Numbness: Treatment, Procedure, Cost and Side Effects

It is very important for any individual suffering from a neurological disorder to take medical assistance. The possible neurological condition can be diagnosed by doing some medical examinations. Some of the examinations that are conducted for diagnosis include a neurological exam, genetic screening, brain scans and many other tests.

Malfunction of the brain can be caused in more than one region of the brain like frontal cortex, anterior cingulate, Parietal cortex and Basal ganglia. It is very important that symptoms are noticed and required tests are done immediately. In case of malfunctioning in the Basal ganglia, there are chances that patients experience more anxiety and avoid clashes in life excessively.

Self - assessment test for neurological disorders

• Self-assessment and self-administered tests can identify the presence of the neurological disorder, but it is best to seek medical assistance in such cases. The self-assessment tests can be done by an individual when they face symptoms like problems in urinating, difficulty in concentrating, problems with writing and holding objects, and experiencing blurred vision.
• It is important for an individual facing complaints like a headache, numbness in the arms or legs, changes in behavior, fatigue, blurry vision, slurred speech, weakness and changes in coordination to contact a medical professional. The thought of neurological disorder itself is very threatening and understanding the drug options available is very important.

Medications Used
The type of medication prescribed to the patients depends mainly on the condition of the neurological disorder. Some of the drugs that are prescribed include corticosteroids. These are provided for treatment of multiple sclerosis and decrease inflammation. Levodopa is a drug used mainly for treating Parkinson’s disease. In addition to physical examination and complete medical history, the diagnostic procedures that are carried out for neurological disorders include Computer Tomography scan (CT scan), Electroencephalogram (EEG), Electromyography (EMG) and Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Important Tips to Consider
The drugs used for treating neurological disorders also cause some side effects. In some cases, patients even develop a drug addiction. In such cases, the two critical components of drug addiction like withdrawal and dependence should be understood very well. Dependence on the drug occurs mainly when the patient takes the medication for a prolonged period of time. Further, depending on the nature of the medication and personal situation of the patient, addiction develops quickly. The patient tends to experience withdrawal symptoms if they become dependent on the medication and when they abruptly stop taking it. The symptoms that are caused in this situation include nausea, tremor, and headache. There are many other diagnostic tests also carried out that are useful and prevent further damage to the nervous system.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

A panic attack is something which can hit a person like a sack of bricks and can really affect him or her. While a lot of people around the world do happen to suffer as a result of panic attacks, not many of them know what they could do to make it end soon and to get back to normal. So, wouldn’t it be a pretty good idea to learn a little about what can be done to control a panic attack?

Symptoms
One of the most common signs of a panic attack is a hike in the rate of intake of air and an increase in the pulse rate of the person at the same time. In addition to this, the person’s palms get sweaty and clammy. A lot of people who experience panic attacks also feel the need to either vomit or defecate when they have one, neither of which can be said to be a pleasant feeling. Dizziness and a feeling of numbness are also quite common symptoms indicating a panic attack.

Causes
The reason why a person usually has a panic attack in the first place is because he or she feels that the degree of control possessed over a certain situation is not to the level that would seem to be comfortable. What is interesting when it comes to panic attacks is the fact that the more a person panics in a specific situation, the more the panic attacks are going to occur in that sort of situation or ones that are similar. For example, if a person is worried prior to a race and runs away from it instead of running the race itself, it registers in the mind as something worth being scared about. Facing up to the fear has great value. Apart from the anxiety factor, certain medicines and physical ailments also sometimes result in panic attacks.

Tips to end a panic attack
1. Hyperventilation is common and a deep breath goes a long way.
2. An alternative to hyperventilation would be to hold one’s breath. The duration for which this should be done is about 10 to 15 seconds. Doing this just a few times greatly helps in returning to normal.
3. A person doesn’t really think when in the middle of a panic attack. Making the effort to do any mental exercise such as backward counting in sets of 3 from 100 helps. 

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

Pregnancy is an exciting time for most. However, having a child can be burdening to your body, particularly in the case where a woman delivers the baby through a C-section. In such cases, one requires more time and opportunity to recover than a normal vaginal delivery. If you have undergone a cesarian (C-Section) delivery, it is time you take extra care for a quicker recovery.

Here are six remedies to accelerate your recovery so you can invest less energy in getting sore and tired, and additional time holding your new child.
You may feel deadness and soreness at the cut site, and the scar will be marginally raised, puffy, and darker than your regular skin tone. Your specialist will have regular appointments with you to know how you are doing and make sure that the injury is healing quickly.

Here are a few tips for a faster recovery:

1. Soup or broth: Bone soup is filled with amino acids like proline and glycine, which are required for collagen creation and incredible for skin recovery. Broth likewise contains gelatin, which is helpful for wound recovery and for the skin. There is a reason broth is a doctor recommended food for those suffering from any illness or sickness.
2. Binding: The essential point is to stay away from heavy lifting. Lightweight can diminish the pain and speed recovery after a C-section. Indeed, this can be useful for non-cesarean births too since it decreases pain and helps the uterus come back to its original size all the more rapidly.
3. Gentle Cesarean: Circumstances of the cesarian have a major effect on the recovery of a woman. Crisis C-sections or ones where a mother loses a considerable measure of blood clearly take more time to recover from. However, it has been established that women recuperate all the more speedily when they have a normal surgery and get sufficient holding time with the infant immediately. This is a development called tender cesarian and when conceivable, it appears to truly help recovery.
4. Soothing balm: A cesarian is a stomach surgery where there is a big cut. Using stomach ointments during pregnancy can help reduce the risk of dry stitches that stretch the skin and cause a tear in it. Using a softening balm after the operation can get rid of the numbness and speed scar recovery.
5. Glutamine: Glutamine is a key substrate for quickly developing and increasing cells, including white platelets. Glutamine increases the multiplication of fibroblasts, along these lines helping in wound recovery. It is the real amino acid lost during any tissue damage, suggesting a huge part in the conservation of the body mass.
6. Water and Magnesium: Many people get constipated after surgery and this can be particularly difficult after a cesarian. To prevent this from happening, drink lots of water to ensure that you stay hydrated. Take some magnesium to soften the stool and prevent constipation.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!

