What illnesses can a neurosurgeon treat?

The brain, nerves, and spinal cord are all affected by various illnesses that neurologists treat. These illnesses include epilepsy, stroke, glioma tumor, headaches, migraines, vertigo, impaired consciousness, and memory disorders; epilepsy, back pain; brain tumors; brain aneurysms; cerebral hemorrhages; neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s; and infections of the nervous system like meningitis and encephalitis.

Reasons to consult a neurologist

Here are some reasons that should motivate you to schedule an appointment with a neurosurgeon immediately.

• You experience neuropathic pain.

The pain you experience when your nerves are harmed by a disease or accident is known as neuropathic pain. Such nerve damage could be brought on by diabetes. Pain from neuropathy is typically abrupt, shooting, or searing. If your spinal cord or brain is injured, you can experience neuropathic pain.

Common pain relievers won’t help with neuropathy discomfort or pain from a glioma tumor. To determine the best course of treatment, you should consult a neurosurgeon as soon as possible.

• You experience migraines a lot.

Over 37 million Americans experience headaches, according to the American Migraine Foundation. You should contact a neurosurgeon if you get frequent and severe migraines. Migraines can linger for hours or days and occur more frequently. Migraine symptoms include 

• A throbbing or pulsing headache that becomes worse with movement
• A headache that affects one or both sides of the head; 
• Light sensitivity; 
• Nausea; 
• Vomiting; 
• Sensitivity to sounds; 
• Sensitivity to scents.

Unfortunately, many migraine sufferers never receive the proper diagnosis or care. A neurosurgeon can assist you in determining what causes your migraines and how to prevent them. The most frequent causes are typically food and stress. The neurosurgeon can also recommend medication to treat migraines or prevent them from starting in the first place.

• You’ve had a spinal or brain injury.

Car accidents, sports, or falls can harm your brain or spinal cord. The extent of the injury and what was injured will determine the symptoms. Dizziness, headaches, seizures, and loss of consciousness are all brain injury symptoms. Your behavior, memory, and even thinking may alter as a result. On the other hand, weakness and numbness can result from spinal injury.

Additionally, you can lose movement below the injury. A neurosurgeon might be beneficial because they can organize your care and develop a treatment plan for your situation. Of course, this will also include prescribing drugs, counseling for mental illness, and physical therapy. 

• You have experienced a stroke.

You should schedule an appointment with a neurosurgeon immediately if you recently had a stroke. A stroke happens when the brain isn’t getting the blood it needs. A blocked blood artery or brain hemorrhage may be the cause. When the brain cells are deprived of blood, they begin to die.

As a stroke occurs, a neurosurgeon can identify it and provide treatment. Obtaining brain imaging is necessary for the diagnosis of a stroke. If a blocked blood vessel was the cause of the stroke, treatment may involve taking drugs to dissolve blood clots. A neurosurgeon will also collaborate with you on stroke rehabilitation. 

Numbness or weakness on one side of the body, generally on one side, weakness, loss of eyesight, clumsiness, or loss of balance are all signs of a stroke.

• You suffer from multiple sclerosis.

Multiple sclerosis [MS] is a chronic brain and spinal cord condition. Multiple sclerosis symptoms might include numbness, tingling, and weakness. Some symptoms may come and go, but they get better with time. The neurosurgeon will examine the findings of an examination and imaging tests of your spinal cord and brain to determine a diagnosis. Multiple sclerosis attacks can be managed or slowed down with certain drugs. A neurosurgeon can also collaborate with you to develop the best treatment strategy.

• You are a Parkinson’s disease patient.

This illness results in the death of brain cells that generate the neurotransmitter dopamine. This substance is necessary for healthy bodily functions. Elderly persons, or those over 60, are more likely than younger people to have Parkinson’s disease.

Parkinson’s disease can cause clumsiness, shaking, and stiff or slow movement, among other symptoms. It is important to note that no diagnostics are available for this particular condition. A neurosurgeon can, however, identify it following a careful examination. The neurosurgeon will then assist you in selecting the most appropriate medication.

• You experience convulsions.

You should schedule an appointment with a neurosurgeon every once in a while if you experience seizures but have not yet received a seizure disorder diagnosis, such as epilepsy. Even though many different types of epilepsy can occur in infancy and youth, adult-onset epilepsy can also occur. A seizure can also signify a different illness, such as a brain tumor or meningitis. Because of this, visiting a neurosurgeon is essential for determining the reason behind your seizures. The neurosurgeon will then look for your case’s ideal course of action.

• You experience increased dizziness.

Dizziness is the sensation that everything is spinning out of control. Or you can feel as though the world is whirling around you. Because it might prevent you from performing regular activities like going to work or caring for your family, dizziness can have a profoundly negative impact on your life.

While vertigo may subside with time, visiting a neurosurgeon to identify the underlying cause is crucial. Most causes of dizziness are not life-threatening, although they often exhibit symptoms similar to those of serious illnesses like stroke. 

• You have memory problems that are quite bad.

Memory loss and other serious cognitive issues are common as individuals age. But too much forgetfulness should raise the alarm. This is especially true if these problems interfere with your usual activities. Your brain may have changed, which is a possible cause. Typically, these alterations begin gradually and get worse over time. Dementia is a condition brought on by these alterations.

The neurosurgeon will assess whether dementia is the cause of your symptoms or if anything else is to blame. He or she will perform a thorough neurological examination. In addition to different memory and cognitive tests, you will undergo brain imaging. If you have dementia, your neurosurgeon may recommend medications to halt the condition’s progression or to lessen its symptoms, such as restlessness and anxiety.