The Right Treatment Starts With the Right Diagnosis
Every patient is unique. The best treatment depends on:
Your symptoms
Clinical examination
MRI and X-ray findings
Duration of symptoms
Severity of nerve compression
Your daily activities and lifestyle
At Bombay Spine Clinic™, we follow an evidence-based, patient-centered approach. Whenever possible, we begin with non-surgical treatment. Surgery is recommended only when it is likely to provide significant benefit and improve quality of life.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Approximately 80–90% of patients with neck and back pain improve without surgery through a combination of medications, physiotherapy, exercise, and lifestyle modifications.
Non-surgical treatment aims to:
Reduce pain
Improve movement
Restore function
Prevent recurrence
Avoid unnecessary surgery
Medications
Medications help relieve pain and reduce inflammation, allowing patients to return to normal activities and participate in rehabilitation.
Depending on your condition, your doctor may prescribe:
Pain-relieving medicines
Anti-inflammatory medications
Muscle relaxants
Medicines for nerve pain
Vitamin supplements (when required)
Medications to improve bone health in osteoporosis
It is important to take medicines only as advised by your doctor. Long-term self-medication should be avoided, as some painkillers may affect the stomach, kidneys, liver, or heart.
Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy plays a key role in the treatment of most spinal disorders.
A physiotherapist will design a personalised rehabilitation program based on your diagnosis and fitness level.
Treatment may include:
Pain-relieving modalities
Stretching exercises
Core strengthening exercises
Posture correction
Balance and gait training
Flexibility exercises
Ergonomic advice
Home exercise programs
Regular physiotherapy not only reduces pain but also helps prevent future episodes.
Lifestyle Modification
Small lifestyle changes can make a significant difference in spinal health.
These include:
Maintaining a healthy body weight
Staying physically active
Avoiding prolonged sitting
Using correct posture while working
Lifting objects safely
Sleeping on a supportive mattress
Quitting smoking
Managing stress effectively
Simple daily habits often contribute more to long-term recovery than medications alone.
Rehabilitation
Recovery does not end when the pain improves. Rehabilitation helps restore strength, flexibility, and confidence while reducing the risk of recurrence.
A structured rehabilitation program may include:
Progressive walking
Strength training
Flexibility exercises
Core muscle strengthening
Balance training
Functional exercises for daily activities
Sports-specific rehabilitation (when required)
Successful rehabilitation helps patients return safely to work, hobbies, and sports.
Image-Guided Spine Pain Management
For patients whose symptoms persist despite medications and physiotherapy, minimally invasive pain management procedures may be considered.
These procedures are performed under image guidance (fluoroscopy or ultrasound) to improve accuracy and safety.
Common procedures include:
Facet Joint Injections
Selective Nerve Root Blocks (SNRB)
Epidural Steroid Injections
Caudal Epidural Injections
Sacroiliac Joint Injections
Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) for chronic facet joint pain
These procedures are designed to reduce pain, improve mobility, and facilitate rehabilitation. They are not suitable for every patient and are recommended only after careful clinical evaluation.
Surgical Treatment
Surgery is considered only when non-surgical treatment has failed or when there is significant nerve or spinal cord compression that is unlikely to improve without surgery.
Modern spine surgery focuses on:
Relieving pressure on nerves or the spinal cord
Restoring spinal stability
Correcting deformity when necessary
Preserving normal movement whenever possible
Whenever appropriate, minimally invasive techniques are used to reduce muscle damage, blood loss, post-operative pain, and recovery time.
Common procedures performed include:
Endoscopic Spine Surgery
Microscopic Tubular Spine Surgery
Minimally Invasive Decompression
Minimally Invasive Fusion Surgery (MIS TLIF)
Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty
Spinal Tumor Surgery
Spinal Infection Surgery
Spine Trauma Surgery
Scoliosis and Kyphosis Correction Surgery
When Is Surgery Required?
Most patients do not require spine surgery. However, surgery may be recommended in the following situations:
Persistent severe pain despite adequate conservative treatment
Progressive weakness in the arms or legs
Significant nerve compression causing loss of function
Spinal cord compression (Myelopathy)
Difficulty walking or loss of balance
Loss of bladder or bowel control (medical emergency)
Unstable spinal fractures
Spinal infections not responding to medical treatment
Certain spinal tumors
Progressive spinal deformity
The decision to operate is always based on a combination of your symptoms, examination findings, imaging studies, and overall health—not on MRI findings alone.
Benefits & Risks of Spine Surgery
Modern spine surgery is safer and more advanced than ever before. Advances in imaging, surgical microscopes, endoscopy, neuromonitoring, navigation systems, and minimally invasive techniques have significantly improved outcomes.
Potential Benefits
Relief of nerve pain
Improvement in weakness or numbness
Better walking ability
Reduced back or neck pain
Improved spinal stability
Better quality of life
Faster recovery with minimally invasive techniques
Earlier return to daily activities
Understanding the Risks
Like any surgical procedure, spine surgery carries certain risks, including:
Infection
Bleeding
Nerve injury
Dural tear (CSF leak)
Blood clots
Implant-related complications
Need for further surgery in selected cases
At Bombay Spine Clinic™, every effort is made to minimise these risks through meticulous surgical planning, advanced technology, and comprehensive patient optimisation involving physicians, anaesthetists, cardiologists, and other specialists whenever required.
Fortunately, serious complications are uncommon, and most patients recover safely with appropriate care.
Recovery Expectations
Recovery varies depending on the type of spinal condition, the treatment provided, and individual health factors.
Non-Surgical Treatment
Many patients begin to notice improvement within 2–6 weeks, although full rehabilitation may take several months.
After Spine Surgery
Recovery is gradual and structured.
Typical milestones include:
Walking inside the house: Usually on the day of surgery or the following day (for most minimally invasive procedures)
Outdoor walking: After approximately 1 week
Short travel: After approximately 2 weeks
Work from home: Around 2 weeks
Office work: Approximately 3–6 weeks (depending on the procedure)
Long-distance travel: Around 6–8 weeks
Sports and high-impact activities: Usually after 3–6 months, depending on the procedure and recovery
Your surgeon will provide a personalised rehabilitation plan based on your surgery and overall progress.
Our Philosophy
The Right Treatment at the Right Time
Our goal is not simply to treat MRI findings—it is to treat people.
We believe in:
Accurate diagnosis
Evidence-based treatment
Individualised care
Shared decision-making
Minimally invasive solutions whenever appropriate
Comprehensive rehabilitation for long-term recovery
Every patient deserves a treatment plan tailored to their condition, lifestyle, and personal goals.
Need Expert Advice?
If you have persistent neck or back pain, have been advised spine surgery, or would like a second opinion, we are here to help.
Bring your MRI, X-rays, CT scans, and previous medical records for a comprehensive evaluation.
Remember:Not every spine problem requires surgery—but every spine problem deserves the right diagnosis and the right treatment.
Need Clinical Evaluation?
Consult with Dr. Siddharth Katkade (MBBS, MS, DNB, FASSI Germany/UK) for accurate diagnosis and personalized spine treatment.
