EXPERT
Erica Jacobson
Neurosurgeon
Dr. Erica Jacobson is a top Neurosurgeon in Randwick, . With a passion for the field and an unwavering commitment to their specialty, Dr. Erica Jacobson is an expert in changing the lives of their patients for the better. Through their designated cause and expertise in the field, Dr. Erica Jacobson is a prime example of a true leader in healthcare. As a leader and expert in their field, Dr. Erica Jacobson is passionate about enhancing patient quality of life. They embody the values of communication, safety, and trust when dealing directly with patients. In Randwick, New South Wales, Dr. Erica Jacobson is a true asset to their field and dedicated to the profession of medicine.
Erica Jacobson
- Randwick, New South Wales
- University of Sydney
- Accepting new patients
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Head surgery without shaving the head?
The answer is yes, it is possible to do surgery without a drastic shave. I hope you have managed to get this sorted!
Constant twitching?
You will need to see a neurologist and you will likely need an MRI. There are many and varied conditions that could cause this. Given it is in the family, it may be how you are READ MORE
You will need to see a neurologist and you will likely need an MRI. There are many and varied conditions that could cause this. Given it is in the family, it may be how you are wired, but it is still best to investigate.
Can I drive a car?
If you are in Australia, you can drive only after 6 months, IF you have not had any seizures or blackouts as a result of the injury and IF your eyesight is normal (i.e. if you READ MORE
If you are in Australia, you can drive only after 6 months, IF you have not had any seizures or blackouts as a result of the injury and IF your eyesight is normal (i.e. if you don't have any bits of your vision missing. It may seem odd, but you cannot tell this yourself - you MUST have an eye review to confirm this).
Brain bleeding?
There are many reasons to have a brain bleed. You sound good at the moment, yes? I don't know of any reason why Poland syndrome would be linked to it, but I will look up the literature READ MORE
There are many reasons to have a brain bleed. You sound good at the moment, yes? I don't know of any reason why Poland syndrome would be linked to it, but I will look up the literature to see if there is any link. You will need follow up though to see if you have any abnormal blood vessels. What types of imaging or xrays have you had so far? Have you had a cerebral angiogram? How are they following you up?
Is surgery necessary for herniated disk?
Only if it is causing relevant symptoms. It is common to have a herniation which causes no problem. The main reasons to operate are if the disc is causing weakness in relevant READ MORE
Only if it is causing relevant symptoms. It is common to have a herniation which causes no problem. The main reasons to operate are if the disc is causing weakness in relevant muscles or if you have terrible pain in the leg (sciatica) which is not improving with time. If you only have pain, I would try and push through for 6 weeks. If it is a bit better at that stage, keep going another 6 weeks. If it's not improving, then surgery is likely to be needed. The pain is miserable....so three months is a long time to put up with it, but if you can get through, try. Keep walking and moving though.
Do I need a neurosurgeon or an orthopedic surgeon for back problems?
Either, as long as they have good experience in spinal surgery. However, most back problems are managed best with conservative therapies: increasing activity, losing weight (hard READ MORE
Either, as long as they have good experience in spinal surgery. However, most back problems are managed best with conservative therapies: increasing activity, losing weight (hard as it is), physiotherapy for guidance. Your primary care doctor should be able to guide initial management. It is also important to have other causes of back pain excluded. Surgery should be the last resort, especially if you only have back pain and no leg pain.
What is a natural cure for chronic headaches?
It really depends on what has caused it, and often we don't know. However, a lot of headaches are related to neck issues, gentle neck exercises can help in this situation. For READ MORE
It really depends on what has caused it, and often we don't know. However, a lot of headaches are related to neck issues, gentle neck exercises can help in this situation. For others it can be related to stress, different foods, medications and so for. Your general practitioner should be able to guide to help, but it can be very difficult to "cure".
Can having epilepsy affect your memory?
Yes it can. It can also be tested with neuropsychology which assesses how well your brain works for various functions, like verbal memory or visuo-spatial memory. It depends a READ MORE
Yes it can. It can also be tested with neuropsychology which assesses how well your brain works for various functions, like verbal memory or visuo-spatial memory. It depends a lot on how young you were at diagnosis and how well the epilepsy has been controlled through childhood. Many people have epilepsy without any memory loss.
Do neurosurgeons do spinal surgery?
Yes, but not all. In Australia, it is mainly done by neurosurgeons, in New Zealand, by the orthopedic doctors. In the US, it is very mixed. Try to get advice from your primary READ MORE
Yes, but not all. In Australia, it is mainly done by neurosurgeons, in New Zealand, by the orthopedic doctors. In the US, it is very mixed. Try to get advice from your primary care doctor regarding your area.
