Aziz Ahmad Spinal Surgeon

07/09/2025

🦴 Back Pain in Osteoporosis – Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs 🦴

If you are an older adult with osteoporosis and have developed back pain that isn’t getting better, it’s important to know:

👉 You may have an osteoporotic spinal fracture (vertebral compression fracture).

These fractures are different from the usual fractures after big accidents. In fact, they can happen with trivial, everyday activities such as:
• Bending down
• Lifting a light object
• Even a sudden twist or cough

⚠️ Key message: If you have persistent or unrelenting back pain, don’t dismiss it as “just age” or “normal backache.” It could be a spinal fracture.

✅ Getting checked early means:
• Proper pain management
• Preventing further collapse of the spine
• Starting treatment for osteoporosis to protect against future fractures

Your bones may be fragile, but with the right care, your spine can still be protected.

⸻

📌 If your pain does not settle, you can book an appointment with:
Mr Aziz Ahmad FRCS (T&O)
Consultant Spinal Surgeon
👉

Mr Aziz Ahmad provides comprehensive care for a range of spinal conditions, including degenerative conditions, spinal stenosis, radiculopathy, spinal trauma, myelopathy, sacro-iliac joint issues, and coccydynia. He specialises in microdiscectomy, spinal decompression, fusion surgeries, cervical disc...

30/08/2025

🚶‍♂️ Is Your Walking Changing? Don’t Ignore It. 🚶‍♀️

If you notice that you’re:
• Losing your balance more often
• Becoming clumsier with your hands or feet
• Or your gait (the way you walk) feels unsteady, uneven, or awkward

…it could be more than just “getting older.”

These can be early warning signs of cervical myelopathy — a condition where pressure on the spinal cord in your neck starts to affect how your nerves work.

🧠 Why it matters:
Cervical myelopathy can slowly worsen over time. Left unchecked, it may cause long-term problems with mobility, coordination, and independence.

✅ If you (or someone you know) has noticed worsening balance or walking difficulties, it’s worth getting checked by a doctor or specialist. Early diagnosis can make a big difference.

Your health and mobility are too important to ignore. 💙

17/08/2025

I’m genuinely inspired by the innovative AI physiotherapy pilot launched by the NHS in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, which halved the waiting list for back pain treatment in just 12 weeks. For a spinal surgeon, this is exciting progress.

From my perspective, the value goes beyond just faster initial assessments.

This technology could also transform post-operative management, helping patients adhere to rehab plans at home while freeing physiotherapy services to focus on more complex cases.
One of the biggest challenges we face in spinal care is managing back pain and sciatica in the community. We all know that good conservative management means many patients will never need surgery.
Yet because of the sheer busyness of physiotherapy services and long waiting lists, many patients simply don’t get proper conservative care in time.

If AI can help sort this unmet need in physiotherapy access, it could not only reduce pressure on surgical pathways, but also ensure patients get the right care, at the right time.

AI platform Flok Health to be rolled out to other NHS trusts but experts warn tech-based care could increase health inequalities

20/07/2025

https://youtu.be/q0ZMDoZUaLM?si=cwdJQ_nWK_T_3JGh

Mr Aziz Ahmad, Consultant Spinal Surgeon working at Oaks Hospital in Colchester discusses the importance of being aware of Cauda Equina Syndrome and its symp...

06/07/2025

https://youtu.be/rx11rBxFMmU

Cauda Equina Syndrome is a rare but serious spinal condition that requires urgent medical attention. In this video, Consultant Spinal Surgeon Mr. Aziz Ahmad FRCS (T&O) explains:

✔️ What is Cauda Equina Syndrome (CES)?
✔️ Common symptoms: saddle numbness, leg weakness, bladder/bowel dysfunction
✔️ Why early diagnosis and surgery are critical
✔️ When to go to A&E or see a spinal specialist

If you’re experiencing red flag symptoms, seek medical advice immediately.

🔔 Subscribe for more spine health education from a UK-based spinal surgeon.

Cauda Equina Syndrome is a rare but serious spinal condition that requires urgent medical attention. In this video, Consultant Spinal Surgeon Mr. Aziz Ahmad ...

22/06/2025

🎥 Understanding Spinal Stenosis | OAKS GP Teaching Presentation
🧠 Join Consultant Spinal Surgeon Mr. Aziz Ahmad FRCS (T&O) as he breaks down Spinal Stenosis in this concise and engaging GP teaching session. Perfect for general practitioners, junior doctors, and medical students, this presentation covers:
✔️ Key clinical features
✔️ Imaging insights
✔️ Differential diagnoses
✔️ Management pathways (conservative & surgical)
✔️ Red flags and cauda equina considerations

📚 Evidence-based. 🔍 Easy to follow. 💡 Clinically relevant.
💬 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more expert-led spinal education content.

