FAQs

‘Pins and needles’ (paraesthesia or limbs ‘falling asleep’) is a sensation of uncomfortable tingling, usually felt in the hands or feet. A common cause is awkward postures that compress the nerves. Tingling sensations can also be symptomatic of nerve damage or nervous system disorders. 

We aim to attend to urgent conditions in the most timely and efficient manner. We allow time for urgent appointments on a regular basis. Arrangements can be made for patients to be seen outside normal consulting hours if absolutely necessary. To assess the urgency of your problem we require clinical information (as detailed as possible) about your symptoms and radiological investigations performed.

Usually, your doctor’s referral and your CT/MRI scan reports are sufficient for an urgency assessment. You can fax or email this information to: fax 02 9747 6630 / email: info@sydneyspineinstitute.com.au

Alternatively, your GP can ring us directly on 02 9715 5007 (option 1) to request an urgent appointment.

If you’re unsure which specialist is most appropriate, the best place to start is with your GP. They know your medical history and can provide a referral to the specialist best suited to your symptoms.

If you have ongoing neck or back pain but are not sure whether surgery is required, an appointment with our Specialist Spine Physician may be appropriate. A Spine Physician is a medical specialist who focuses on the assessment, diagnosis and non-surgical management of spinal conditions, following evidence-based guidelines.

They can:

• assess your symptoms and imaging
• coordinate appropriate investigations where needed
• develop a non-surgical treatment plan
• refer you to other members of our multidisciplinary team, such as physiotherapy, exercise physiology or pain coaching, where appropriate
• identify when a surgical opinion is warranted and refer you to one of our spine surgeons if needed.

A referral from your GP or another medical practitioner is required. To help us provide the most appropriate assessment, we also recommend having any relevant spinal imaging (such as X-rays, CT scans or MRI scans) available before your appointment.

Telehealth is the provision of healthcare services via telecommunication technology, most commonly, video-conferencing technology. Telehealth aims to provide access to healthcare services for people who live in regional, rural and remote areas.

In most cases, yes.

• In most cases, an examination of radiology images and a discussion of symptoms with the patient are sufficient for the surgeon to provide a diagnosis
• The patient can avoid unnecessary travel expenses and inconvenience unless surgical treatment is really warranted
• 95% of the patients we see do not need an operation – surgery is always a last resort option
• In most cases, spinal problems are managed conservatively