A 30-minute appointment where I hear your story in detail: your symptoms, how long you’ve had them, and how they’re affecting your life. I review your scans carefully, aiming to arrive at a clear diagnosis and, where possible, a treatment plan. Occasionally, further tests are required to confirm the exact cause of the problem.
Remember, you need a referral from your GP to receive a Medicare rebate when you visit me.
Some doctors may not know neurosurgeons treat spinal conditions like sciatica, so it’s worth asking for a referral.
When they do refer you , they’ll give me your Medicare number for Medicare rebates, and any CT or MRI scans you’ve had will also be available to me online.
If you’ve already seen a specialist but you still have unanswered questions, doubts, or concerns, I’m happy to review your case.
Sometimes people feel guilty asking for a second opinion. But I can assure you, we don’t take offence!
If you’ve got a printed copy of your original referral, you can send it through to my team. If you don’t, you’ll need to contact the GP who made the original referral and have them change the specialist details to mine.
If you’re experiencing significant distress and/or facing long waits to see your GP, please reach out.
My team and I can get the ball rolling with immediate, actionable advice. We can also help arrange an online referral via telehealth.
Every patient is unique. Your treatment plan will be too. Whatever your situation, I’ll clearly explain the risks, benefits, and options available to you.
If surgery is required, all arrangements are made for you. You’ll receive clear information about the hospital stay, recovery expectations, and fees.
For serious conditions like cervical myelopathy or certain brain tumours, surgery is often the best option.
For sciatica and nerve pain, there are both surgical and non-surgical options. Often, surgery can provide more significant, long-lasting improvements to your quality of life.
Every patient is unique, so your treatment plan will be too. Whatever your situation, I’ll always clearly explain the risks, benefits, and options available to you.
If the cause of your symptoms can be better managed through non-surgical interventions like physiotherapy, steroid injections, or other lifestyle changes, I’ll let you know.
These treatments can work well in combination with surgery or provide an alternative if you don’t feel ready for surgery just yet.
For cancerous tumours of the brain and spine, surgery is used in combination with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and/or immunotherapy.
I see my patients daily during their hospital stay, followed by a review two weeks after surgery. Further follow-up is arranged as needed, depending on your specific recovery.
I’ll also provide a rehabilitation plan to help you regain mobility and strength – starting early is key for a full recovery.
When you walk out of my practice, I want you to feel realistic and confident.
