How SpineArt Can Help You Get Back in Action
Based in Darlington and Stockton, expert spinal surgeon Dan Fagan has successfully treated many members of the local farming and racing community in his practice
‘Many folk lead hard working lives and this takes its toll on the back and other parts of the skeleton such as the hips,’ he says. ‘Being stoical, people often leave seeking help for symptoms of back pain and sciatica until it gets very severe. I sometimes even see people with arthritis in both the back and hips, causing trapped nerves and hip pain at the same time. Sometimes it’s not obvious where the pain is coming from, which is where I come in with my expertise.’
The key, Dan says, is to not suffer in silence. ‘I would encourage people with back pain and sciatica to come sooner, rather than later, to find out what we can do to help them. Don’t let it continue to affect your quality of life – you may be surprised how easy it is to find a solution, so there’s no need to wait until it’s unbearable.’
Getting you the right diagnosis is his top priority. ‘People need a diagnosis. There are different reasons for the pain and a range of different treatments available. At the Woodlands we have the expertise and equipment to help people get the right diagnosis quickly – and the right treatment!’
Dan is very experienced in the use of minimal access surgery. With a slipped disc, using imaging techniques for accuracy, he inserts a ‘spine wand’ into the patient’s back through a portal. The wand generates a plasma field over the tip, which quickly vaporises the damaged part of the disc, relieving the pain. This procedure is done under light sedation, takes about 30 minutes and patients go home the same day. Dan is one of only a very few surgeons in the UK using this procedure, and the only one in the North East.
‘We are unique in that we have the equipment and the expertise right here at the Woodlands to be able to offer patients the most cutting-edge treatment for conditions that can prevent them living their best lives,’ Dan says.
‘Severe sciatica can affect your ability to work, to enjoy sports and just to live. Many patients are choosing to self-pay and be treated privately for things like slipped discs because it’s much quicker, our procedures are less invasive and less painful, and recovery is much faster.’
