Blog
The idea of an operation can be frightening
Many people are filled with anxiety at the thought of having an operation. If that operation involves their spine or brain, the stakes are that much higher. As a result, seeking the opinion of a neurosurgeon is often avoided, because of the fear that this will lead...
Is it Nerve Pain?
Conditions that affect your neck or lower back, or trauma to these areas, can result in a pinched nerve. This can then result in nerve pain. Nerve pain is known as “neuropathic pain” in medical literature. Not everyone with a back or neck problem will suffer from...
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
This is a common ailment that seems to affect women more than men. It can be quite troublesome, as one of the most characteristic symptoms, is that it tends to wake the sufferer up at night with painful tingling and numbness in the hands. This disturbed sleep makes...
Healing in isolation
The most important lessons I have learnt in my medical career have been from patients. The last few weeks, while adapting to the COVID-19 environment, have been no exception and for me quite surreal. This pandemic is clearly an unprecedented danger that we are facing...
Chiari Malformation
This abnormality was first described in the late 1890’s. The most common type of Chiari Malformation to affect adults is Type I. Surgery was first performed for this condition in 1938. (Holly, 2019) With increasing ease of access to imaging Chiari malformations are...
What is the difference between a neurosurgeon and a neurologist?
A neurosurgeon is a specialist surgeon who manages conditions of the nervous system. The nervous system includes the brain, spinal cord and nerves in the arms and legs. The latter are referred to as peripheral nerves. A neurologist is a specialist physician who also...
Back pain affects the whole family
Back pain is an extremely common problem. The Australian Institute for Health and Welfare report that 70 to 90% of people will have some back pain at some point in their lives. In any one given year this equates to 1 in 6 Australians being affected by significant back...
Dr Google
Should you google your diagnosis before seeing a specialist? This depends on the level of certainty about your diagnosis before your visit. If you look up a disease or condition that you do not actually have this can be confusing and distressing. However, if your...
What to expect when seeing a neurosurgeon
Your GP or physiotherapist may recommend that you see a neurosurgeon for a specialist opinion regarding your condition. I understand that this is not a commonplace everyday event and may be something that you find quite stressful or unsettling. I have written this to...