Conditions We Treat – Neurological Conditions

Pinched Nerve

What is a Pinched Nerve?

Pinched nerves can occur when there is an excess pressure applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues. It can occur in many areas of the body. Pinched nerves are more likely to happen when a person is going through pregnancy or the body has to bear extra weight and water retention.

 

Pinched nerves can occur throughout the body, but it most commonly affects the carpal tunnel and ulnar nerve in the elbow. It also frequently occurs after a perineal nerve injury, patients with sciatica, and in the cervical spine.

 

What does a Pinched Nerve feel like?

  • Symptoms of Pinched Nerves include:

    • Numbness or decreased sensation in the nerves affected area
    • Pain: Sharp, aching or burning 
    • Weakness in muscles

How can a Pinched Nerve be managed?

  • Treatments for Pinched Nerves:

    • In very early stages, anti-inflammatory medication can be taken when the pain is unbearable
    • Splinting or bracing, in rare cases when very acute inflammation is present
    • Joint mobilisation and manual therapy
    • Massage therapy
    • Injections
    • Exercise therapy

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

What is Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy?

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) can occur when a nerve is damaged from diabetes and low blood sugar. This condition can cause loss of sensation, numbness, or pain in hands, legs and feet.

 

Causes of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy:

  • Diabetes, The high blood sugars damage the nerves in both the extremities and other parts of the bodies, which may lead to other parts of the body being numb or have loss of mobility. 

What does Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy feel like?

Symptoms of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy include:

  • Tingling
  • Numbness
  • Prickling
  • Burning
  • Pins and needles
  • Coldness
  • Buzzing
  • Deep stabs
  • Pinching
  • Sharp

How can Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy be managed?

Treatments for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy:

  • Medicines such as Lyrica
  • Biofeedback
  • Acupuncture & dry needling
  • Massage therapy
  • TENS

 

Stroke

What is a Stroke?

A stroke is caused by the shortage of blood being supplied to the brain. The shortage can be caused by blockages or a blood vessel rupturing, which damages the brain tissue and causes brain cells to die. A stroke is a medical emergency and treatment should be seeked as soon as possible.

 

The 3 categories of strokes:

  • Hemorrhagic strokes
  • Ischemic strokes
  • Transient ischemic attacks (TIA)

 

Causes of a Stroke?

  • A stroke is caused by the shortage of blood being supplied to the brain. The shortage of blood can be caused by blockages or a blood vessel rupturing, which damages the brain tissue and causes brain cells to die.

 

What does a Stroke feel like?

Symptoms of a Stroke include:

  • Difficulty understanding and speaking
  • Headaches accompanied by vomiting or altered consciousness
  • Numbness in an arm, leg, or face on one side of the body
  • Problems with vision
  • Difficulty walking
  • Lack of coordination
  • Dizziness

 

How can a Stroke be managed?

Treatments for a Stroke:

  • Emergency medical care
  • Surgical clipping
  • Physical rehabilitation
  • Speech therapy
  • Occupational therapy

MS (Multiple Sclerosis)

What is Multiple Sclerosis?

MS is a disease from the central nervous system encompassing the brain and spinal cord. MS causes the nerves to become permanently damaged or deteriorate themselves.

 

Causes of Multiple Sclerosis:

  • The protective covering on the nerve fibres becomes damaged, which affects the speed of messages travelling across nerves. This results in errors in communication between the brain and muscles and organs. MS causes nerves to become permanently damaged or deteriorate themselves. 

What does Multiple Sclerosis feel like?

Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis include:

  • Weakness or numbness in one or all limbs, it can occur in one side of the body at a time.
  • Complete or partial loss of vision
  • Pain during eye movement
  • Double vision
  • Pain and tingling in parts of the body
  • Electric shock sensations with neck movements
  • Slurred speech 
  • Lack of coordination and balance 
  • Fatigue 
  • Dizziness
  • Inability to walk
  • Issues with respiratory and cardiac systems (very severe cases)

 

How can Multiple Sclerosis be managed?

Treatments of Multiple Sclerosis:

  • Medication is the most important part of treatment for MS
  • Physical therapy
  • Speech therapy
  • Occupational therapy
  • Muscle relaxation
  • Medicines to reduce fatigue

Parkinson’s Disease

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s Disease affects movement and is a disease of the central nervous system. It commonly affects older patients and may develop to worsen over time, commonly beginning with hand tremors. 

 

Causes of Parkinson’s disease:

  • Parkinson’s Disease is caused by a loss of nerve cells in the part of the brain called the Substantia Nigra. The nerve cells in this part of the brain are responsible for producing dopamine, which affects efficiency of various body part movements. 

What does Parkinson’s Disease feel like?

Symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease include:

  • Tremors
  • Slowed movement (bradykinesia)
  • Rigid muscles
  • Impaired balance and stooped posture
  • Speech changes
  • Loss of automatic movements
  • Loss of facial expressions 

How can Parkinson’s Disease be managed?

Treatments for Parkinson’s Disease:

  • Medicines including dopamine agonists and levodopa
  • Home treatments such as regular exercise and a healthy diet
  • Surgery such as deep brain stimulation in case medicines do not work
  • Speech therapy
  • Physical therapy
  • Occupational therapy

Chronic pain

What is Chronic pain?

    Chronic pain is pain related to an accident or operation that does not get better with regular treatment. It can also be defined as pain that has persisted for longer than 6 months. Chronic pain can have multiple causes. The most common instances for chronic pain are from accidents, injury or from operation. 

What does Chronic pain feel like?

Symptoms of Chronic pain include:

  • Joint pain
  • Muscle aches
  • Burning pain
  • Fatigue
  • Sleep problems
  • Loss of stamina and flexibility
  • Mood problems

 

How can Chronic pain be managed?

Treatments for Chronic pain:

  • Chronic neck and back pain disorders
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Post-surgical neuralgias and somatic pains
  • Neuropathic pain disorders
  • Headaches
  • Chronic pain syndromes resulting from arthritis & Rheumatology conditions
  • Chronic pain syndromes resulting from motor vehicle accidents and workplace injuries