Trigeminal Neuralgia - Symptoms & Causes

Trigeminal neuralgia, also known as tic douloureux, is frequently said to as the most agonizing pain known to mankind. The discomfort usually affects the lower cheek and jaw, but it can also affect the area around the nose and above the eye.

It is often confined to one side of the face. The discomfort can be caused by anything as simple and insignificant as brushing your teeth, eating, or being outside in the wind. Trigeminal neuralgia attacks may begin mild and brief, but if left untreated, they can develop over time.

Who Can Suffer from This?

Every year, around 150,000 people are diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia (TN). While the condition can arise at any age, persons over the age of 50 are more likely to suffer from it. According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), TN is twice as frequent in women as in males.

Causes of Trigeminal Neuralgia:

The actual cause of TN is unknown, however, the discomfort associated with it is caused by nerve irritation.

There are two kinds of TN: main TN and secondary TN.

Compression of the nerve, often at the base of the skull where the brain joins the spinal cord, has been associated with primary trigeminal neuralgia. This is generally caused by a healthy artery or vein coming into touch with the trigeminal nerve at the base of the brain. This puts pressure on the nerve when it reaches the brain, causing it to misfire.

Secondary TN is induced by nerve pressure produced by a tumor, MS, a cyst, a face injury, or another medical disease that destroys the myelin sheaths.

Symptoms of Trigeminal Neuralgia:

The majority of patients say that their pain comes suddenly and apparently out of nowhere. Other individuals claim that their pain was caused by a vehicle accident, a hit to the face, or dental procedures.

In the case of dental procedures, it is more likely that the condition was already present and that the initial symptoms were prompted by the disease. Because pain is frequently felt throughout the upper or lower jaw, many patients mistakenly believe they have a tooth abscess.

The pain around the eyes, lips, nose, jaw, forehead, and scalp is very acute, throbbing, intermittent, scorching, or shock-like.

TN seems to come and go in cycles. Patients sometimes experience extended periods of frequent episodes followed by weeks, months, or even years of little or no pain.

If you are suffering from such pain and want to get treated fast, connect with the experts in the field at Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic.

Original Source: Trigeminal Neuralgia – Symptoms & Causes

Cervical Spinal Stenosis - What You Need to Know

 

You must know that cervical stenosis is a condition that could potentially cause damage to your spinal cord. In this condition, the spinal canal becomes narrowed at the neck part, which may result in putting extra pressure on the neck nerve. This condition may result in severe pain in the neck and spinal cord area. It is also popularly known as Cervical Spinal Stenosis worldwide. This condition may mainly affect your normal life, causing an uncomfortable sensation in the different parts of the body like arms, legs, and torso. 

What are the causes of Cervical Spinal Stenosis?

There are many causes of Cervical Spinal Stenosis condition like arthritis, Osteoarthritis, herniated discs, traumatic injuries, tumors, and chronic diseases. All these problems may put extra pressure on your spinal cord and nerves, causing great pain in the neck area. But the cervical spinal problem could be resolved by effective treatment. You could also choose some of the pain management options to fully live your life as normal. 

But you must know some of the symptoms of Cervical Stenosis that could help you to understand the condition. Some of the symptoms are neck pain, weakness in the arm or hands, advanced cases that may result in loss of bowel control or bladder, arm pain, numbness in the arm area, and tingling sensation in the lower back area. 

Treatment-related to Cervical Spinal Stenosis

Based on the seriousness of the condition, the treatment and medication are offered by the medical professional. The medical professional first check with the symptoms and condition in order to determine the cause, and then they offer the right medication and treatment to resolve the problem. Some of the problems associated with the treatment of Cervical Stenosis are strength and flexibility exercise, steroid injection, anti-inflammatory medication, physiotherapy, acupuncture, and minimally invasive decompression surgery. 

If you are facing any critical symptoms of Cervical Spinal Stenosis, you may visit Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic as it is the best option to choose. It is a reliable and reputed clinic that includes highly professional and qualified medical experts who are experienced, physical neurosurgeons. 

 

Sacroiliac Joint Degeneration-Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Excruciating back pains can be annoying and difficult to handle. We at Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic recommend the treatment for sacroiliac joint pain for a quick and timely recovery.

What is sacroiliac joint degeneration?

Sacroiliac joints are located at the integration of sacrum and ilium, and the SI joints acts as a shock absorbent by reducing pressure on the spine. If there is inflammation in one or both of your sacroiliac joints, the condition is termed sacroiliac joint degeneration.

What are the symptoms of sacroiliac joint degeneration?

