Instagram: A Day in the Life of a Neurosurgeon
A behind-the-scenes look at neurosurgery through Dr Nor Faizal's Instagram — the precision, the teamwork, and the human moments.
· Updated 10 April 2025
Behind the Scrubs — Neurosurgery Up Close
Many patients wonder what happens between booking an appointment and going home after surgery. This Instagram post offers a glimpse into the day-to-day rhythm of a neurosurgical practice.
What you see in the post
From pre-operative planning to post-operative care, neurosurgery is a discipline built on meticulous preparation and teamwork. A few things the post illustrates:
Pre-operative planning
Every case starts long before the patient enters the theatre. Reviewing MRI and CT scans, mapping tumour boundaries, and planning the surgical corridor takes hours — sometimes days.
The operating theatre team
A neurosurgical procedure involves a neurosurgeon, anaesthesiologist, scrub nurse, circulating nurse, and often a neurophysiology monitoring team. The coordination is precise.
Intraoperative monitoring
For tumours near eloquent brain areas (speech, movement, vision), Dr Nor Faizal uses intraoperative neurophysiology monitoring to protect these critical functions during surgery.
Recovery and rehabilitation
Surgery is one chapter. Recovery — physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy — is the next. The goal is always function, not just tumour removal.
Follow the journey on Instagram
Dr Nor Faizal shares regular updates on neurosurgery, pain management, and patient stories.