Neurological disorders are diseases that affect the brain, spinal cord, cranial and peripheral nerves, nerve roots, autonomic nervous system, neuromuscular plate, and muscles.
According to reports from the World Health Organization (WHO), neurological diseases such as epilepsy and Alzheimer’s, strokes, head injuries, neurological infections and multiple sclerosis, among others, affect more than one billion people, in the world.
Symptoms such as weakness or paralysis, tremors or difficulty walking, loss of balance, difficulty swallowing, seizures, apparent loss of consciousness and episodes of lack of reaction, are indicators that the patient should consult a specialized doctor.
A diagnosis should be established
Neurosurgeons are the doctors specialized in the surgical, non-surgical and stereotactic management of patients suffering from neurological diseases, from education, prevention and diagnosis to evaluation, treatment, care and rehabilitation.
Let’s get to know, some of them:
- Cerebral aneurysm: It is a bulge that forms when part of the wall of a vein or artery weakens. When the blood vessel ruptures and bleeds, brain cells begin to die, within minutes.
- Cerebral cavernoma: Malformation of the blood vessels, the growth of which can cause problems in the brain and spinal cord. When the malformation leaks blood, it can cause seizures, vision problems, weakness, unsteadiness, difficulty speaking and understanding, and severe headaches.
- Cerebral infarction: It is known as ischemia and consists of the death of a part of the encephalic mass, due to an obstruction of the blood vessels preventing the arrival of blood to an area of the brain. Such a stroke requires immediate medical attention.
- Meningioma: It is the most common type of tumor that forms on the head. Although it is characteristic of the meninges, it can sometimes cause serious disabilities, due to its effect on the brain, the nerves or the adjacent blood vessels.
- Neck pain: It is due to wear and tear and injuries to the neck. It often causes problems in the musculoskeletal system, vertebrae, muscles, and ligaments that hold the vertebrae together.
The aforementioned diseases are some of the fields of action in which neurosurgeons develop, after an extensive period of learning and training. In my case, I am also a specialist in the field of skull base neurosurgery.
If you have any suspicions of a neurological disorder, you can contact me. I am at the EVA Clinic, 100 meters south of Purdy Motor, Paseo Colón, San José, Costa Rica.
