Coastal Neurology and Neurosurgery treat a wide range of neurological conditions. Our team of surgeons, physicians, and treatment staff are dedicated to your health and well-being. Our approach to care and treatment is centered on a personal connection with each of our patients.
Below you will find a variety of conditions we treat with Neurosurgery and Neurology. If you want to skip to conditions treated with neurology, you can skip further down the page.
An aneurysm is a localized, blood-filled balloon-like bulge in the wall of a blood vessel.
A brain tumor is a collection, or mass, of abnormal cells in your brain. Your skull, which encloses your brain, is very rigid. Any growth inside such a restricted space can cause problems. Brain tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign).
Chiari malformation, also known as Arnold–Chiari malformation, is a malformation of the skull. It consists of a downward displacement of the cerebellar tonsils through the foramen magnum (the opening at the base of the skull), sometimes causing non-communicating hydrocephalus as a result of obstruction of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) outflow.
A condition in which there is an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the brain. This typically causes increased pressure inside the skull.
Pituitary tumors are abnormal growths that develop in your pituitary gland. … Some pituitary tumors can cause your pituitary gland to produce lower levels of hormones. Most pituitary tumors are noncancerous (benign) growths (adenomas).
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is an insult to the brain, not of a degenerative or congenital nature, but caused by external physical force that may produce a diminished or altered state of consciousness, which results in an impairment of cognitive abilities or physical functioning.
A chronic pain disorder that affects the trigeminal nerve. The typical form results in episodes of severe, sudden, shock like pain in one side of the face that lasts for seconds to a few minutes. Groups of these episodes can occur over a few hours. The atypical form results in a constant burning pain that is less severe.
A condition that occurs when the CSF leaks through a defect in the dura or the skull and out through the nose or ear.
Birth defects of the physical structure of the brain or spinal cord that develop in utero, or when a fetus is developing during pregnancy.
Spinal disc herniation, also known as a slipped disc, is a medical condition affecting the spine in which a tear in the outer, fibrous ring of an intervertebral disc allows the soft, central portion to bulge out beyond the damaged outer rings.
Spinal stenosis is an abnormal narrowing (stenosis) of the spinal canal that may occur in any of the regions of the spine. This narrowing causes a restriction to the spinal canal, resulting in a neurological deficit.
Syringomyelia is a generic term referring to a disorder in which a cyst or cavity forms within the spinal cord. This cyst, called a syrinx, can expand and elongate over time, destroying the spinal cord.
Spondylolysis is defined as a defect or stress fracture in the pars interarticularis of the vertebral arch. The vast majority of cases occur in the lower lumbar vertebrae (L5), but spondylolysis may also occur in the cervical vertebrae.
Spondylolisthesis is a condition in which one bone in your back (vertebra) slides forward over the bone below it.
Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person’s spine has a sideways curve.
A compression fracture is a collapse of a vertebra.
Facet syndrome is a syndrome in which the facet joints (synovial diarthrosis, from C2 to S1) cause back pain.
Sciatica is a medical condition of pain going down the leg from the lower back.
Myelopathy describes any neurologic deficit related to the spinal cord.
When due to trauma, it is known as a spinal cord injury. When inflammatory, it is known as myelitis. Disease that is vascular in nature is known as vascular myelopathy. The most common form of myelopathy in human, cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) is caused by arthritic changes (spondylosis) of the cervical spine, which result in narrowing of the spinal canal (spinal stenosis) ultimately causing compression of the spinal cord.
Damage to any part of the spinal cord or nerves at the end of the spinal canal.
A pars defect or spondylolysis is a stress fracture of the bones of the lower spine. These fractures typically occur due to overuse. They can be on one or both sides of the vertebrae. It is a common cause of low back pain in children and adolescents.
A neurologic disorder caused by tissue attachments that limit the movement of the spinal cord within the spinal column.
Inflammation of the facet joints in the spine or sacroiliac joints between the spine and the pelvis.
When normal changes that take place in the disks of your spine cause pain.
The brachial plexus is a network of nerves that conducts signals from the spinal cord, which is housed in the spinal canal of the vertebral column (or spine), to the shoulder, arm and hand. Brachial plexus injuries, or lesions, can occur as a result of shoulder trauma, tumors, or inflammation.
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is a medical condition due to compression of the median nerve as it travels through the wrist at the carpal tunnel.
Also called neurofibrosarcoma, nerve sheath tumors are malignant (cancerous) tumors that grow in the cells surrounding peripheral nerves. A common cause of nerve sheath tumors is neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).
Ulnar nerve palsy is a condition caused by damage to the ulnar nerve. Damage is usually the result of illness, injury, or too much pressure on the ulnar nerve. People with ulnar nerve palsy typically have tingling or complete loss of sensation in their fourth and fifth fingers.
A nerve that is formed by the union of the medial and lateral roots from the medial and lateral cords of the brachial plexus and supplies the muscular branches in the anterior region of the forearm and the muscular and cutaneous branches in the hand.
A seizure is a sudden, uncontrolled electrical disturbance in the brain. It can cause changes in your behavior, movements, or feelings, and in levels of consciousness. Having two or more seizures at least 24 hours apart that aren’t brought on by an identifiable cause is generally considered to be epilepsy.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease affecting the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord). MS occurs when the immune system attacks nerve fibers and myelin sheathing (a fatty substance which surrounds/insulates healthy nerve fibers) in the brain and spinal cord.
A migraine is a headache that can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on one side of the head. It’s often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and sound.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurologic disorder that causes the brain to shrink (atrophy) and brain cells to die.
Parkinson’s disease is a progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement. Symptoms start gradually, sometimes starting with a barely noticeable tremor in just one hand. Tremors are common, but the disorder also commonly causes stiffness or slowing of movement.
Dementia is not a specific disease but is rather a general term for the impaired ability to remember, think, or make decisions that interferes with doing everyday activities. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia. Though dementia mostly affects older adults, it is not a part of normal aging.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a sudden injury that causes damage to the brain. It may happen when there is a blow, bump, or jolt to the head.
Concussion- A concussion is a traumatic brain injury that affects your brain function.
Ataxia is a term for a group of disorders that affect co-ordination, balance, and speech. Any part of the body can be affected, but people with ataxia often have difficulties with balance and walking, speaking, and swallowing.
Bell’s palsy is an unexplained episode of facial muscle weakness or paralysis. It begins suddenly and worsens over 48 hours. This condition results from damage to the facial nerve (the 7th cranial nerve). Pain and discomfort usually occur on one side of the face or head. Bell’s palsy can strike anyone at any age.
Essential tremor is a nervous system (neurological) disorder that causes involuntary and rhythmic shaking. It can affect almost any part of your body, but the trembling occurs most often in your hands — especially when you do simple tasks, such as drinking from a glass or tying shoelaces.
Paresthesia is an abnormal sensation of the skin (tingling, pricking, chilling, burning, numbness) with no apparent physical cause. Paresthesia may be transient or chronic and may have any of dozens of possible underlying causes.
A stroke, also known as transient ischemic attack or cerebrovascular accident, happens when blood flow to the brain is blocked. This prevents the brain from getting oxygen and nutrients from the blood. Without oxygen and nutrients, brain cells begin to die within minutes.
•An EMG test looks at the electrical signals your muscles make when they are at rest and when they are being used.
•A nerve conduction study measures how fast and how well the body's electrical signals travel down your nerves
*BOTOX® is a prescription medicine that is injected to prevent headaches in adults with chronic migraine who have 15 or more days each month with headache lasting 4 or more hours each day in people 18 years or older.