LiveWell Healthcare Group - Pimlico, Queensland

Arthur

Dr. Ahuja was really professional and understanding of my situation. He didn't push any procedures for my lower back injury due to my relatively young age and gave me a few months for my body to try and heal itself before considering any sort of pain relief. After it was decided we'd go ahead with pain relief the process was really simple and the entire staff as well as Dr. Ahuja were very understanding and professional throughout the process. Would definitely recommend them.

m J.

I was referred to see Dr Ahuja by another specialist, however the Livewell staff decided to change it without my knowledge and tricked me into seeing Dr Akhilesh Tiwari, who obviously is not in demand in comparison to Dr Ahuja...

I have suffered a back injury in 2013 and since had numerous re-occurrences leading to chronic pain condition. In the last nine years I had to liaise with Townsville doctors, four of which have been either completely deregistered, suspended or restricted due to incompetency. Interestingly in each case, they were qualified overseas.

For those reasons, since 2021 I have been traveling to Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane to see specialists and undergo procedures. I have done over 20k worth of physio, I have an ongoing PhD qualified psychologist who provide consults over phone, and I have had numerous epidural injections, nerve blockers and steroids, to manage pain, done both locally and in Melbourne. I also have had alternative therapies like plasma injections etc. Last year, I saw a renowned orthopaedic surgeon at Epworth Hospital, I also consulted with a neurosurgeon in Sydney and saw another neurosurgeon at Monash Health, all of which advised me against surgery as I should have had that done in 2015, but that's when the Townsville practitioner decided to ghost me. I also have now seen two neurologists, one in QLD and one in Melbourne - all these specialists agree that my condition is now chronic and surgery wouldn't benefit me... except for Dr Tiwari, who was not interested in any of my reports from these specialists, I also had two specialised scans done in the last 2 years that I had to travel to get access to - a myelogram with contrast and multi-positional MRI in Sydney, but Dr Tiwari wasn't interested in reading any of those either, he was however interested in knowing whether I have siblings and how is my sex life...

Seeing that I possess a demonstrable negative experience with substandard practitioners in Townsville, Dr Tiwari thought it was a great idea to persist that I see a local neurosurgeon (because the three I have already seen elsewhere apparently aren't enough...), specifically that I see Dr Guazzo, which would be a complete waste of time and money, as Dr Guazzo has a reputation of being surgery conservative, especially when compared to practicioners in metro areas - but Dr Tiwari didn't seem to know that. In fact, Dr Tiwari didn't seem to know many things like for example the difference between CBD oil vs THC medical cannabis. Since November I have been on a heavy dose of CBD oil without any THC as I need to be able to drive, I have explained to him, in spite of it he decided to write letters to three of my local doctors stating that he explained that "medical cannabis" is not a long term solution to pain management. Luckily, the other practitioners are competent and unlike Dr Tiwari were willing to read my medical history that I always bring to my appointments, which is why they understand how I have been neglected by the substandard medical system in Townsville costing me a chronic condition.

It was obvious to me that Dr Tiwari holds chauvinistic attitudes to women patients, and was not interested in a two-way conversation, he wanted to control everything and to rob the patient of any say. I explained to him that I am seeing him for one purpose only, that is to give a go the one treatment I haven't tried yet - radio frequency, but he denied me this treatment stating that "he doesn't want me to put a complaint against him" which is actually a quite concerning attitude. I responded that actions should speak for themselves but Dr Tiwari wasn't interested in taking that risk with a patient who has some knowledge and chance at comparison, no, he is only interested in clueless patients who will be grateful for any subcut scraps thrown at them, even if that hurts them.
Sadly the pain management industry is not properly regulated and there is big money made on unsuspecting patients. Do your research and take control of your healthcare.

Angela M.

The only reason I have not given this place 1 star is the physio that did my initial appointment provided a very thorough and attentive consult, however this does not make up for the poor lack of communication I have experienced as a client here. It has been 6 weeks and I have received ONE call from this organisation, despite me calling them multiple times. I was supposed to get a Gym Program provided after the 29th of June, it is now the 16th of July and I have yet to receive anything, despite me calling them today and being told "it would be followed up".

Unless this experience can be turned around or improved, this has tainted my opinion of this organisation as a whole, and I definitely would NOT recommend this place to friends or family.

Kate H.

Never in my life have I felt so humiliated and degraded as with my experience with Dr Ahuja. He was arrogant, unfeeling, dismissive, and patronising. In my darkest hour he robbed me of dignity and value.

C S.

the team are fantastic and always happy to help.

Grimaldad

Karen F.