Tasmanian Pain Clinic

Dr Gurgius offers a comprehensive range of pain management services -tailored to individual patient needs- and these include:

Holistic Pain Assessment:

Dr Gurgius performs comprehensive assessments that consider physical, psychological and social contributors to pain. Dr Gurgius recognises the close relationship between physical pain, psychological wellbeing, and medication use. 

Pulsed Radiofrequency Denervation:

The possible therapeutic effect of PRFD is thought to be stimulation by the intermittent electric field with postulated effects on enhanced inhibition pathways, such as the opioid and descending noradrenaline and serotonin systems within the spinal cord. Lower electrical field strengths are thought to stimulate conditioning in target nerves with long-term depression of synaptic transmission in pain C-fibres.

Photobiomodulation (previously called low-level laser therapy):

Is the application of non-thermal laser in the red and near-infrared light wave lengths (600 to 1,000 nm) to tissue in order to produce biological effects.  Acute Pain Management: Scientific Evidence (5th Edition 2020) – A publication by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Faculty of Pain Medicine states that photobiomodulation has multiple potential mechanisms of

action including the displacement of inhibitory nitric oxide from cytochrome c oxidase increasing mitochondrial ATP production as well as interaction with light-sensitive ion channels, ultimately resulting in reversible inhibition of peripheral nerve conduction and reduced levels of prostaglandin E2 and inflammatory mediators. 

Acupuncture:

The term acupuncture is often interpreted broadly to incorporate all forms of acupoint stimulation including needle acupuncture,  electroacupuncture (where a small electric current is passed between pairs of acupuncture needles), laser (laser acupuncture) and pressure (acupressure).

Dr Gurgius provides laser acupuncture only. 

Acute Pain Management: Scientific Evidence (5th Edition 2020), a publication by the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Faculty of Pain Medicine states that acupuncture may be effective in managing primary dysmenorrhoea and reducing the frequency of tension-type headaches and migraines, with migraine prophylaxis potentially being better tolerated than pharmacological options. 

Evidence also suggests acupuncture may relieve acute pain in emergency settings,including back pain. Additionally, it may reduce postoperative pain and opioid use following several surgical procedures and may help alleviate post-stroke pain.

NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence in the UK) 2021 Chronic Pain Guidelines recommend acupuncture for fibromyalgia, chronic primary musculoskeletal pain, chronic primary headache and chronic primary visceral pain management. 

NICE defines chronic primary pain as pain without clear underlying condition or seems to be out of proportion to any observable injury or disease. 

Independent Medicolegal Pain Assessments:

Dr Gurgius is an accredited Independent Medical Examiner, providing thorough medicolegal-compliant pain assessments when requested.

Medical Expertise in Mental Health and Addiction Medicine:

Dr Gurgius is one of the few pain specialists nationwide with substantial work experience in addiction medicine. Dr Gurgius is also an accredited Focused Psychological Strategies Provider. This assists him to address mental health, medication dependence and psychosocial factors that may influence pain.

MBChB, AMC, Dip PBM, CertIME, CertPI, FRACGP, FARGP, FACRRM, FABRM, FFPMANZCA, AFRACMA

Dr Gurgius is a highly qualified Pain Medicine Specialist based in Hobart. He previously worked in private pain management practice in Hobart from 2021 to 2023 before relocating to Queensland. Dr Gurgius continues to hold the medical records of his former patients. Dr Gurgius and his family have now permanently returned to Tasmania.

Dr Gurgius treats patients of all ages. Dr Gurgius’ goal is to help his pain patients improve function, safety and overall quality of life. A referral letter is required to see Dr Gurgius. 

Dr Gurgius holds the following medical qualifications:

· Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery

 (Alexandria University/ Egypt)

· Australian Medical Council Certificate (AMC)

· Fellowship (Speciality Degree) of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (FRACGP) 

· Fellowship in Advanced Rural General Practice (RACGP)  

· Fellowship of Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine (FACRRM)  

· Fellowship of the Faculty of Pain Medicine/Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (FFPMANZCA)

·  Fellowship of the American Board of Regenerative Medicine (USA)   

· University Diploma in Photobiomodulation for the Management of Pain, Healing and Related Pathologies (University of Montpellier/ France)

· Nationally Accredited Medical Laser & IPL Safety Certificate (Australian Institute of Laser Therapy)

· Accredited Provider of Focused Psychological Strategies (Medicare)

· Trans-Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Competency Course (accredited by the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and provided by TMS Tasmania)

· Associate Fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (AFRACMA) 

· Independent Medical Evaluator Certification (Australasian College of Independent Medical Evaluators)

· Permanent Impairment Evaluator Certification (Independent Medical Evaluators College Australasia)

· Advanced Addiction Medicine Trainee. Dr Gurgius is currently completing his fellowship in Addiction Medicine

· Medical Examiner (Faculty of Pain Medicine/ANZCA, Australian Medical Council)

· Senior Clinical Lecturer (School of Medicine /University of Tasmania)

· Co-author of the 2022 Tasmanian Guidelines for Opioids Deprescribing.