Mater Private: Specialised treatment for chronic back pain

A NEW specialised treatment suite The Fluoroscopic Pain Management Centre has been developed at Mater Private Hospital Cork to care for those who suffer from chronic pain, particularly affecting the back and neck. 

Pain management consultant Dr Brendan Conroy explains: “Chronic back pain is pain that has been on-going for 12 weeks or more despite simple analgesia (pain killer medication) like ibuprofen and paracetamol and a course of exercise and physiotherapy.”

Chronic back pain, 95% of which originates from the lower lumbar spine, can be very debilitating, causing those affected to lose sleep, require long periods off work and, in some cases, develop depression.