The brain is a very complex organ, both structurally and functionally, and presents with symptoms elsewhere in the body if there is a problem within. It is akin to a central processing unit of a computer which controls the functioning of the entire body. In addition to ageing, trauma, injury, and infection can also lead to neurological symptoms which require intervention by a neurologist.

The following are some common symptoms indicative of the need to see a neurologist.

1. Numb chin syndrome (NCS): This sudden numbness is often unilateral and has no dental/oral cause. NCS could either be the first indication of multiple sclerosis or systemic malignancy. Breast cancer, prostate cancer, and small cell lung cancer are shown to metastasize first to the trigeminal area and so numbness in the chin should be further investigated.
2. Muscle twitches: The quivering, twitching and flickering of certain muscles is common for most of us, which is medically known as fasciculations. These occur due to muscle overuse, tiredness, or due to old age. However, when these get progressive, spread to more and more muscles, and are more regular, then it is a cause for concern. This could be the first indication of underlying motor neurone disease, and it is good to rule it out in the early phase.
3. Poor vision: Vision is blurred or lost for short periods of time, usually affecting both eyes and lasting for just about a few seconds. This happens due to increased intracranial pressure, which causes sudden vision loss. However, it could also be due to underlying brain tumours that are enlarging and encroaching intracranial space.
4. Bowel/bladder incontinence: Inability to control bowel or bladder movements along with symptoms like leg stiffness could mean spinal cord compression and should be discussed immediately with a neurologist. Left unattended, it could progress and lead to severe complications.
5. Droopy eyelid: Whether or not it is painful, whether or not it is seen on both sides, a droopy eyelid is definitely a cause for concern. This could be due to aneurysm of an artery which can press on the cranial nerve and cause more severe symptoms.
6. Banging headache: A headache as if someone hit you with a cricket bat could be the result of an internal haemorrhage in the subarachnoid space. Diagnosis needs to be confirmed with a lumbar puncture to see if the fluid has blood in it.
7. Saddle anaesthesia: A tumour in the spinal column compressing on the lower spinal nerves presents as loss of anaesthesia around the genitals and buttocks. This again needs to be immediately looked at by the neurologist.

If you have any of the above symptoms, visit your neurologist, and ruling out serious causes is reason enough to cheer!

Loss of sensation refers to numbness in a particular or several areas of the body. Individuals suffering from the condition becomes incapable of feeling touch, temperature, pain, and vibration in the affected regions of the body. When this happens, it may lead to issues with balance, walking, driving and coordination which makes them more susceptible to injuries. If numbness is present for a long span of time, it may cause a host of issues. Such people are not able to notice infections, ulcers, and injuries since they are not able to feel pain at all which in most cases leads to further complications.

How does the pathway for sensation work?
In order to feel the normal sensations, the sensory receptors are supposed to detect the information in as well as around the body. These receptors should send the signal through the sensory nerves and the nerve roots which are formed by joining together the sensory nerves into thick and short branches. It may also reach through the brain stem and to the area of the brain which is in charge of perceiving and interpreting the sensory signals.

What are the causes of partial or complete loss of sensation?

• Different conditions can lead to numbness, and they may include:
• Blocking or reducing the supply of blood to the nerves present in the body resulting from a stroke
• Damage in the pathway for sensation which may result from sudden injuries or hereditary problems affecting the nerves called Friedriech ataxia.
• Compression in the pathways of the nerve or infection in the nerve which typically occurs in HIV infection or Lyme disease
• Metabolic abnormalities which occur in high blood sugar, vitamin B12 deficiency, and arsenic poisoning.

Sometimes, excessive pressure on various parts of the neural pathway may lead to loss of sensation. When a person repeats the same movements over and over again, it leads to internal swelling which may cause partial or complete loss of sensation. Herniation or rupture of the disk in the spine can cause osteoarthritis or narrowing of the passageway of the spinal cord. Lastly, an injury or a tumor or formation of pus near the spinal cord may result in this condition as well.

What are the treatment options for partial or complete loss of sensation?
When the sensations are impaired, the treatments for the problem depends on the cause of the problem. For instance, if an individual suffers from diabetic neuropathy, it is crucial to bring down the blood sugar levels by treating with insulin. Sometimes, doctors also recommend painkillers for treating abnormal sensations. One must also practice careful and proper foot care which also includes cutting the toenails in a podiatrist's office. But in case a pinched nerve or sciatica is the cause of impaired sensation, surgery can help in relieving the conditions to a great extent.

Thus, a loss of sensation is not to be overlooked and a doctor is to be consulted at the earliest to avoid complications. In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!