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Dr. Pappas’ treatment of a
wide range of neurological problems spans two
decades in the Brunswick area. His expert care
provides solutions for seizure disorders, stroke,
Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis,
neuropathy, Alzheimer’s disease, Bell’s
palsy, trigeminal neuralgia and more. Call us
today for more information about the neurological
conditions Dr. Pappas treats.
Following is information about just
some of the conditions we can treat.
Headaches
Headaches affect approximately 26 million Americans.
Dr. Pappas specializes in the diagnosis and treatment
of all headaches, including migraine, tension,
cluster, and injury-related.
We offer many treatments for the
resolution headaches and can develop a treatment
plan to decrease the frequency and severity of
your headaches. Dr. Pappas and our caring staff
want to help you find real answers about the cause
of your headaches and to develop a treatment plan
that addresses your specific needs.
Seizure
Disorders
Seizures present with a wide variety of symptoms,
depending on what part of the brain is affected.
Some seizures can loss of consciousness with twitching
and shaking, while other seizures cause only “staring”
spells. These “absence” seizures are
sometimes difficult to notice. Some seizures can
cause temporary abnormal sensations or visual
disturbances.
There are several different classifications
of seizures. With simple seizures, there is no
change in level of consciousness. With complex
seizures, there is a change in the level of consciousness.
Generalized seizures affect the whole body, while
focal seizures affect just one part or side of
the body.
Not all seizures are epileptic.
Epilepsy is a chronic disorder with recurrent
seizures. Other conditions that can initiate a
seizure include high temperature (especially in
children), low blood sugar, dehydration, infection,
stroke, and brain tumors.
Stroke
If you or someone in your care has suffered a
stroke, you should know that it is a medical emergency
and you should seek immediate care at a hospital
emergency room, with follow-up treatment with
a neurologist.
A stroke is an interruption of the
blood supply to any part of the brain. There are
many different kinds of stroke and medical care
is very important. Visit a neurologist like Dr.
Pappas with the experience and training to look
for specific neurologic, motor, and sensory deficits
and order specific tests to help confirm the type
of stroke and to make determinations for further
treatment.
Parkinson’s
Disease
Parkinson's disease is a disorder of the brain
characterized by shaking (tremor) and difficulty
with walking, movement, and coordination. The
disease is associated with damage to a part of
the brain that is involved with movement.
Only your physician can assess and
recommend treatment for this condition. While
there is no known cure for Parkinson’s,
Dr. Pappas can tailor a treatment program to the
individual patient to control the symptoms.
Neck
and Back Pain
Your spinal cord runs from the neck down through
the lumbar spine, conducting messages from nerves
throughout the body to the brain. There are many
causes of neck and back pain, including trauma
or injury and tumors.The spinal column is divided
into segments: the cervical spine (neck), the
thoracic spine (the mid back) and the lumbar spine
(low back). The vertebra of the spinal column
are separated by disks that consist of a gelatinous
substance \designed to provide cushioning to the
spinal column. These disks may move out of their
place or “rupture”.
Nerve roots (large nerves that branch
out from the spinal cord) may become compressed,
resulting in neurological symptom, such as sensory
or motor changes. Disk herniations or strain/sprain
to the spine result in pain that can range from
mild to debilitating. Dr. Pappas may order an
MRI scan of the portion of the back that is affected.
EMG/NCS may also be ordered to assess for nerve
damage. Dr. Pappas may design a treatment program
consisting of medications, physical therapy, and
possibly injections to help relieve these conditions.
Multiple
Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease
that affects the brain and spinal cord, or the
central nervous system. MS is a progressive disease
believed to result from damage to the protective
material that surrounds nerve cells. Inflammation
destroys the protective sheath and leaves multiple
areas of scar tissue. The inflammation causes
nerve impulses to slow down or become blocked,
and this causes the symptoms of MS. There can
be repeated episodes of inflammation along any
area of the brain and spinal cord. Episodes can
last days, weeks, or months and will alternate
with times of reduced or no symptoms. There is
no known cure for MS at this point; however, Dr.
Pappas can prescribe a variety of medications
with the goal of slowing down the symptoms and
maintaining a good quality of life.
Neuropathy
and Nerve Damage
Peripheral neuropathy is a failure of the nerves
that carry information to and from the brain and
spinal cord. This produces pain, loss of sensation,
and inability to control muscles. Neuropathy cannot
always be determined by a specific cause. Risk
factors include diabetes, alcohol use, and hereditary
factors. The goal of treatment is to identify
and treat the underlying cause and to improve
the patient’s daily function. A combination
of physical and occupational therapy along with
medications may help relieve some of the symptoms
of neuropathy.
Carpal
Tunnel Syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median
nerve at the wrist, which may result in numbness,
tingling, weakness, or muscle atrophy in the hand
and fingers. The patient may also complain of
waking up and having to “shake the hand
out” to relieve some of the symptoms of
tingling and numbness. Dr. Pappas can check for
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome with EMG/NCS done in our
office. There are a variety of treatments, including
medication, injections into the carpal tunnel,
wrist splints, and for severe cases, a surgical
procedure called carpal tunnel release.
Alzheimer’s
Disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD), one form of dementia,
is a progressive, degenerative brain disease.
It affects memory, thinking, and behavior. When
a physician is diagnosing Alzheimer’s disease,
he will establish that dementia is present and
what type. This will be clarified with history
by a family member, a physical exam, and a mental
status evaluation. Tests may be ordered to determine
if there is a treatable condition that may be
contributing to the dementia, such as thyroid
disease, brain tumor, drug or medication interactions,
chronic infection, anemia, severe depression,
or thyroid disease. Dr. Pappas can work with the
family in the use of medications designed to slow
the progression of the disease and assist the
family in lifestyle changes for the patient.
Bell’s
Palsy
Bell's palsy is a disorder caused by damage to
cranial nerve VII, involving sudden facial drooping
and decreased ability to move the face. This disorder
involves the nerve that controls movement of the
muscles of the face. Symptoms can include pain
behind the ear, facial drooping, weakened facial
muscles, inability to close the eye on the affected
side, stiffness of the facial muscles, and the
face may feel pulled to one side. Treatment is
geared toward reducing the symptoms. Corticosteroids
may help with the swelling and inflammation of
the nerve. In most people, the condition will
resolve on its own in weeks or possibly months.
Trigeminal
Neuralgia
Trigeminal neuralgia is an extremely painful inflammation
of the trigeminal nerve, which causes severe lightning-like
facial pain on the involved side. These painful
attacks may occur after light touching of different
areas of the face or chewing, or they may occur
spontaneously.Specific medicines can be helpful
in reducing the frequency and severity of the
attacks.
Dr. Pappas may also help with:
To download brochures on a variety
of neurological diagnoses, click
here.
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