Diagnostic tests for chronic spinal pain in Schoen Clinic Duesseldorf

About the department

According to the reputable Focus magazine, the Department of Spinal Surgery at the Schoen Clinic Duesseldorf is included in the ranking of the best medical facilities in Germany specializing in spinal surgery! 

The department offers all conservative and surgical treatments to patients with spinal pathologies. The focus of the department's doctors is on patients with herniated discs, spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebral bodies), spinal instability, spinal fractures, scoliosis and kyphosis, benign and malignant spinal tumors, and rheumatic spinal lesions. If clinically indicated, doctors at the medical facility strive to carry out conservative treatment, with surgery being the last-line treatment. The department's surgeons work in operating rooms fitted with high-tech equipment for performing minimally invasive and endoscopic interventions. The goal of the specialists is to provide the most sparing treatment possible and enable the patient to lead a full life without any pain or restrictions. The department is certified by the German Spine Society (DWG) as a specialized Center for Spinal Surgery. It is worth mentioning that such certification is only awarded in Germany to leading specialized medical institutions with high treatment success rates. The department's spinal surgeons follow the principles of personalized medical care so that each patient can receive an individual treatment regimen that takes into account his or her needs and wishes. The department is headed by Dr. med. Lars Löhrer.

The department's medical team has exceptional professional experience in the treatment of herniated discs, a rupture of the fibrous ring of the intervertebral disc and displacement of its internal part beyond its natural location against the background of degenerative changes in the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. The department's physicians most often deal with the treatment of lumbar disc herniation. The main manifestation of a hernia is intense pain, which is present even at rest as the pathology progresses. At the diagnostic stage, the attending physician studies the patient's medical history, listens to his or her complaints, and conducts a clinical examination, after which imaging tests will be performed. As a rule, the patient is prescribed magnetic resonance imaging and/or digital X-ray scanning. In rare cases, a computed tomography (CT) scan may be required. As for the treatment of herniated discs, the department always prescribes it on an individual basis. The specialists have many effective conservative therapeutic methods at their disposal, including physiotherapy, drug therapy, and infiltration therapy. Surgery for herniated discs can often be avoided, as doctors conduct successful conservative treatment in more than 90% of cases. However, the department's spinal surgeons still have to operate on patients with hernias in some cases. Surgical procedures of this kind are performed using endoscopic and minimally invasive techniques, so the patient's recovery in the postoperative period takes a matter of days, and the risks of complications are almost zero. The department's team of surgeons annually treats thousands of patients with herniated discs, and each of them receives effective medical care. The doctors deservedly enjoy a reputation as one of the best experts in their field of competence in Germany and far beyond its borders.

Another common diagnosis is spinal stenosis, a narrowing of the spinal canal that causes compression of the spinal cord structures. The pathology causes severe pain, sensory disturbances, muscle weakness, and deterioration of motor skills. Without timely treatment, the pain intensifies, it becomes difficult for the patient to overcome long distances, and gait disturbances develop. In addition, patients with spinal stenosis often complain of numbness and/or tingling. The therapeutic process begins with an individual consultation with a spinal surgeon, who listens to the patient's complaints and conducts a clinical examination. Next, the patient will have to undergo imaging diagnostics. The most informative diagnostic method is MRI but a CT scan may also be used in some cases. The department's doctors also often prescribe electromyography and electroneuromyography. Should the diagnosis of spinal stenosis be confirmed, an individual treatment regimen will be developed for the patient. In the early stages, doctors give preference to conservative treatment, and in complex cases, surgical intervention is recommended. The conservative treatment regimen is based on painkillers, physiotherapy, and manual therapy. If necessary, multimodal pain management can be carried out, and psychologists may be involved in the therapeutic process. For severe pain relief, the department's physicians may conduct periradicular infiltration under imaging guidance. If conservative methods do not give the desired result or their use is inappropriate due to the severity of the pathological process, surgery becomes the only effective treatment method. Operations for spinal stenosis are most commonly minimally invasive, but if indicated, microsurgical or endoscopic procedures may also be performed. Operations are performed under general anesthesia. A few hours after the surgical procedure, the patient can stand on his or her feet. There is no need to wear a corset or other fixing devices.

The department's medical team also regularly treats patients with spondylolisthesis, in which the vertebrae slip out of their place. The pathology usually affects the lumbar vertebrae, and the patient suffers from severe back pain. To confirm the diagnosis and determine the optimal treatment tactics, the department's specialists perform a clinical examination, followed by an MRI. Myelography (contrast-enhanced X-ray scanning) or CT myelography may be an alternative to MRI. In some cases, electromyography may also be recommended. In more than 90% of cases, the department's spinal surgeons manage to eliminate spondylolisthesis with comprehensive conservative treatment, which is based on painkillers, muscle relaxants, therapeutic exercises, and physiotherapy. To improve back muscle tone, the department's doctors recommend swimming, Nordic walking, and cycling. A healthy diet plays an important role because excess weight increases the load on your back. In complex clinical cases, conservative therapy may be ineffective, so the specialists consider the advisability of surgery. The essence of surgical treatment is to stabilize the vertebra by implanting special screws, rods, and/or plates.

The department's range of medical services includes the following:

• Conservative and surgical treatment of herniated discs
• Conservative and surgical treatment of spinal stenosis
• Conservative and surgical treatment of spondylolisthesis
• Conservative and surgical treatment of spinal instability
• Conservative and surgical treatment of spinal fractures and other traumatic injuries, including osteoporotic spinal fractures
• Conservative and surgical treatment of scoliosis and kyphosis
• Conservative and surgical treatment of benign and malignant spinal tumors
• Conservative and surgical treatment of chronic back pain
• Conservative and surgical treatment of spinal infectious diseases
• Conservative and surgical treatment of rheumatic spinal lesions
• Conservative and surgical treatment of other spinal diseases