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| Patient Education -- Conditions
/ Diagnoses / Surgeries |
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Brain
Tumor
Astrocytomas are a type of brain tumor that originate
from cells called astrocytes, which are part of the supporting
structure of the brain. Because astrocytomas arise from
the brain itself they are considered to be a type of primary
tumor. Tumors that arise elsewhere in the body and travel
to the brain are known as secondary tumors (or metastatic
tumors). Astrocytomas are the most common primary brain
tumor.
Carpal Tunnel
Numbness of the hand is a fairly common neurological symptom
that patients report to their physicians. While there
are many potential causes for numbness of the hands, one
of the most common is carpal tunnel syndrome. Carpal tunnel
syndrome is caused by compression of the median nerve
at the wrist. Since the median nerve supplies sensation
to the thumb, index, and middle finger, as well as strength
of the muscles of the thumb, patients will often note
numbness and weakness in these areas. Numbness may be
most significant during night when it can actually wake
a patient from sleep or during the day when carrying out
activities requiring bending of the wrist.
Cervical Pain
Pain or discomfort in the neck is a common reason for
patients to seek medical care. Most cases are not serious.
A muscle spasm, brought on by poor posture, sleeping position
or stress, is the most frequent causes of neck pain. But
an aching neck can be a symptom of a more serious problem.
Disc degeneration, narrowing of the spinal canal, arthritis
and even cancer can cause neck pain. For serious neck
problems a primary care physician and often a specialist,
such as a neurosurgeon, should be consulted.
Cervical Spine
You have probably been referred to see a neurosurgeon
because of pain in your neck or shoulder, or perhaps tingling
or numbness in your arms. You may also have experienced
some weakness when using your arms or hands. You may be
wondering if there is a chance that everything will return
to normal or whether the surgery that may have been talked
about is very risky. These questions and concerns can
be addressed by your neurosurgeon, who is a physician
trained in the surgical treatment of disorders of the
nervous system.
Chiari Malformation
Chiari malformation is an anomaly that encompasses four
separate development malformations. While these malformations
may present at any point in life, they have a very particular
set of associated symptoms. These malformations along
with syringomyelia, a distinct yet closely associated
condition, are described below.
Chronic Pain
Pain is an unpleasant sensory and emotional experience
associated with actual or potential tissue damage, or
described in terms of such damage. The emotional component
of pain is called suffering. Pain is familiar to everyone
and yet so complex and subjective it cannot be easily
described or treated.
Concussion
Anyone who watches football on TV has seen incidences
of concussion. The player "had his bell rung," the announcer
will say flippantly after a particularly violent collision.
For years this casual attitude toward concussions was
common. Coaches and teammates would urge the injured player
to "shake it off" and return to the game after a brief
rest.
Cranial Aneurysm
An aneurysm is an abnormal increase in the diameter (dilation)
of a blood vessel. These occur in all age groups but the
incidence increases steadily for patients over 25 years
old. The most devastating consequences of intracranial
aneurysms, which often lead to severe disability or death,
result from their rupture and bleeding into the space
around the brain. A major rupture is often preceded by
a "warning leak" which manifests itself as a new or uncharacteristic
headache. An aneurysm may also be detected prior to rupture
due to pressure on surrounding nerves. The outcome for
patients treated before a catastrophic hemorrhage is much
better than those treated after, so the need for adequate
evaluation of patients suspected of harboring an intracranial
aneurysm is of paramount importance.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a common neurological disorder caused by disturbances
in the normal electro/chemical functions of the brain.
In normal brain function, orderly electro/chemical information
is passed via nerve cells in the brain to other parts
of the body. In patients with epilepsy, this pattern is
interrupted by sudden and synchronized bursts of electrical
energy, which, if intense enough, may briefly affect a
person's consciousness, bodily movements or sensations.
These physical changes are called epileptic seizures.
Herniated Disk
A herniated disc is a fragment of the disc nucleus which
is pushed out of the outer disc margin, into the spinal
canal through a tear or "rupture." In the herniated disc's
new position, it presses on spinal nerves, producing pain
down the accompanying leg. This produces a sharp, severe
pain down the entire leg and into the foot. The spinal
canal has limited space which is inadequate for the spinal
nerve and the displaced herniated disc fragment.
Low Back Pain
If you are experiencing low back pain, you are not alone.
More than 65 million Americans suffer from low back pain
every year. Back aches are the most common reason for
doctor visits, after cold and flu symptoms. Fifty percent
of all patients who suffer from an episode of low back
pain will have another occurrence within one year.
Lumbar Spinal
Stenosis
Lumbar Spinal Stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal
which compresses the nerves traveling through the lumbar
spine into the legs. Although occasionally seen in younger
patients (between 30 and 40) from developmental causes,
it is usually a degenerative condition seen as part of
the normal body aging process that develops when patients
are 60 years or older.
Lumbar Sprain / Strain
Lumbar, low back sprain/strain occurs with a sudden stressful
injury to the low back region, causing stretching or tearing
of the muscle/tendons/ligaments of the low back region.
The muscles are large in this area and when a strain occurs,
severe low back pain is the result. However, a sprain
or strain my be misdiagnoses when an underlying disc injury
has not yet made itself evident.
Slipped Disc
What adult has not complained of an aching back at one
time or another? How many people have experienced the
sudden pain of "throwing one's back out?" In most instances,
back pain is simply the result of unusual exertion, fatigue
or a twist or sharp movement, but in some cases, there
has been an injury to the spine and medical attention
is required. One of the most common injuries to the spine
is a slipped, or herniated, disc.
Spinal Cord
What is the spinal cord? The spinal cord is part of the
nervous system and measures approximately 18 inches long,
extending from the base of the brain to about the waist.
The nerves that branch out from the spinal cord to the
other parts of the body are called lower motor neurons
(LMNs). These spinal nerves exit and enter at each vertebral
level and communicate with specific areas of the body.
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