Spinal Surgery in Berlin

Spinal surgery is any surgical procedure performed to correct possible structural abnormalities. Surgeons can move, fix, decompress, and, if necessary, replace vertebral structures through spinal surgery. This is only considered when conservative, non-surgical treatments have not worked and the pain remains persistent, preventing patients from living a normal life and reducing their quality of life. Some common conditions that may require spinal surgery are spinal deformation, compression of the spinal cord, herniated discs, and tumors of the spinal cord, cauda equine syndrome, vertebral fractures, and degenerative disc disease.

There are numerous types of spinal surgery. The type of surgery you will receive depends on your disease or injury, the location, the level of damage, as well as your own characteristics. Some of the most common types of spinal surgery are as follows:

• Spinal fusion – during spinal fusion, your surgeon will join spinal bones (vertebrae) together to prevent pain caused by their movement against each other.
• Discectomy – your surgeon removes part of or the entire disc that slips out of place presses on a spinal nerve, and cause back pain.
• Laminectomy – most commonly used for lumbar spinal stenosis, this surgery involves the removal of parts of the bone, ligaments, or bone spurs in the back to relieve pressure on spinal nerves and ease the pain.
• Disc replacement – your surgeon removes the damaged spinal disc and replaces it with an artificial one.
• Foraminotomy – bones at the sides of your vertebrae is cut away to widen the space where nerves exit the spine. Like laminectomy, this is done to relieve pressure on a compressed nerve and ease pain.
• Interlaminar implant –a U-shaped device is implanted between two vertebrae in your lower back to ease pressure on your spinal nerves by keeping the space between the vertebrae open. This is a minimally invasive alternative to laminectomy.

How Long Should I Stay in Berlin?

You may need to stay in Berlin for at least 10 to 14 days following your surgery to allow for your body to recover and attend follow-up checkups, if necessary. During the follow-up checkup, your overall condition will be monitored and the surgical stitches will be removed. 

What's the Expected Recovery Time?

Recovery depends on the specific disease/injury you have, the type of spinal surgery you underwent, and your overall health. If you are healthy and your job is not physically demanding, you may be allowed to go back to work within 4 to 6 weeks following surgery. However, it takes at least 3 to 4 months for the bones to heal, and healing can continue for at least a year. During this period, there might be some restrictions on your activity. Remember, the recovery period is just as important as the surgery.

What Aftercare is Required?

Following all the instructions and recommendations provided by your surgical team is important to avoid complications and speed up your recovery process. You may need physical therapy following your surgery, which is aimed to restore the strength of your spine and help you return to everyday activities gradually. In certain cases, you may also need regular checkups. You can choose to undergo physical therapy and/or regular checkup at home in your local hospital if you prefer.

What's the Success Rate?

The success rate of spinal surgery, in terms of pain relief, is around 70% to 90%, depending on the type of surgery and the condition treated. The success and safety rate of spinal surgery is higher than it used to be and will continue to increase, thanks to the continuous advancement of spinal surgery. For example, today, many types of spinal surgery can be done minimally invasively. This means that no long incisions are needed, leading to shorter operative and recovery times. Still, there are risks you need to be aware of, such as bleeding, infection, blood clots, and persistent pain.

Are there Alternatives?

Spinal surgery is only considered when other treatments have not worked. If you do not want surgery, make sure to discuss this with your doctor for the best possible alternative. When surgery is not needed, you may take a pain reliever or even try acupuncture to help relieve the pain. 

Spinal Surgery in and around Berlin

About Berlin

Berlin is the capital and the largest city of Germany and with over 3.7 million inhabitants; it is the second-most populous city of the European Union after London. It is an alpha city of culture, politics, media, and science. The metropolitan city is also a popular tourist destination, thanks to its rich history, vibrant culture, lively parties, delightful food, and incredible architecture.  

Today, Berlin is one of the most popular destinations for medical tourism. The number of medical tourists coming to the city increases each year. Most of them travel from Poland, the Netherlands, France, and the Middle East. Some of the more popular treatments are oncology, cardiology, dentistry, and even tummy tuck. Although the cost is considerably higher than the neighboring countries such as Hungary, medical tourists still come for high-quality treatment with cutting-edge technology. Thousands of medical tourists prefer Berlin for the following reason:

• A patient-focused health-care system with a wide range of treatment.
• Qualified doctors, surgeons, nurses, and other medical practitioners. 
• Hospitals equipped with modern technology.
• Higher quality treatments, care, and services.
• Attractive destination and environment, perfect for rejuvenating and recovery.

Popular Areas in Berlin

As a famous tourist destination, Berlin has numerous attractions to see and many things to do. Whether you want to indulge in its culture, eat its food, or have a non-stop party, there will always be something for you.

