Info Centre

Instead of a large open surgery, endoscopic spine surgery is a minimally invasive operation that treats a damaged disc through a small incision, using a thin camera called an endoscope, along with small instruments.  In modern medical science, endoscopic technology has advanced to the point where practitioners can now access, visualize, and treat many spine […]

If you are suffering from spinal arthritis or injury to the small facet joints in your lower back, you may be a candidate for facet joint replacement in Germany.  Over time, prolonged spinal damage can cause chronic back pain, stiffness, and nerve compression that doesn’t improve with physical therapy or injections. Germany is often noted […]

You have lived with back or neck pain for months, maybe years. A doctor said the word “fusion.” Now you have questions. What does spinal fusion surgery involve? Will the surgery work? What do you give up? Let our experts answer each question, so you know what to expect before you decide. People are also […]

Neck pain from a damaged disc can greatly affect your quality of life. Nerve pain can radiate down your arm, creating sharp shooting sensations, numbness, and hand weakness. Arm pain and numbness often make simple tasks like driving, working on a computer, or turning your head become difficult. In cases like this, cervical disc replacement […]

After ten years helping patients plan medical treatment abroad, I’ve seen the same motivations come up repeatedly: long waiting lists at home, high out-of-pocket costs, insufficient insurance, and limited access to newer techniques. That’s why many patients now look to Thailand. More than 4 million medical travellers visit each year, and for spine surgery the […]

[Last Updated: 17 September, 2026] Patients naturally ask: Has someone like me done this before? What was their experience and outcome? On this page, you will find a regularly updated collection of genuine patient stories from individuals who travelled to Germany for specialist spine surgery with Dr. Thomas Bierstedt, Dr. Bernd Illerhaus, and Dr. Guido […]

Nine years after disc replacement in Germany, New Zealand pilot Jeff is still flying, still active, and pain-free. Read his story and our catch-up nine years on.

[18 May, 2026] Will reached out to us in late 2023 regarding his Lumbar Spine. As a 34 year old young man living in Regional Victoria he had been living with L4-L5 and L5-S1 Disc Degeneration with herniations at both levels. His symptoms greatly affected his quality of life, where even sneezing could cause crippling […]

[27 February, 2025] Clay lives an active physical lifestyle with his family on his ranch. He consulted with local spine specialists and was advised to have a Lumbar spine fusion and change his lifestyle. He contacted Spine Connection in early 2022 and we guided him through the online assessment process. We coordinated the large and […]

24 February, 2022 – Last week we were pleasantly surprised with an email from Vince, sharing photos and videos of his time in Germany and recovery at home. Vince was more than 17 months post-op and wanted to share his story on our website. Vince is an early 40’s Texas gentleman from the USA, who […]