Neurological care

Because a neurological disorder affects the brain, which, in turn, can affect speech and/or movement, a proper diagnosis can be somewhat of a moving target. Some disorders are more chronic in nature, while others are acute, varying the type of testing required. Some of the testing strategies we use to diagnose neurological conditions include:

• Blood tests
• Computerized tomography (CT) scan
• Electroencephalogram (EEG)
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
• Physical neurological exam
• Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
• Single-photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT)

With a multidisciplinary team of nerve doctors, neuro hospitalists, technicians and nurse practitioners, our neurological treatments are individualized to your unique situation. During your time in the hospital, our team will not only care for you, but prepare you for follow-up care with one of our outpatient providers.

Working together, this team is able to use the leading-edge services at our disposal to diagnose, treat and help you recover your movement. Our neurologists are prepared to work with you, or your child, if they should need dedicated pediatric neurological care.

Epilepsy and seizure care

Epilepsy occurs when the nerve cell activity in your brain becomes interrupted, resulting in symptoms, such as out-of-character behavior, loss of consciousness and recurring seizures. Our hospitals for epilepsy include board-certified, epilepsy-trained physicians and registered diagnostic technicians. These teams of medical professionals work collaboratively to diagnose and treat your symptoms in ways that reduce seizures and improve overall quality of life.

In most cases, epilepsy can be treated with anti-seizure medications, though sometimes, neurosurgery may be required. We will always thoroughly discuss with you the potential paths for treatment before moving in any particular direction. Please make sure to ask questions before agreeing to treatment, as we want you to be as comfortable as possible.

Movement disorder care

Movement disorders occur when the relationship between your nervous system and muscles becomes disconnected, bringing about involuntary movements. Sometimes this can be a result of brain damage, stroke, infections, medication side effects, or, simply, genetics. Though there are no cure-all treatments for movement disorders, we help you manage them as much as possible, mostly through medications, as well as alternative therapies. These can include injections of botulinum toxin, otherwise known as Botox.

Occasionally, neurosurgery can be necessary to treat movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and essential tremor, both of which cause unintentional shaking. Though essential tremor is mostly localized to the hands and arms, occurring when you are using your hands, Parkinson's causes shaking that leads to further debilitating issues. Essential tremor does not. Historically, neurosurgery cannot fully solve these difficulties, but it can be an accelerated form of treatment.

Neurosurgery

When it comes to surgically treating cranial and spinal conditions, we prioritize minimally invasive surgical techniques whenever possible. Minimally invasive and, in some cases, robot-assisted procedures, are there for your benefit, as they afford minimal scarring, faster recoveries and shorter overnight stays. Some of the minimally invasive neurosurgery procedures that can be used to treat these types of disorders include MRI-guided stereotactic radiosurgery, a laser-guided ablation treatment.

Neurological rehabilitation

If you have experienced a serious neurological complication, or have received intensive treatment for said complication, neurological recovery can become an integral part of your care journey. While a delicate process, given the fragile areas that neurological disorders affect, we always personalize our rehabilitation programs to fit your needs, and can move as fast or as slow as you wish.

When you work with the specialists at our neuropathy centers, they assess your condition and devise a rehabilitation plan that can include one or a combination of physical, occupational and speech therapy. Whichever path you walk for your rehabilitation journey, our main concern is making sure you wind up feeling like yourself in spite of or following a neurological incident, with maximized function and independence.

Stroke care

Strokes are one of the most common neurological disorders. However, many do not realize that around 80 percent of strokes can be prevented. Atrial fibrillation and high blood pressure are the leading causes of strokes, and both can be treated by our cardiology specialists. On a high level, keeping your cholesterol low, adopting a low-fat diet and maintaining an active lifestyle are all ways you can prevent a stroke in your own life.

If you understand the best ways of prevention, as well as how to spot a stroke, you are already ahead of the game. However, we understand that not everyone has that luxury. So, if you or a loved one has experienced a stroke and seeks our hospitals for care, our interventional neuroradiology specialists employ a number of minimally invasive procedures that aim to limit damage to the brain and body during a stroke. These stroke treatment options include:

• Carotid stenting
• Clot retrieving
• Endovascular coiling