Clear, calm information for your care

Your first visit is a conversation. It is the point where Dr. Pencle listens to your history, understands what has been concerning you, and explains — clearly and without rushing — what the findings mean and what your options are. You do not need any specialist knowledge to make the most of it. You only need to arrive with the information that helps the team see the full picture.

Where possible, bring your referral letter, any previous scans or test reports (CT, MRI, X‑ray — the images and the written reports), a list of any medications you take, and a written list of the questions on your mind. It often helps to bring a family member or close friend with you — a second set of ears makes it easier to take everything in, and you are always welcome to have someone alongside you.

During the consultation, Dr. Pencle will review your history, carry out an examination, and talk through what is happening in plain language. If imaging or further tests are needed, the reasons will be explained. If a procedure is one of the options, you will hear what it involves, what the alternatives are, and what to expect — with time to ask anything. You will not be asked to make decisions on the spot. The aim of the first visit is clarity, so that whatever comes next, you understand it.

If imaging or other tests are part of your care, you may hear several different names — MRI, CT, X‑ray, sometimes others. Each one looks at the body in a different way, and each shows the team something specific.

MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) uses a strong magnetic field, not radiation, to produce very detailed pictures of soft tissue — the brain, the spinal cord, the discs and ligaments of the spine. It is the most informative test for many neurological conditions. The scan itself is painless; the main thing to know is that the machine is noisy and that you will be asked to lie still for thirty to sixty minutes. If small spaces make you uncomfortable, please mention it ahead of time — there are ways to make the experience more manageable.

CT (computed tomography) uses X‑rays to produce cross‑sectional images, and is especially useful for bone and for situations where speed matters. A CT scan takes only a few minutes.

X‑ray is the most familiar of the three and is often the first step when looking at the bones of the spine.

Other tests — nerve conduction studies, blood work, sometimes an EEG — may be requested when they will help clarify the picture. If your team orders any of these, you will be told why, what the test will show, and what to expect when you arrive at the imaging centre. Bringing prior imaging from another facility is welcome and helpful — please bring the discs or the digital files, and the written reports if you have them.

You may have heard the phrase minimally invasive in the context of surgery and wondered what it really means. In neurosurgery, it refers to a set of techniques designed to do the work with less disruption to the surrounding tissue — smaller incisions, specialised instruments, and sometimes imaging guidance during the procedure itself. Where these approaches are clinically appropriate, the aim is to support a smoother recovery and a shorter hospital stay.

It is important to know that minimally invasive is not always the right choice. Some conditions are better treated by a more traditional approach because of the anatomy involved, the nature of the condition, or the expected outcome. The decision is made based on what the situation calls for — not on the technique for its own sake.

If your case is one in which a minimally invasive approach is suitable, Dr. Pencle will explain exactly what it involves, how it differs from a traditional procedure for the same condition, and what to expect. Where it is not the right approach, that will also be explained — clearly, and with the alternatives laid out beside it.