1(800) GO-SPINE
As medical technology advances and certain types of testing become more commonplace, certain conditions that were once thought to be quite rare may be detected more frequently. This is the case for Chiari malformations. Although you may have never heard this term, the neurosurgeons here at Georgia Brain & Spine Center believe strongly in educating our readers about these potential health concerns and the effects they can have. That’s why we have taken some time to answer a few simple questions about Chiari malformations.
A Chiari malformation may occur when part of the skull is abnormally small or misshapen, putting pressure on the brain and forcing it downward. This causes brain tissue in the lower portion of the skull to extend into the spinal canal. The additional pressure put on the brain stem and spinal cord can block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid from the brain to the spine.
In many cases, a Chiari malformation will not cause any symptoms. This is why despite being congenital, they are often not detected until later in life. However this is not always the case. For some people, a Chiari malformation can lead to several symptoms including severe headaches, weakness or numbness in the extremities, scoliosis, problems balancing, difficulty swallowing, ringing in the ears, dizziness, blurred vision, and snoring.
Diagnosing a Chiari malformation begins by performing a comprehensive neurological exam including imaging studies like an MRI of the brain and spine. Some cases may require a specialized study called a CINE MRI that allows us to look at the cerebrospinal fluid flow at the region of the compression in order to make a diagnosis. Once a diagnosis has been made, we will consider all treatment options based on the severity of the symptoms. For patients with no or only mild symptoms we may recommend close observation including neurological check-ups and MRI scans. For those with a more serious condition, we can perform a highly effective brain surgery known as posterior fossa decompression that is designed to relieve pressure on your brain.
We hope you found this information informative. Although Chiari malformations may seem complicated, our board-certified neurosurgeons have considerable experience treating them and helping patients find relief from their symptoms. For more information, or if you would like a second opinion on an initial diagnosis, please contact Georgia Brain & Spine Center at 1 (800) GO-SPINE to schedule a consultation today. And follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news, updates, and much more.
A herniated disc is one of the more common spinal conditions for adults in the US. However, even with this knowledge, many people don’t know very much about herniated discs and what causes them to occur. The neurosurgeons here at Georgia Brain & Spine Center strongly believe that understanding spinal conditions is critically important to help patients who may someday experience them. That’s why we wanted to discuss herniated discs, what may cause them to occur, and potential treatment options.
The bones (or vertebrae) of the spine are cushioned by small, round discs that are located between each individual vertebra. These discs act as shock absorbers for the spinal bones. Each disc consists of a soft inner portion as well as a tough outer ring. A herniated disc (sometimes referred to as a bulged, slipped, or ruptured disc) occurs when the softer inner portion of the disc protrudes through the tougher outer ring. This rupture then causes the disc to put pressure on the spinal nerves, resulting in pain that can be severe. Although a herniated disc can occur in any part of the spine (including the neck), they are most common in the lower back area.
A herniated disc can be caused by several different things. For some people, they may occur naturally as a result of aging. In some cases, a certain motion or physical activity like lifting something too heavy can be the cause. Accidents including falls or motor vehicle accidents can cause a disc to become ruptured. Certain risk factors like being overweight, smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle can also potentially contribute to herniated discs. Additionally, a herniated disc can be a sign of degenerative disc disease in some people.
The first step towards treating a herniated disc is getting a proper diagnosis. This is something our experienced brain and spine experts can do here in our office. Once a diagnosis is made, we will discuss all the available treatment options. This includes non-surgical options including physical therapy, pain-killing injections, or medicines like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for people with more moderate pain or discomfort. In cases where the pain is more severe, may benefit from a spinal surgery procedure to provide relief.
If you or a loved one has experienced a herniated disc, there’s no reason to let debilitating pain disrupt your quality of life. The neurosurgeons here at Georgia Brain & Spine Center have many years of experience in diagnosing and treating spinal conditions like herniated discs and will do everything in our power to ease your discomfort and get you feeling your best again. For more information, or if you would like a second opinion on an initial diagnosis, please contact Georgia Brain & Spine Center at 1 (800) GO-SPINE to schedule a consultation today. And follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news, updates, and much more.
Although back pain is incredibly common, it’s a fact that back pain can affect different people in different ways. For some people, back pain can be a temporary frustration that is only present during or following physical activity. For others, it can be an ever-present detriment to their comfort and quality of life. Chronic back pain can be a result of an underlying spinal condition like spinal stenosis or arthritis of the spine or it can simply be a product of natural aging. To help our patients gain a better understanding of back pain and who it specifically affects, our board-certified neurosurgeons have put together some statistics on the subject.
Here at Georgia Brain & Spine Center, we pride ourselves on helping our patients locate the root cause of their back pain and working with them to develop treatment plans that work. Our neurosurgeons perform a wide variety of treatments for chronic back pain including back surgery, minimally invasive spinal treatments, and non-surgical solutions. If you would like more information on the spinal treatments that we perform, or if you would like a second opinion on a previous diagnosis, please contact Georgia Brain & Spine at 1 (800) GO-SPINE to schedule a consultation today with Dr. Elias Dagnew or Dr. Michael Hartman. You can also follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news, practice updates, blog posts, and more.
