Pinched nerves and neuropathy:
Nerves can get pinched or irritated in the neck or back, or further away from the spine in the limbs themselves. Common areas where nerves can get pinched or irritated are near the shoulders, elbows, wrists, hips and knees. Sometimes, damage to nerves can occur without being ‘pinched’ near a joint. This type of damage can occur anywhere along the nerve, but often starting in the feet. A variety of conditions can increase the risk of having nerve damage including things like diabetes, thyroid disorders, inflammatory and autoimmune disorders and even vitamin deficiencies. Testing often includes EMG/NCV testing to identify the location of the damage or pinching, and the type and severity of the damage. Blood work is also often obtained to rule out some of the medical conditions listed above. Many treatments are available, depending on the type of nerve damage that is present, and location.
Seizures:
When many people think of seizures, they think of the type we call ‘grand mal’ seizures, which result in loss of consciousness, total body shaking, and things like tongue biting and/or incontinence. There are many different types of seizures, though, many of which do not result in loss of consciousness or shaking. Partial seizures have a very variable presentation, depending on where in the brain the seizure originates. Symptoms of partial seizures can include shaking of one limb, for example, or even tingling, dizziness, lapses in memory, speech arrest, visual phenomena, and others. Testing may include MRI, EEG and blood work, and many treatments are available when the diagnosis is properly made.
Dizziness:
Dizziness is a common symptom experienced by many patients with many conditions. It can be associated with inner ear infections, sinus infections, or impacted ear wax for example. Some of the neurological conditions that can be associated with dizziness include migraine, head injuries, inflammation of the nerves in the ear, strokes, or even anxiety. Often, certain medical conditions need to be ‘ruled out’ before other conditions can be diagnosed. Dizziness can be pretty difficult to treat, but getting the right diagnosis and identifying the underlying cause, can go a long way to finding a treatment.