Dr Marcus Mina Gurgius

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 offers a comprehensive range of pain management services tailored to individual patient needs, including:

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 PRF is thought to be stimulated 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. 

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

Clinical 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.