Dr Tacson Fernandez

Dr Tacson Fernandez is a Consultant in Interventional Spinal Pain Management, Neuromodulation & Chronic Pain management at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, London. Dr Fernandez also maintains his academic role with University College London as an Honorary Associate Professor.

Dr Fernandez is on the committee of UK Neurotechnology Strategy steering group, Innovate UK and Knowledge Transfer Network, promoting advances in smart and novel technologies. The group aims to evolve a strategy for development of Neurotechnology, creating a shared vision for the UK to be a world leader.

Dr Fernandez established the Neuromodulation centre at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in 2013 and has been the Lead Clinician of the Neuromodulation centre. The centre offers complex chronic pain patients the option of Spinal Cord stimulators, Peripheral nerve stimulators and other neuromodulatory strategies in accordance with NICE guidelines. Dr Fernandez has also held the position as Lead Clinican for Acute Pain services, developing and supporting strategies for seamless integrated care, management in complex patient groups.

Dr Fernandez has been an invited speaker on management of Complex Chronic Pain and Cognitive approaches for pain management, has published in reputed journals and has authored textbook chapters. Dr Fernandez maintains an academic research, innovation, clinical trial and teaching interest at UCL, London and at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.

Positions Held:

• Lead Clinician for Neuromodulation, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital
• Honorary Associate Professor at University College London
• Steering Group Committee Member, UK Neurotechnology Strategy Group, Knowledge Transfer Network and Innovate UK
• Member of Neurotechnology Special Interest Group, Innovate UK.
• Lecturer on MSc course for Musculoskeletal biology, UCL
• Lecturer on MSc course in Pain, UCL
• Faculty Lecturer on Neuromodulation at RCOA, FFPMRCA exam course

Media Links:

https://www.healthawareness.co.uk/managing-pain/spinal-cord-stimulation-discover-colins-story/

https://ktn-uk.org/news/nerve-stimulator-helps-relieve-suffering-from-chronic-pain/

https://ktn-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Towards-a-UK-Neurotechnology-Strategy.pdf

https://www.rnoh.nhs.uk/services/neuromodulation

Dr Fernandez` main role is to manage patients with Chronic pain. His interests are in management of neuropathic pain states, persistent neuropathic pain, Complex regional pain syndrome, Sympathetically mediated pain, persistent Lower back pain, mechanical axial pain states (neck and back pain), coccydynia, phantom limb pain and peripheral nerve injury or plexus injury induced neuropathic pain.

Dr Fernandez has a wide range of pharmacological options to manage nociceptive, neuropathic and mixed nociceptive-neuropathic pain and is well versed in opioid management strategies. Dr Fernandez uses a multi dimensional, multi disciplinary approach for management of pain.

Dr Fernandez has been an invited speaker on management of Complex Chronic Pain, Neuromodulation, and Cognitive approaches for pain management both nationally and internationally and believes in active application of these techniques in his daily practice. Dr Fernandez lectures regularly on the MSc course for Musculoskeletal biology, UCL and the MSc in Pain at University College London. Dr Fernandez is also on the Faculty as Lecturer on Neuromodulation at Royal College of Ananesthetists, FFPMRCA exam course.

• Selective nerve blockade, neurodestructive procedures when indicated and Spinal cord stimulators(neuromodulation), including but not limited to
• Interlaminar epidurals in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar areas
• Transforaminal Epidurals in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar areas
• Selective dorsal root ganglion blocks in the cervical, thoracic, lumbar areas
• Pulsed radiofrequency procedures to a range of nerves including
  • the stellate ganglion
  • dorsal root ganglion
  • sympathetic plexuses
  - Genicular nerves (for knee pain)
  - Suprascapular and axillary nerves ( for shoulder pain)
• Peripheral Electric Nerve Stimulation techniques to areas of neuropathic pain including
  • scar site pain
  • post thoracotomy pain etc.,
• Radiofrequency denervation including cervical, thoracic and lumbar facet joint medial branch rhizotomy
• Sacro Iliac joint pain via selective blockade or radiofrequency denervation techniques
• Spinal cord stimulators for neuropathic leg pain and in persistent neuropathic pain states, complex regional pain syndrome, peripheral nerve injury induced neuropathic pain, brachial plexus avulsion induced neuropathic pain etc..,
• Peripheral nerve stimulators for peripheral nerve injury
  

• Spinal Cord Stimulators
• Dorsal Root Ganglion Stimulators
• Peripheral Nerve Stimulators
• Cervical Spinal Cord Stimulators for Brachial Plexus avulsion Injuries
• Sports Injuries and management
• Yoga and Cognitive based strategies
• Newer Technologies in Pain Management

Education:

1996 - MBBS

2006 - FCARCSI

2008 - Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice (FIPP) World Institute of Pain, USA

2008 - Fellowship in Pain Medicine, Chelsea & Westminster Hospital

2008 - FFPMCAI

2009 - CCT (Specialist Register)

FRCA, Royal College of Anaesthetists

2015 - RYT 500

Membership of Societies:

British Pain Society

World Institute of Pain

Medical Defence Union

British Medical Association

Royal College of Anaesthetists

Association of Anaesthetists

International Neuromodulation Society

International. Assoc. for Study of Pain

General Medical Council