Resuming an active lifestyle that’s free of pain helps mental well-being
Poor physical health can lead to a deterioration in mental wellbeing over time. Here, Nuffield Health explains how its experts are changing the lives of patients who have suffered with long-term chronic pain and discomfort
NOT being able to do what you enjoy physically can affect your mental health, especially when this goes on for months or years.
It is therefore important to treat the cause of any physical limitations promptly to return people to both their physical and mental wellbeing.
The South Wales Spinal Service at Nuffield Health Cardiff and Vale Hospitals comprises three orthopaedic surgeons and one spinal neurosurgeon, musculoskeletal radiologists with spinal expertise, physiotherapists, pain management consultants and specialist nurses.
Spinal consultants Mr Iqroop Chopra, James Cordell-Smith, Stuart James and Mike McCarthy all work together with patients, radiologists, pain specialists and physiotherapists to help provide comprehensive, world-class spinal care. Fred Fisher, an 80-year-old yacht skipper who also still does consultancy work, had surgery in January at Nuffield Health’s Vale Hospital to relieve his ongoing back pain so he could return to enjoying twice-weekly yachting races.
Mr Fisher, who lives in Milford Haven with his wife, says his only regret is not having had the spinal surgery sooner.
Mr Fisher said: “I was suffering for the last three to four years, and it got progressively worse.
“I retired from my full-time job as a building surveyor 22 years ago.
“My role as director of works for the council, with a department of 450 people, involved both a desk job and being out and about.
“In my retirement, I really enjoy racing at Neyland Yacht Club and like to be on the water a couple of times a week.”
He said his surgeon, Mr Chopra, was recommended to him by a friend who, after a bad car accident, was put back together by him.
“I did the self-pay option for private healthcare which, of course, moves the NHS waiting list up a bit for someone else to get seen quicker,” he added.
“To begin with I tried a series of injections, which were successful for a time. Then I discussed surgical options with Mr Chopra and decided to go in for lumbar fusion.
“I stayed in hospital for four days and needed physiotherapy to get me out of bed the first day.
“When I woke the first day, the really terrible pain had gone, but there was some different, discomforting pain for a fortnight.
“I was not able to drive for six weeks or go out for a pint.
“Things have to knit together over time after surgery and there is now a stiffness in my back, but the huge improvement is that I can walk and stand in comfort.”
Mr Fisher said the level of pain he experienced before the operation limited his hobbies and activities “considerably”.
He said to be free of pain and resume an active lifestyle was incredibly rewarding.
“I am hoping that, with the passage of time, I will be able to resume fully those activities.
“I would really recommend this procedure and my surgeon, who was excellent.
“I can enjoy my hobbies and I am relatively pain-free. My advice would be: don’t wait.”
Spinal neurosurgeon Mr Chopra said Mr Fisher’s lower back pain was initially managed non-operatively with acupuncture, physiotherapy, chiropractor manipulation and therapy with the pain specialist. He said: “A few months