Welcome to thebackdoor.org.uk.
Try typing ‘back pain’ in to Google. In 0.28 seconds you have just shy of 55 million hits so what’s the problem, the answer has to be there somewhere, doesn’t it? The chances are it is, but how do you find it, and how do you know the information you are digesting is sound and not misleading? Well, with the lack of health-related website ‘policing’ [i], you probably won’t, and this is an increasingly common problem we have found with many of our clients in recent times and has ultimately led to this site’s construction.
Mr Nick Birch is a Spinal Surgeon and runs his own independant private practice in Kettering, Northamptonshire. He is a great advocate of education both to his patients and fellow professionals and thebackdoor facility is seen as the best way to reach all those who want to learn. For more details on Nick himself or the practice follow the main header links above.
A recent poll [ii] reported that 70% of all patients would like their physician to recommend web sites or links providing relevant education on their problems however just 4% ever recieve such a thing. Our aim is to provide you with up-to-date, relevant information covering a multitude of common spinal conditions and related procedures. We have embedded a significant number of supporting links throughout the entire site, all which have been pre-vetted and are considered to offer excellent alternative explanations and media or other facilities we feel may benefit you. This also enables you to learn a little or a lot, but at your own pace.
If you simply want a portal to surf spine related websites from with a little guidance, we have a dual option search facility. Over 70 sites (and growing) have been ‘graded’ and their contents categorised enabling you to search by rank order (in our opinion) or by content. This should help to keep you on the straight and narrow although at this stage there are still many more sites to vet and add.
For Nick’s patients there are pdf versions of the operative booklets should you need to download another copy. Although these are available to anyone, most surgeons have their own protocols and these should be strictly adhered to.
We will be launching the contents of the site gradually over the next month or two so if the information you require is not yet here, please try again soon. This is designed to be an expanding learning facility so if you wish to comment on, or suggest future additions to the site then contact us at: contact@thebackdoor.org.uk.
This website has been designed to fit all screen sizes including laptops and may therefore appear samller than normal on some desktop systems. If this is the case then you can enlarge the site by holding down ‘ Ctrl and + ‘ together once. To return to your normal browser setting simple press ‘ Ctrl and - ‘ together once.
[i] Ullrich P. Vaccaro A. Patient Education on the Internet: Opportunities and Pitfalls. Spine 2002; 27(7): E185-E188
[ii] Cyberdialogue (2000)or discectomy.