• Museum Island (Museumsinsel) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a unique group of five world-renowned museums and it is the perfect place for those who love history and culture. From Ancient Egyptians, Roman Antiquity, the civilizations of the ancient Greek, Christian, and Islamic arts, to 19th Century European Art is available to see in the museums. 
• Brandenburg Gate is Berlin’s most famous landmark. This 18th-century neoclassical monument used to symbolize divided Germany during the cold war since the Berlin Wall shut off access to the gate for both East and West Germans. Now, it has turned into a symbol of unity.
• Berlin Wall Memorial is located in the middle of the city where East and West were once divided. The memorial extends along 1.4 kilometers of the former border strip and contains the last piece of the Berlin Wall. The historical remnants and traces of borders are preserved on display so visitors can see and learn more about the history behind it. 
• Berlin Cathedral (Berliner Dom) is the biggest church building in Berlin. The architecture and interior will leave visitors in awe. The architect, Julius Raschdorff, used the style of the Italian High Renaissance and Baroque elements. The interior is magnificent with marble columns and golden ornaments in abundance.
• Glass Dome of the Reichstag is an architectural masterpiece constructed on top of the rebuilt Reichstag building. The rooftop terrace and dome offer an outstanding view of the parliamentary and government district as well as Berlin’s skyline. There is also a restaurant on the rooftop.

Weather and Climate in Berlin 

Just like the rest of Germany, Berlin enjoys four distinct seasons, making it a year-round destination for tourists. Spring starts around March and ends in May. This season is characterized by the arrival of cherry blossoms and the increase of the temperature. The temperature is around 4.3 °C in early March and will get as warm as 19.4 °C in May.

Summer runs from June to August with an average temperature of 24 °C but can get as high as 30 °C in the hottest days. This season is the peak of tourism because people can enjoy outdoor activities, so prices can be a lot higher than usual.

The months of September and November are Autumn. The weather in this season is similar to summer, which is warm and pleasant. However, the temperature can drop significantly in late November. Tourists usually visit the city during autumn for the Oktoberfest.

Winter in the city can be freezing, cloudy, and wet. The temperature can plummet to -10 °C on the coldest days. The city is generally very festive during this season, thanks to the Christmas spirit. 

Getting Around in Berlin

Berlin has two main airports: Berlin Tegel Airport and Berlin Schönefeld Airport. The main international airport is the Berlin Tegel Airport located in the northwest. The airport serves domestic flights to other cities in Germany and international flights to almost every major city around the globe. Berlin Schönefeld Airport is the secondary airport that mainly serves budget airlines such as EasyJet and Ryanair. It is also an international airport that operates domestic and international flights. To get to the city center from both airport, bus, train, taxi or car are available. 

To get around Berlin, there are various transportation modes to choose from. The main means of transport in the capital is the U-Bahn system, which comprises 9 metro lines and 173 stations. During peak hours, trains run every two to five minutes and every ten minutes in the evening and on Sundays. Along with the U-Bahn, the S-Bahn system is also one of the main means of transport. It has 15 lines serving 166 stations and has a longer average distance between station than the U-Bahn. 

Tourists can also ride the tram and the tram lines mostly operate in the eastern neighborhoods since the tram lines in the former West Berlin were replaced by bus and U-Bahn. The tram lines operate 24 hours a day in some areas. 

The bus in Berlin has around 151 lines running every 10 minutes for 24 hours. The buses also replace metro trains during closing hours. Taxis can be found easily enough around the city, with more than 7,000 taxicabs. The taxis can be identified by the beige or ivory color. The base fare is 3.90 EUR and tourists can hail the taxis from the street, by phone, or via an app. Other transportation such as Ferry, car sharing, and e-scooter is also available.

Tourist Visas in Berlin

The citizens of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, Poland, the United States, and Switzerland can enter and stay in Berlin for up to 90 days. Since Germany is a member of the European Union, citizens from other European Union countries do not need to obtain a visa to enter. Citizens of other countries need a Schengen Visa. It is advisable to always check the requirements for Germany Visa Application before applying.

Additional Information

1. Local Currency: The official currency is the euro (EUR). 1 USD is equivalent to 0.81 EUR.
2. Money & Payments: Tourists can find ATMs almost everywhere within the city. Although credit card acceptance is growing, remember that cash is king in the city. Therefore, it is best to always carry some cash. Note that it is considered rude to leave a tip on the table. You should tell the server the total amount you want to pay. For a good restaurant service, a 10% tip is acceptable. For taxis, tourists can tip 10%, rounding to a full euro.
3. Local Language: German is the official language. Most people in the city will speak English, in hotels, restaurants, and shops.
4. Local Culture and Religion: Over 60% of Berlin’s population has no religious affiliation, while 30% identified as Christian.
5. Public Holidays: As most of German, Berlin celebrates major Christian religious holidays such as Easter and Christmas.