• Lower back pain that can be felt either on one or both sides
• Pain in the buttocks and side or upper thigh
• Stiffness in the hips, pelvis, groin, and lower back that restrict mobility
• Sciatic-like pain in the back of the thighs or buttocks that is hot and sharp and results in numbness
• Instability in the lower back and/or pelvis makes the pelvis give away while walking, standing, or changing positions
• Shooting pain when climbing stairs, jogging, or running because sacroiliac joints are under pressure in such activities

What are the causes of sacroiliac joint degeneration?

• Gait tissues:Leg-length discrepancy can put unnecessary pressure on the pelvis resulting in wear and tear of the SI joint.
• Pregnancy: Relaxin (a hormone released during pregnancy) results in the elasticity of SI joints. Due to this, the pelvis widens to make room for childbirth, and accompanied by the increasing weight of the woman, the chances of SI joint pain increase.
• Osteoarthritis: Aging can result in loss of cartilage and result in SI joint degeneration.
• Gout: Gouty arthritis occurs if the levels of uric acid in your body are high.This problem affects the large toe first and further shows its effects on other joints, including the SI joint.
• Abnormal walking pattern:If the walking posture is incorrect, you can be a victim of SI joint pain.

What is the line of treatment for sacroiliac joint degeneration?

• Self-care and therapies: Yoga, massage, cold/hot packs, physical therapy, and sacroiliac belt are the comfortable ways to ease the problem.
• Medications: Oral steroids, anti-inflammatory medicines, corticosteroid injection,radio frequency ablation,muscle relaxants and TNF inhibitors are the non-surgical treatment options
• Surgery: If the pain is chronic, the doctor advises sacroiliac joint fusion surgery for easing the pain.

Visit us at Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic when any kind of back pain troubles you.

How to Treat Lumbar Spinal Stenosis with a Coflex® Device?

The lower back spine is called the lumbar spine, consisting of five vertebrae between the ribs and the pelvis. Lumbar spinal stenosis is an ill spinal condition in which the gap between the spinal canals gets narrowed and, in the process, compresses the nerves traveling through the lower back into the legs.

This narrowing usually takes place at a slow and gradual pace spanning many years as a person ages. The spinal disks become less spongy, making them harden and bulging into the spinal canal resulting in narrowing of the central canal. The Coflex device is known to alleviate compression as it is made of titanium, making it strong yet flexible and supporting the spine. Let’s understand the diagnosis procedure to know how the device works.

Symptoms

The patient might feel pain, weakness, and numbness in the legs, calves, and buttocks. In lumbar spinal stenosis, the pain might radiate to both thighs and legs. It might result in defective motor function of the legs, bowel, and bladder.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is made by neurosurgeon through X-ray, CT scan or CAT scan, MRI, and Myelogram. It helps in showing the bone structure, spine alignment, and joints’ outline; show images of the spinal cord, nerve roots, and surrounding areas; and show evidence of pressure near the nerves and spinal cord, respectively.

Nonsurgical treatment

In some cases, proper medication, posture management, and exercise can prove helpful in managing the pain and strengthening bone. Analgesics and epidural medication can relieve pain and reduce swelling significantly in lumbar spinal stenosis. Physical therapy can build endurance, stabilize and protect the spine.

Surgical treatment

The primary goal of lumbar spinal stenosis surgery is to detract bone or neural elements affecting the nerves that are trying to extend throughout your body. Although there are various types of surgeries available for the lumbar spine, the most common one is decompressive laminectomy. In this procedure, the laminae of the vertebrae are extracted to create more space for the nerves.

After a direct decompression to remove bone, facet, ligament, or disc segments from the narrow spinal canal, the spine can get unstable. At this point, a Coflex device is inserted directly in a similar manner about how the decompression procedure is performed to keep the spine stable to maintain the height and motion of the spine.

The device replaces the spinal fusion to retain the natural movement in the impacted area of the posterior lumbar spine. It’s a U-shaped implant, which comes in five different sizes and can be designed according to various anatomies.

The Coflex device is implanted to provide extra space for the nerves to pass through without compressed vertebrae. Reach out to Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic to know more about their treatment techniques.

Cervical Artificial Disc Replacement Surgery - An Overview

You must know that a healthy spinal disc has the potential to provide a cushion and a joint between your adjacent vertebrae. If in case you are suffering from the pain and discomfort that is caused by the compression, then you must visit a surgeon. The professional surgeon will perform an artificial disc replacement procedure to replace the collapsed or herniated disc with an artificial disc. The joint's replacement and modification with a counterfeit circle is named cervical plate arthroplasty or cervical fake circle replacement. 

