Brain & Spine Care Hospital

Though childhood brain tumor is a rare disease, still, many children of any age all over the world suffer from this condition. Unlike the brain tumors in adults, brain tumors in children is a bit different. Brain tumors are probably the most common form of solid tumors affecting children. However, having knowledge of the symptoms, probable treatment of the disease can help the parents in coping with the situation in a better way and taking the right decision at the right time.

What is a brain tumor?

A group of abnormal cell growth in the brain is referred to as a brain tumor. The types of brain tumor depend upon the structure of the tumor cells, their rate of growth, composition and several other characteristics. However, two most common types of brain tumor affecting children are primary and secondary. In primary brain tumor, the tumor cells develop in the brain, while in secondary, cancerous cells invade the brain from other parts of the body.

Symptoms that determine the presence of tumor may vary in every child. The variation is due to certain aspects including size of the tumor, the location of the tumor, how the tumor is affecting the brain, etc. Some of the most common symptoms of childhood brain tumor are severe headaches, occasional seizures, feeling of sickness and vomiting, eye problems such as blurred visions, feelings of drowsiness without any reason, etc. Some children suffering from brain tumour may also experience difficulty in maintaining balance when walking or behavioral changes in children.

Treatment

While for some, surgical removal of the tumor may be the only treatment solution, for some sessions of radiotherapy and chemotherapy turn out to be really helpful. To control or reduce the effects of the brain tumor symptoms, taking regular medications may also be necessary for the affected children. Doctor may devise the best treatment plan despending on the condition of a child. As the treatment completely depends on the severity of the problem.

Prognosis

Depending on the grade, location, and type of tumor as well as the treatment, the overall health of children can be determined. While a significant number of children often successfully recover from the brain tumor, for some, the treatment needs to be continued for many years. As the nervous system of a child is in its developing stage, sometimes, children may develop some kind of learning or behavioral or physical disability as a result of the brain tumor treatment. If a child has any of these symptoms mentioned above, his or her parents should consult a medical professional right away. The sooner it is diagnosed, the better are the chances for the child to recover from a brain tumor.
 

A headache is the most common ailment to affect men and women. Did you know that there are over 150 different types of headaches? Each of these different types of headaches has its own symptoms, triggers and needs to be treated in a different way. In some cases, you may even require surgery. This is often recommended for severe migraines and cluster headaches.

The different types of surgeries that may be performed to treat such headaches include:

1. Neurostimulation: For this procedure, a wire electrode is inserted through the skin at the back of the neck near the occipital nerve and used to provide electrical stimulation. This form of surgery is best suited to patients who have benefited positively from an occipital nerve block.
2. Radiofrequency thermocoagulation: This is one the most common forms of surgical treatment for cluster headaches. For this procedure, a radiofrequency current is used to heat tissue of a certain area. By doing this, the passage for pain is obstructed and headaches are relieved. Some of the side effects of this surgery could include corneal sensory loss, severe facial dysesthesias and reactions to anesthesia. In rare cases, it could also cause a stroke, infections or motor weakness. Thankfully, these effects typically are resolved within 6 months.
3. Microvascular decompression: This is an invasive procedure that is performed while the patient is under general anesthesia. It also involves a craniectomy. The aim of this procedure is to remove a vascular loop that compresses a nerve and thereby restore normal anatomy. Hospitalization is typically required for a few days after the procedure
4. Gamma knife radiosurgery: This is the type of neurosurgery where the trigeminal nerve is hit by radiation. This procedure can be performed as an outpatient procedure and can be completed in a few hours. It has a very low rate of complications but the long term effects of this form of treatment are not yet clear. There may also be a high rate of relapses associated with this form of treatment.
5. Septoplasty: In the case of migraines, a deviated septum may be contributing to your headache. In such cases, surgical correction of the septum can help relieve pressure on the nerves that pass through it and in turn reduce the frequency and intensity of your headaches. Septoplasty addresses common issues concerning the septum such as a bent cartilage or deviated cartilage. This procedure can be performed under local or general anesthesia.

A spinal cord injury is a damage to the spinal cord. It’s an extremely serious type of physical trauma that’s likely to have a lasting and significant impact on most aspects of daily life.

The spinal cord is responsible for sending messages from the brain to all parts of the body. It also sends messages from the body to the brain. We are able to perceive pain and move our limbs because of messages sent through the spinal cord.

If the spinal cord sustains an injury, some or all of these impulses may not be able to ‘get through’. The result is a complete or total loss of sensation and mobility below the injury. A spinal cord injury closer to the neck will typically cause paralysis throughout a larger part of the body than one in the lower back area.

Causes-

A spinal cord injury is often the result of an unpredictable accident or violent event. The following can all result in damage to the spinal cord:

• a violent attack such as a stabbing or a gunshot
• diving into water that’s too shallow and hitting the bottom
• trauma during a car accident (specifically, trauma to the face, head and neck region, back, or chest area)
• falling from a significant height
• head or spinal injuries during sporting events
• electrical accidents
• severe twisting of the middle portion of the torso

Symptoms-

Some symptoms of a spinal cord injury include:

1. problems walking
2. loss of control of the bladder or bowels
3. inability to move the arms or legs
4. feelings of spreading numbness or tingling in the extremities
5. unconsciousness
6. headache
7. pain, pressure, stiffness in the back or neck area
8. signs of shock
9. unnatural positioning of the head

If you suspect that someone has a back or neck injury:

• Don’t move the injured person – permanent paralysis and other serious complications may result
• Call 911 or your local emergency medical assistance number
• Keep the person still
• Place heavy towels on both sides of the neck or hold the head and neck to prevent them from moving until emergency care arrives
• Provide basic first aid, such as stopping any bleeding and making the person comfortable, without moving the head or neck

Prevention-

Because spinal cord injuries are often due to unpredictable events, the best you can do is reduce your risk.