Is it possible to lose your ability to talk after neurosurgery?
Yes, it can happen. Generally, the speech areas are avoided in surgery, but sometimes they cannot be, for example, if the person has had a bleed in that area or a tumor growing READ MORE
Yes, it can happen. Generally, the speech areas are avoided in surgery, but sometimes they cannot be, for example, if the person has had a bleed in that area or a tumor growing in that area. It can also happen if the speech areas are retracted to get to a deeper lesion, but the effects on speech are usually transient in such cases. Thankfully, it doesn't happen often. When patients undergo surgery in this area, they are usually warned of the risks.
What is the best treatment for epilepsy?
Yes, but your daughter should be assessed at a specialized epilepsy unit. They will look for a specific cause for the epilepsy. They may try the ketogenic diet - this works for READ MORE
Yes, but your daughter should be assessed at a specialized epilepsy unit. They will look for a specific cause for the epilepsy. They may try the ketogenic diet - this works for some children. If the seizures are generated from one area, surgery is possible. If not, there are a couple of operations that can be useful for certain types of epilepsy.
What is delayed myelination?
It takes two years for babies to myelinate their brain. Myelin is a special material that wraps around the tails (axons) of nerves and help make it quicker for impulses to travel. READ MORE
It takes two years for babies to myelinate their brain. Myelin is a special material that wraps around the tails (axons) of nerves and help make it quicker for impulses to travel. It may or may not mean anything at this point. However, it will be important to follow your daughter's development as poor myelination is seen in some children with developmental issues. Make sure your daughter is seeing a pediatrician to follow this up.
Does ulnar nerve surgery work?
If you have issues that fit with it, yes, it often does. However, it can be slow. If you are just suffering loss of sensation, but you are not weak in your hand, this should improve READ MORE
If you have issues that fit with it, yes, it often does. However, it can be slow. If you are just suffering loss of sensation, but you are not weak in your hand, this should improve quickly. Weakness caused by compression takes a long time to improve (6-12 months) and may not be complete.
Why has my father's speech become so slow after a brain surgery?
It will likely improve, but possibly not to his previous abilities. When a person has a bad accident like this, their brain is shaken badly: microscopic brain damage usually occurs. READ MORE
It will likely improve, but possibly not to his previous abilities. When a person has a bad accident like this, their brain is shaken badly: microscopic brain damage usually occurs. If this has been particularly bad, then recovery can be poor.
Do brain tumors always need to be surgically removed?
It depends on what type of tumour it is and what it is doing. If it is causing the symptoms, then probably yes. If it is small and has benign features (ones that suggest it is READ MORE
It depends on what type of tumour it is and what it is doing. If it is causing the symptoms, then probably yes. If it is small and has benign features (ones that suggest it is not a type of cancer) then it can be watched, though many go on to surgery later.
How big is a 3 cm brain aneurysm?
Big! 3 cm is over an inch. Anything over an inch is a giant aneurysm.
Are all brain tumors removable?
No - Even some benign tumours are in terrible locations and cannot be removed. If they are not operated on, tumours can be followed with regular imaging (MRI) but if they grow, READ MORE
No - Even some benign tumours are in terrible locations and cannot be removed. If they are not operated on, tumours can be followed with regular imaging (MRI) but if they grow, surgery would be recommended.
When is a person in coma declared dead?
I am so sorry for your situation. While you hear rare reports of people waking up after a long period of coma, it is very unusual. Brain death is usually diagnosed by assessing READ MORE
I am so sorry for your situation. While you hear rare reports of people waking up after a long period of coma, it is very unusual.
Brain death is usually diagnosed by assessing their brainstem reflexes when a person is clearly not "waking up" otherwise. It may be that your sister has some brain stem reflexes after all this time. Having some reflexes does not mean she will wake up necessarily. It may mean that without support she will breath for a while on her own. She may continue breathing on her own. It is a very hard decision for you.
Brain death is usually diagnosed by assessing their brainstem reflexes when a person is clearly not "waking up" otherwise. It may be that your sister has some brain stem reflexes after all this time. Having some reflexes does not mean she will wake up necessarily. It may mean that without support she will breath for a while on her own. She may continue breathing on her own. It is a very hard decision for you.
What's done for lytic lesions on my skull?
You need them biopsied to see what they are and whether you have lesions elsewhere. From there treatment can be organised