Before the artificial disc replacement procedure, you must notify your specialist about any drugs you are taking, including nutrients and enhancements. You must provide the details about your health condition so that they can offer you the best treatment and avoid any negative side-effects. 

Why is artificial disc replacement important?

There are many beneficial reasons due to which artificial disc replacement might be required. You must always choose the right professional surgeon for the surgery if you have any cervical disc disease symptoms. This procedure can provide you with much needed comfort. There are a few very good reasons to go for artificial disc surgery like as mentioned below:-

1. It aims to provide pain relief for persistent pain in the disc area.
2. It could also help to restore the disc height for better results.
3. With this procedure you could alleviate pressure on the nerves
4. It could be the best process to preserve normal physiologic motion in the neck.

The points that are mentioned above are the main reasons to choose disc replacement surgery for effective treatment. 

Want to know more about the artificial disc replacement procedure? Then Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic could be the best option to choose. We will offer you detailed information about the disc replacement procedure so that you can have a better understanding.  

Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release Surgery - An Overview

Endoscopic Carpal Tunnel Release is a surgical technique that utilizes thin and specialized equipment with an attached camera which is guided via a minor incision in the wrist. It assists the doctor to view the entire wrist structure without clearing the whole area or large incision. The endoscopic surgery utilizes tiny cutting tools which are injected through the minor incision in the writ or through the wrist & palm. In this process, the transverse carpal tunnel is trimmed to form more space for the median nerve. It passes via a tunnel which improves the function and reduces the pain.  

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a condition that induces tingling, numbness, or deficiency in the hands. It is also known as median nerve compression. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when the median nerve is pressurized, which drives the arm's length, runs through the path in the wrist, and ends in the hand, known as the carpal tunnel. The median is responsible for controlling the feeling & movement of the thumb and fingers except for the pinky finger. 

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment:  

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome can lessen the smooth functioning of your wrist and hands. It can turn worse if not treated timely.  In such conditions, endoscopic carpal tunnel release surgery brings relief with added advantages. 

• It relieves tingling sensation, numbness, and nerve pain. It also restores the strength of muscles. 

• The pain will be less to a greater extent after surgery in comparison to open surgery. 

• The small incision will make the recovery fast.  

• It is suitable and comfortable for one who relies on a wheelchair, walker or has undergone surgeries for both wrists. 

The Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Treatment will take the numbness and pain of hands away right after treatment or it may also take several months. So accordingly, one needs to avoid doing such hard tasks. Previously the surgery, you will be diagnosed for examining the condition. You will have to stop any food consumption for at least 6-12 hours before the surgery. A tiny camera device will be used to reveal the structure of your wrist through the monitor. Next, the transverse carpal tunnel will be trimmed from the underside and the skin will be closed with staples. Finally, your wrist will be bandaged after surgery for around 2 weeks. You will be trained for moving fingers. Physical therapy will be planned for better recovery and comfort.

We always welcome you to knock at Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic at any point in your lifetime to get the best and quality services.

The Benefits of Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion

 Fusion surgery is typically considered to be a beneficial solution to dealing with bone spurs, herniated   discs or pinched nerves.

·        It helps reduce the instability and movement caused by bulging discs or deteriorating cartilage.

·      The goal of the anterior fusion procedure is to get rid of excessive motion and offer spinal stability by eliminating damaged discs and substituting them with a new bone graft.

·         Here are more details on why you should probably talk to your doctor about this particular procedure.

 Natural process

·        Successful Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion surgery often results in connecting two or more vertebrae to help promote strength and stability in the damaged spine area.

·        While all the required preparatory work is finished during surgery, the vertebrae fusion is left to happen as a natural process, after surgery.

·     This is what makes the procedure a successful one. A good recovery that brings about a successful fusion will offer great stability for your spine for several years.

Offers better access for the surgeon

·    The choice of how to handle the spine is made by the surgeon after examining the compressive   pathology location.

·      Depending on where the actual problem area is and how your cervical region is aligned, the surgeon   will choose whether the surgery would be successful if approached posteriorly or anteriorly.

Quick recovery

·     If your spinal injury is attended to prior to the point of irreparable damage, you can heal quickly and experience a considerable degree of pain relief.

·       You can leave the spine clinicthe next day.

Significant relief from pain and symptoms

·     Osteoarthritis and cervical herniated discs are some of the more typical causes of acute arm and neck pain.