 Some risk-reducing measures include:

1. always wearing a seatbelt while in a car
2. wearing proper protective gear while playing sports
3. never diving into water unless you’ve examined it first to make sure it’s deep enough and free of rocks

The term neurovascular disease refers to any kind of abnormality that can be observed in the blood vessels or in the blood supply to the spine or brain. The narrowing or shrinking of the arteries due to the plaque buildup also falls under this particular disease, which intervenes the normal blood flow to the brains, and makes the risk of stroke a more prominent one. If not treated at the right time in the right way, neurovascular diseases can not only cause disabilities in the adults, but may also be fatal.

Below are some of the common types of neurovascular diseases.

1. Aneurysms: Aneurysms are a particular type of neurovascular disease where a vascular lesion or a balloon shaped abnormality manifests in the artery walls due to the walls' weakness or swelling. Vomiting, nausea and sudden headache of a severe kind are a few common symptoms of it.
2. Arteriovenous malformation: When a defect is formed in the circulatory system which reduces the oxygen supply to the spinal cord and the brain, AVM or arteriovenous malformation occurs. While severe pain in the back is the main symptom of arteriovenous malformation in the spinal, headaches and seizures are common symptoms of the malformation in the brain.
3. Arteriovenous fistulas: AVF or arteriovenous fistulas are nothing but some unnatural passageways in the vein and the arteries, encompassing the spinal cord and the brain. Here, the blood flows directly into a vein from the arteries through the fistulas, which gives rise to the blood bypassing the capillaries continuously.
4. Carotid artery stenosis: When the carotid arteries, situated on the both sides of the neck and leads to the brain, starts to become narrower due to the plaque formation or the compositions of fatty deposits, the normal blood flow gets interrupted severely. Sometimes, mini-strokes or transient ischemic attacks are its first signs.
5. Moyamoya disease: It’s comparatively a very rare condition where some blood vessels in the brains close due to blood clots. Some of its early warning signs are speech problems, weakness, limp paralysis and headaches.
6. Cavernous malformation: Cavernous malformation refers to a neurovascular disease where not only the malformation occurs in the blood vessels, but they bleed too. Blood leaking from the affected blood vessels makes signs like seizures, vision loss or difficulties in swallowing, visible.
7. Stroke: A stroke is a neurological event that happens all of a sudden, without any warning. As a result of it, often a new onset of different neurological symptoms becomes visible. Hemorrhagic stroke, transient ischemic attack, and cerebral infarction or ischemic stroke are three common types of strokes.

Neurovascular diseases are one of the main illness conditions that affect a considerable number of the population worldwide. Therefore, having a proper idea about the types and consulting with a doctor in case one suspects having any of the neurovascular diseases, is of crucial importance for leading a safe and healthy life.
 

The sensation of pain and numbness are quite common in patients suffering from high blood sugar. If you are suffering from nerve damage from high blood sugar, chances are you have diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The discomfort can affect your mood and overall quality of life. But with some easy to follow steps can help you keep peripheral neuropathy under control.

1. Keep your blood sugar levels under control: Your first task is to manage your blood sugar levels under control and with the passage of time it will damage the peripheral nerves and pave the way for diabetic neuropathy. If you can keep your blood sugar levels within a healthy range, you will be able to reduce the risk of nerve damage by about 60 percent. You should talk to your doctor first since a rapid drop in the blood sugar levels can prove to be even worse.
2. Get the right level of Vitamin D: Your skin functions by producing Vitamin D in response to sunlight and it is immensely helpful in shielding against nerve pain. It has been found people who have lower levels of this nutrient are more likely to suffer from more pain. In case it is hard to get the recommended daily intake from food only, you will have to take supplement pills.
3. Keep away from smoking: We all know that smoking causes the blood vessels to constrict which hampers circulation. If you don’t quit smoking, your peripheral nerves may not be able to nutrient-rich blood which would make pain worse.
4. Take a warm bath: Warm water is not just relaxing, it can also improve circulation all through the body. It can provide instant relief. But it is worthy of mention here that since diabetic neuropathy leads to loss of sensation, you should ensure that the water isn’t too hot before you jump in.
5. Seek resort to over the counter medications: There is a host of painkillers available for easing mild to moderate ache stemming from diabetic neuropathy. These include ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen and acetaminophen. But before taking any of these pills, you should consult with an expert who can choose the right medicine for you.
6. Get up and move: Exercise can combat pain in a variety of ways. It helps in keeping blood sugar levels under control which, in turn, can hinder nerve damage. Workout increases blood flow to the extremities while also uplifting your mood. It will help you get rid of stress so that you can better deal with the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. In a study conducted by the University of Kansas, it was found that people who exercise regularly didn’t face any trouble in doing daily activities.
7. Consider carpal tunnel surgery: When the patient is suffering from localized peripheral nerve compression that affects the hands, carpal tunnel surgery can be considered as a last resort to achieve pain relief, reduced incidence of ulceration, increased range of movement and balance, preservation of limbs and improved quality of life.

With these few tips, you will be able to manage the peripheral neuropathy better.