Preparing for a Brain or Spine Surgery Consultation

Organise your medical records

Keep everything in one folder, arranged by date. A complete set saves time and helps the surgeon plan accurately.

• All MRI and CT films or CDs, including older scans for comparison
• Reports of imaging, blood tests, EEG or nerve studies
• Previous operation notes and discharge summaries
• Recent blood sugar, kidney function and blood count results, if available
• ECG or heart reports for those with heart conditions
• A written list of current medicines, doses and allergies

If your scans were done at different centres, collect the CDs from each one. Images taken months or years apart allow the surgeon to see whether a lesion or narrowing has changed, which can influence how urgently treatment is needed.

Prepare your questions

Write down what you most need to understand. Core questions include the goal of surgery, alternatives, the approach planned, expected hospital stay and the main risks. For brain conditions, also ask whether the whole lesion can be removed, whether further treatment such as radiotherapy may follow, whether seizure medicines will be needed, and when driving is allowed. A fuller list is in questions to ask before spine surgery, and many of those apply to brain surgery too.

Get your body ready: prehabilitation

Prehabilitation means improving your health before surgery so that recovery goes more smoothly. Useful steps include:

• Control blood sugar and blood pressure with your physician's help
• Stop smoking and tobacco, which slow wound and bone healing, especially after a spinal fusion
• Stay active within comfort, such as short daily walks and simple breathing exercises
• Eat well, with enough protein, fruits and vegetables
• Treat infections such as dental, skin or urinary infections before surgery

Do not stop blood thinners or other regular medicines on your own. Your surgeon and physician will tell you if and when to pause them.

Plan recovery at home

• Decide who will stay with you for the first days or weeks after discharge
• Arrange a bed on the ground floor if stairs are difficult
• Use a western toilet or a commode chair, and add grab rails if possible
• Clear loose rugs and wires to prevent falls
• Plan transport for follow-up visits, especially if travelling from Palwal, Ballabhgarh or further
• Ask whether physiotherapy will continue at home or as an outpatient

Recovery varies from person to person, so plan with some flexibility.

Practical and financial planning

Ask the hospital for an estimate of costs and what it includes. If you have health insurance, contact your insurer or TPA and the hospital's insurance desk early to understand pre-authorisation and documents needed. Keep your ID, insurance card and policy papers ready. If you need leave from work, ask for a medical certificate and an estimated period of rest, keeping in mind that timelines vary.

On the day of your consultation

Bring a family member to listen and take notes. For planned, non-urgent conditions, it is reasonable to take a few days to think, discuss with family or seek a second opinion. Some situations, such as rapidly worsening weakness or bleeding in the brain, need quicker decisions, and your surgeon will explain if that applies. For a first visit, see what to expect during a neurosurgery consultation. When you are ready, you can book a consultation with Dr. Naresh Panwar at Sarvodaya Hospital, Sector 8, Faridabad.

Frequently asked questions