A groundbreaking surgical procedure at Newcastle Hospitals is offering renewed hope to individuals suffering from a specific form of chronic lower back pain. Sam Naylor, a 36-year-old from Newcastle whose active lifestyle was severely curtailed by persistent pain, recently became one of the first patients in the region to receive a novel implant designed to address this debilitating condition.
Ms Naylor, who previously enjoyed climbing, hiking, and running, found her life increasingly dominated by severe lower back pain that began in 2020. Despite years of various treatments, including physiotherapy, pain medication, and nerve-targeting procedures, her pain persisted and worsened, often leading to difficulties with everyday tasks and periods of absence from her work at an outdoor equipment company. She described how the uncertainty of her condition, which often flared up due to simple activities like prolonged sitting, had put her life on hold.
The new procedure, performed at the Royal Victoria Infirmary, involves implanting a small device called ReActiv8 into the lower back. This device is designed to stimulate the deep stabilising muscles of the spine, helping to restore neuromuscular control – the crucial communication pathway between the brain and muscle. Patients typically activate the device for 30 minutes twice a day, aiming to build strength and improve function in these hard-to-target muscles.
Dr Sachin Rastogi, a consultant anaesthetist specialising in chronic pain at Newcastle Hospitals, explained that the technology could be life-transforming for patients whose back pain stems from weakness and dysfunction in these specific deep spinal muscles. He emphasised that the treatment is intended for a select group of individuals whose symptoms have not improved despite traditional approaches. For these patients, Dr Rastogi suggests it offers a potential cure for this particular type of low back pain.
Chronic lower back pain is a widespread issue in the UK, affecting millions of people and significantly impacting quality of life, productivity, and the NHS. According to NHS data, back pain is one of the most common reasons for people to visit their GP, with many experiencing long-term discomfort. While conventional treatments remain the first line of defence, this new implant offers a targeted intervention for a specific subset of patients who have exhausted other options, potentially reducing the need for ongoing pain management and improving long-term outcomes.