01/06/2025

01/06/2025

Understanding Spinal Stenosis with Consultant Spinal Surgeon Aziz Ahmad
Join Aziz Ahmad, a consultant spinal surgeon in Colchester and Ipswich, as he discusses spinal stenosis. This common condition often affects individuals in their fifties and sixties, causing symptoms like lower back pain, pins and needles, and numbness in the legs. Aziz Ahmad shares that most cases can be managed with exercise and physiotherapy, with surgical intervention only necessary for a small number of patients. If you're experiencing these symptoms, he encourages you to seek a clinical assessment to receive a tailored treatment plan.

31/05/2025

How to Avoid Surgery for Spinal Stenosis – What the Research Supports

Surgery isn’t the only option for managing spinal stenosis. In many cases, conservative treatment can provide lasting relief. Here’s what the evidence shows:

• Exercise Therapy
Targeted physiotherapy focused on lumbar flexion, core strengthening, and aerobic fitness has been shown to improve function and reduce symptoms.
Reference: Zaina et al., Cochrane Review, 2016

• Manual Therapy Combined with Supervised Exercise
Research supports this approach as an effective way to improve walking ability and reduce pain.
Reference: Whitman et al., Annals of Internal Medicine, 2006

• Epidural Steroid Injections (Selective Use)
These can offer short-term relief, especially in patients not yet ready or suitable for surgery.
Reference: Friedly et al., New England Journal of Medicine, 2014

• Lifestyle Modifications
Weight management and avoiding symptom-triggering positions—like standing for prolonged periods—can significantly improve mobility and comfort.

In long-term follow-ups, a large number of patients have reported sustained improvement without undergoing surgery.
Reference: SPORT trial, Spine, 2010

If you’ve been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, conservative management may be your first step. Speak to a spinal specialist to review the best treatment plan tailored to your condition.

For more information or to arrange a consultation, get in touch with our clinic.

25/05/2025

This is an opportunity to ask /understand about your spine

Struggling with back or neck pain?

You're not alone and expert advice is available. Join us for a complimentary information evening with Consultant Spinal Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mr Aziz Ahmad, from Oaks Hospital.

Mr Ahmad will share insights on common spinal issues and treatment options, followed by a Q&A session where you can ask your own questions in a relaxed and friendly setting.

💬 Get expert advice and hear directly from the specialist
❓ Ask your questions in a relaxed environment
🏥 Explore treatment options available at Oaks Hospital

Book your complimentary place today: https://www.ramsayhealth.co.uk/hospitals/oaks-hospital/events/understanding-your-back-pain

16/05/2025

🦴 Could your back pain be more than just strain?

Spinal Tuberculosis (also known as Pott’s disease) is a serious but often overlooked cause of chronic back pain. It’s caused by TB infection spreading to the spine—and early symptoms can be very subtle.

🔍 Symptoms may take many months to develop and can begin with mild back pain before progressing to:
• Numbness or tingling in the limbs
• Weakness or difficulty walking
• Unexplained fatigue or weight loss

If not identified early, it can lead to permanent spinal damage and neurological issues. That’s why maintaining a high index of suspicion is crucial—especially in at-risk individuals.

⚠️ Risk factors include:
• Recent travel to or residence in TB-endemic regions (e.g. the Indian subcontinent, Sub-Saharan Africa)
• Conditions causing immunosuppression
• Severe or unexplained weight loss

💬 Spinal TB is treatable, especially when diagnosed early. If you or someone you know has persistent back pain with any of these signs, don’t delay a proper evaluation.

📞 Book a consultation or learn more:
👉

Mr Aziz Ahmad provides comprehensive care for a range of spinal conditions, including degenerative conditions, spinal stenosis, radiculopathy, spinal trauma, myelopathy, sacro-iliac joint issues, and coccydynia. He specialises in microdiscectomy, spinal decompression, fusion surgeries, cervical disc...

10/05/2025

💥 Lower Back and Leg Pain? This Might Help.

If you’re experiencing persistent lower back pain that radiates down your leg, along with symptoms such as:
• 🔹 Pins and needles
• 🔹 Numbness
• 🔹 Burning sensations
• 🔹 Shooting pain

…you could be dealing with nerve irritation or compression in your lower spine.

🩺 A lumbar spinal steroid injection, like the one shown in this real-time image, can reduce inflammation and relieve your symptoms—often within days.

➡️ Safe
➡️ Image-guided for precision
➡️ Outpatient procedure with minimal recovery time

📍 Find out if this treatment is right for you:
🔗 https://www.azizahmadspinalsurgeon.com

Mr Aziz Ahmad FRCS (T&O)
Consultant Spinal Surgeon