our end if other patients have arrived and are waiting to be seen.

If you have any further queries regarding the treatments available at the Back Pain Centre Sunderland, new clients or making a booking with us, please feel free to contact us and we can discuss any queries you may have. Give us a call on 0191 565 8886.