Although this is not always the case, head injuries like concussions can be extremely serious and frightening. Head trauma from playing sports, taking a serious fall, or experiencing an automobile accident can potentially lead to the rupturing of a blood vessel in the brain and result in brain bleeding. This collection of blood within the skull is known as an intracranial hematoma. In some cases, a hematoma may develop and progressively get worse over the course of weeks. In other cases, the hematoma can expand rapidly and present an emergent, life-threatening condition. Our board-certified neurosurgeons wanted to focus on two different kinds of intracranial hematomas, epidural and subdural, to help our readers better understand these conditions. Our brains are covered by 3 layers of membrane (known medically as meninges), which effectively provide coating to the brain. Closest to the brain lies the pia mater. Beyond that lies the arachnoid mater. Lastly there is the dura mater which is a big fibrous material that covers the brain and tightly adheres to the skull. Both epidural and subdural hematomas involve bleeding outside of the brain and either outside or inside of the dura mater. An epidural hematoma occurs when there is bleeding inside the skull but outside the dura membrane. Patients with an epidural hematoma can remain conscious with minimal symptoms, can become drowsy, or can progress to a coma immediately following their injury based on the size of the hematoma. A subdural hematoma occurs when the bleeding exists inside the dura, but still outside the brain. Subdural hematomas can either be acute, occurring and being detected soon after the trauma, subacute (symptoms develop in the days/weeks following injury), or chronic (symptoms occurring weeks to months after the time of injury).In any case, the bleeding caused by an intracranial hematoma can form a mass that presses on the brain tissue and leads to a wide variety of potentially dangerous symptoms. These symptoms may include headaches, seizures, nausea, vomiting, physical weakness, difficulty with speech, changes in vision, and more.Hematomas are diagnosed with either a CT scan or MRI of the brain. In the case a hematoma is detected, it is imperative to obtain an urgent evaluation with a neurosurgeon immediately to prevent worsening symptoms or even death. In some cases, a small epidural or subdural hematoma may resolve itself naturally over time. However, many patients require brain surgery to remove the hematoma. The neurosurgeons here at Georgia Brain & Spine Center have considerable experience diagnosing, treating, and caring for patients who experience an intracranial hematoma or any other serious brain condition. If you would like more information on the brain conditions that we treat, or if you would like a second opinion on a previous diagnosis, please contact Georgia Brain & Spine at 1 (800) GO-SPINE to schedule a consultation today with Dr. Elias Dagnew or Dr. Michael Hartman. Don’t forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news, practice updates, blog posts, and more.
Spinal surgery is typically highly effective for people who experience chronic back pain. However, there are exceptions. In some cases, pain and other symptoms can return either immediately or in the months (or years) following surgery. This is what is known as “failed back syndrome”. Failed back syndrome can affect any level of your spine and become a considerable source of frustration for both the patient and the surgeon alike.There are several potential causes of failed back syndrome following surgery. This includes the development of scar tissue, recurrent or persistent disc disease, further narrowing of the spinal canal, instability of the vertebrae, non-fusion of the spine, nerve issues, a post-surgery infection, or improper alignment of the spinal column. Regardless of its cause, failed back syndrome must first be dealt with before the patient’s new life without back pain and discomfort can begin.The first step in treating failed back syndrome is undergoing a comprehensive exam to determine the root cause of the continued symptoms. Here at Georgia Brain & Spine Center, our experienced neurosurgeons conduct thorough examinations, including imaging studies, and a detailed breakdown of the patient’s history of back pain and treatment before any diagnosis can be made. Once we are confident in a diagnosis, we will present a series of treatment options that can help provide our patient relief. Our first preference is to begin with non-surgical treatments like physical therapy, analgesics, spinal injections, or other options when possible. These treatments are often very effective and it's understandable for these patients not to be excited about the prospect of additional surgery. If the non-surgical approach is not able to help or not an option for the patient, spinal surgery may be chosen for some to address the symptoms. Our neurosurgeons Dr. Elias Dagnew and Dr. Michael Hartman specialize in using minimally invasive spinal surgery techniques. This may involve decompressing narrow areas around nerve roots, stabilizing and fusing unstable vertebrae, or using techniques like neuromodulation or spinal cord stimulation to help control chronic spinal pain. We understand how difficult it can be to go through the spinal surgery process only to find out that additional procedures may be required. However, it’s important not to get discouraged. Failed back syndrome is a somewhat common occurrence. Our neurosurgeons are trained to help patients who find themselves in this situation get back on their feet again. For more information, or if you would like a second opinion on an initial diagnosis, please contact Georgia Brain & Spine Center at 1 (800) GO-SPINE to schedule a consultation today. You can also follow along with us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest news, updates, and much more.