·       A successful Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion surgery can help correct the root cause and offer relief from the pain associated along with other symptoms. 

The spine surgeon at Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic is backed by years of training and experience to deal with complex cases. You can book a consultation with Dr. Adam Lewis to weigh the risks and benefits and decide if ACDF surgery is a fitting option for you.

To know more, visit us online to learn more about anterior cervical discectomy and fusion and other methods of minimally invasive spine surgery or to schedule a consultation. We’ll find a solution that works for you! Call us at (601) 366-1011.

 

What to Know About Sacroiliac Joint Fusion

The sacroiliac joint is the one that connects your hip bones to both sides of the sacrum, functioning as a shock-absorber primarily between the torso and the lower body. This particular joint can be considered as the position where the spine base attaches to the pelvis. It is a mixture of the sacroiliac ligaments and a synovial joint.

The majority of sacroiliac joint dysfunction cases can be healed utilizing pain medication, chiropractic manipulation, injection treatments, and physical therapy. Sacroiliac joint fusion surgery might be suggested to take care of sacroiliac joint pain when other nonsurgical treatments are not effective. During a fusion surgery, instruments and bone graft are utilized to promote bone growth on top of the sacroiliac joint and craft an immobile unit. It can reduce instability and pain caused by inflammation or joint dysfunction.

When should you consider sacroiliac joint fusion as an option?

When you have the following symptoms for weeks or months and your body does not respond well to nonsurgical treatments, you need to opt for sacroiliac joint fusion treatment.

• Considerable low back, groin or hip pain that makes it tough to operate in your day-to-day life that has not been treated effectively utilizing nonsurgical methods. You can feel the pain on either side of your body. 
• Unsteadiness in the lower back and pelvis causes pain and difficulty when walking, standing or moving. Pain might be very bad when you walk up over an incline or climb stairs.
• Limited mobility and stiffness in the hips, groin, low back, or legs.

Sacroiliac joint fusion surgery is an elective procedure, and thus it is your decision whether or not you wish to have the surgery. There are several factors to take into account when deciding to have surgery, including whether the surgery is likely to enhance your life quality and the recovery process required after surgery. The majority of doctors or neurosurgeon Jackson MS will suggest considerable nonsurgical method trails that last anywhere between 8-12 weeks before recommending surgery.

Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic has over two decades of experience and training in offering patients the least invasive surgical solutions. Dr. Lewis has an extensive background in surgery and is one of the leading spine and brain specialists in the country.

Contact us today to learn more about sacroiliac joint fusion or to schedule a consultation. We’ll find a solution that works for you. Call us at (601) 366-1011.

The Universal Guide to Neck Pain

One of the most common causes of neck pain is injury to the soft tissues, which include the muscles, tendons, and ligaments present in this general area. While it may be normal to feel some neck pain at the end of a working day, there may be certain instances when the pain in the neck occurs continuously or is characterized by a tingling sensation.

Modern-day lifestyles and common activities are not kind to the wellbeing of the neck. Sitting behind a desk all day, on a chair that may not be ergonomically designed, or peering at a computer monitor for hours at a time may be causing your neck pain. Sleeping with a pillow that does not support the neck muscles properly, sleeping on your stomach thus putting the neck in a twisted position through the night, reading or watching TV while lying down all put the head and the neck in an awkward position that can cause muscle strain.

Already dealing with neck pain?

While there are many options for relieving neck pain, there is currently no treatment that has been scientifically proven to cure chronic neck pain. Even common treatments have conflicting evidence around their effectiveness at eliminating pain and increasing neck function.

Sometimes, people must learn to manage their pain on a daily basis through lifestyle changes and self-management.

Here are a few strategies to help reduce chronic neck pain and improve your quality of life:

• Stay active every day: stretch and walk and do light exercises that don’t make your pain worse
• Pace yourself: don’t feel like you have to ‘do it all’. Allow time to rest throughout the day each day.
• Advocate for yourself: learn how to communicate how you’re feeling with your care providers and friends and family. Set limits on what you can and cannot do and allow people in your life to support you.
• Get plenty of sleep: being well-rested can help you cope better with your pain.

If you recently had any trauma that has resulted in neck pain and is accompanied by other symptoms such as weakness or numbness, contact Dr. Lewis at Jackson Neurosurgery Clinic. We can conduct a quick and thorough assessment to ensure you receive the appropriate care and treatment immediately.

Contact us today to learn more about neck pain or to schedule a consultation with one of our specialists. We’ll find a solution that works for you! Call us at (601) 366-1011.