Neurology – Frequently Asked Questions

Who is a Neurologist?
Neurologists are specialized in treatment of nervous system, brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles.

Who is a Neurosurgeon?
A neurosurgeon is also specialized in treatment of the nervous system, brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles but using surgical techniques along with non-surgical practices.

What are Neurological Disorders?
Neurological disorders are diseases of the brain, spine and nerves. There are more than 600 diseases of the nervous system, such as brain tumors, epilepsy, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and stroke.

What are the most common Neurological Disorders?

• Alzheimer ’s disease: Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Dementia is a general term for symptoms of mental decline that interfere with a person’s daily life. It is not a normal part of ageing. The symptoms can include problems with memory, communication & thinking. Symptoms of Alzheimer’s begin slowly and get worse over time.    

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease): ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease is aprogressive disease, which means it gets worse over time. It affects the motor neurons. These nerve cells send messages from the brain to the spinal cord and then to the muscles. As the muscles get weaker, it gets harder to walk, talk, eat, and even breathe.

• Brain and Spinal Cord Injuries: Brain injury can affect a person’s cognitive, physical, emotional or independent functioning. Traumatic brain injury refers to a change in brain function due to an event after birth. Traumatic brain injuries are specifically caused by accident, fall, or blunt force to the head. While, acquired brain injuries can be caused by a number of factors.

Spinal cord injuries are also most commonly caused by trauma, including car crashes or sporting accidents, fall and blunt force to the spine. A spinal cord injury can cause paralysis from the neck or chest down, resulting in restricted mobility and feeling.

• Brain Tumors: A brain tumor is a cluster of abnormal cells that grows out of control in the brain. Some brain tumors are ‘benign’, which means the cells aren’t cancerous. Others are ‘malignant’, meaning they are cancerous. Brain tumors are called primary tumors, if they started in the brain. They are called secondary if they started somewhere else in the body and are spread to the brain.

• Cerebrovascular Diseases: Cerebrovascular disease refers to a group of conditions, diseases, and disorders that affect the blood vessels and blood supply to the brain. Cerebrovascular disease can develop from a variety of causes, including atherosclerosis, where the arteries become narrow; thrombosis, or embolic arterial blood clot, which is a blood clot in an artery of the brain; or cerebral venous thrombosis, which is a blood clot in a vein of the brain. Cerebrovascular diseases include stroke, Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA), aneurysm, and vascular misinformation. 

• Epilepsy: Epilepsy is a chronic disorder that causes unprovoked, recurrent seizures. A seizure is a sudden rush of electrical activity in the brain. There are two main types of seizures: Generalized seizures – that affect the whole brain; and Focal or partial seizures – that affect just one part of the brain. A mild seizure may be difficult to recognize. It can last a few seconds during which the person lacks awareness. Stronger seizures, on the other hand, cause spasms and uncontrolled muscle twitches, and can last a few seconds to several minutes. There are several reasons why one might have a seizure, such as, high fever, head trauma, very low blood sugar, and alcohol withdrawal.

• Headaches and Migraines: A migraine is a strong headache that often comes with nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light. It can last for hours or even days. Migraines are different in everyone. Although no specific cause(s) of migraine headaches is known, yet they seem to be related to changes in brain and to genes. 
• Parkinson’s disease: Parkinson’s disease (PD) affects the nerve cells in the brain that produce dopamine.  Its symptoms include muscle rigidity, tremors, and changes in speech and gait. After diagnosis, treatment can help relieve symptoms, but there is no cure. 

• Multiple Sclerosis: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) affects the brain and spinal cord. Early MS symptoms include weakness, tingling, numbness, and blurred vision. Other signs are muscle stiffness, thinking problems, and urinary problems. Treatment can relieve MS symptoms and delay disease progression. 

• Neuromuscular Diseases: Neuromuscular Diseases (NMD) is a very broad term encompassing a range of conditions that impair the functioning of the muscles. NMD affect the nerves controlling voluntary muscles. The principal symptoms and signs of NMD may include: muscular weakness; rigidity; loss of muscular control; myoclonus (twitching, spasming, cramping); myalgia (muscle pain); swallowing difficulties; breathing difficulties; fatigue; changes in facial appearance; and visual disturbances.

• Peripheral Nerve Disorders: Peripheral Nerve Disorders refers to the conditions that result when nerves that carry messages to and from the brain and spinal cord to and from the rest of the body are damaged or diseased. The peripheral nerves make up an intricate network that connects the brain and spinal cord to the muscles, skin and internal organs. Damage of these nerves’ interrupts communication between the brain and other parts of the body and can impair muscle movement, prevent normal sensation in the arms and legs, and cause pain. 

• Sleep Disorders: Sleep disorders are a group of conditions that affect the ability to sleep well on a regular basis. Most people occasionally experience sleeping problems due to stress, hectic schedules, and other environmental influences. However, when these issues begin to occur on a regular basis and interfere with the daily life, they may indicate a sleeping disorder. Different types of sleep disorders include: insomnia (the inability to fall asleep or remain asleep); sleep apnea (pauses in breathing during sleep); parasomnias (abnormal movements and behaviors during sleep); restless leg syndrome (overwhelming need to move legs); and narcolepsy (‘sleep attacks’ that occur while awake).
• Stroke: Stroke is caused by a blocked blood vessel or bleeding in the brain. The signs of a stroke include a sudden severe headache, weakness, numbness, vision problems, confusion, trouble walking or talking, dizziness and slurred speech.
• Spinal disorders: Numerous conditions can affect the spine anywhere from the neck to the lower back. Some of the spine disorders include: back pain, chronic spine and neck pain, arthritis, degenerative disc disease, herniated disc, spinal stenosis, spondylosis, spinal tumors, spinal fracture, spinal cord injury, and others.

How are Neurological Disorders treated?
The range of treatment varies with different conditions. A neurologist will perform and interpret specific neurological examinations to discover the appropriate treatment options.

What are the Neurological Examinations?

Neurologist will review patient’s health history, paying special attention to the condition that they are currently experiencing. Then examinations that tests patient’s vision, strength, coordination, memory, reasoning and puzzle-solving abilities, reflexes and ability to feel physical objects, smell odors and hear sounds are conducted. The results of these tests help the neurologist to determine specific problem of the brain or nervous system.

Why is Vasundhara Hospital considered best hospital for neurology services in Rajasthan?

Vasundhara Hospital offers extensive, multidisciplinary care for a wide range of neurological conditions including the most complex cases. Our Department of Neurology is committed to integrating their exceptional medical expertise, technology and innovation to offer best in class treatments.