Neurology – Conditions

Here are some common neurological disorders. Please visit the links for more information.

ALS

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a neurological disease that attacks the nerve cells responsible for controlling voluntary muscles. It progresses rapidly. ALS Association

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s is a progressive brain disease. Symptoms may include memory loss, language deterioration, impaired ability to mentally manipulate visual information, poor judgment, confusion, restlessness, and mood swings. Alzheimer’s Association

Back Pain

Acute or short-term lower back pain generally lasts from a few days to a few weeks. Pain may be sharp and may limit motion. Back pain that persists for longer than three months is considered chronic back pain. Medline Plus (National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health)

Bell’s Palsy

Bell’s palsy is a facial paralysis that may be slight or severe. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the nerve running from the arm to the hand is pressed at the wrist.  It causes pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm. American Society for Surgery for the Hand

Cephalic Disorders

Cephalic disorders are congenital conditions caused by abnormal development of the fetal nervous system. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Cerebral Palsy

This disorder appears in infancy or early childhood and permanently affects body movement but doesn’t worsen over time. United Cerebral Palsy organization

Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is an inherited neurological that affects the muscles, causing hand and foot weakness. Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association

Chronic Pain

May last for weeks, months or longer. Arthritis, cancer and other diseases may produce chronic pain. American Chronic Pain Association, TMJ Association

Coma

A coma is a deep state of unconsciousness. May occur during an illness or severe injury. Medline Plus (National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health)

Dementia

Dementia is the loss of memory, language skills, problem solving and emotional control. Alzheimer’s Association

Guillain-Barré Syndrome

This rare disorder occurs when the body’s immune system attacks the nervous system. It may occur after a respiratory or gastrointestinal viral infection. It starts with weakness or tingling in the arms or legs and may progress to near paralysis, although most patients recover. Guillain-Barré Foundation International

Headaches and Migraines

There are four types of headache:  vascular, muscle tension, traction, and inflammatory.  Migraine headaches are vascular in origin, causing pain and other symptoms. Headaches can signal other disorders. American Migraine Foundation

Hereditary Neurologic Diseases

These disorders are present at birth and are inherited from one or both parents. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Huntington’s Disease

An inherited disease that causes degeneration of brain cells leading to uncontrolled movements, loss of intellectual faculties, and emotional disturbance. Huntington’s Disease

Multiple Sclerosis

This disease usually appears between ages 20 and 40, with symptoms that may be mildly to very disabling. It disrupts communication from the brain and the body. National MS Society

Myasthenia Gravis

This chronic, autoimmune, neuromuscular disease causes muscle weakness during active periods, that decreases after rest. Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America

Myopathies

Inherited or acquired disorders causing muscle weakness. They include congenital myopathies, muscular dystrophies, mitochondrial myopathies, glycogen storage disease of muscle, myoglobinurias, dermatomyositis, myositis ossificans, familial periodic paralysis, polymyositis, neuromyotonia, stiff man syndrome, common muscle cramps and stiffness and tetany. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Neck Pain

This condition may arise from muscle or nerve problems. Muscle spasms may result from stress, overexertion or a pinched nerve. May cause numbness, tingling, or weakness. Medline Plus (National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health)

Peripheral Neuropathy

Damage to the nervous system causes neuropathy, with varying symptoms such as pain, tingling, numbness or disability. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Parkinson’s Disease

This disorder results from the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells and creates tremor, rigidity, slowness of movement, instability, and impaired balance and coordination. As the disease progresses, symptoms worsen. National Parkinson Foundation

Seizures (Epilepsy)

This brain disorder causes seizures. Only after after two or more seizures is a person considered epileptic. Epilepsy Foundation

Sleep Disorders

There are several different sleep disorders from apnea to insomnia that affect millions of Americans. National Sleep Foundation

Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury occurs because of trauma to the spine that fractures or dislocates vertebrae.  Long-term outcomes range from full recovery to paralysis. National Spinal Cord Injury Association

Stroke

These events occur when the brain’s blood supply stops; or when a blood vessel bursts and causes bleeding. National Stroke Association

Tics and Tourette Syndrome

A condition occurring when a person makes involuntary movements and vocalizations called tics, such as eye blinking, grimacing, shoulder shrugging, and head or shoulder jerking. Some tics may cause the patient to punch themselves, utter profanity or repeat the words of others. National Tourette Syndrome Association

Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)

These serious injuries result from a blow to the head, concussive forces, acceleration or deceleration forces, or a projectile such as a bullet. Symptoms can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the extent of damage to the brain. Brain Injury Association of America

Tremor

These unintentional muscle movements may result from a neurological disorder. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Vertigo or Dizziness

These conditions may be mild or severe and may arise from inner ear infections or disorders, or from neurological causes. Medline Plus (National Library of Medicine and National Institutes of Health)