Traumatic And Nontraumatic Brain Injuries

Many patients that we see have seemingly bizarre symptoms that they have been living with for long periods of time, resultant to changes in the way their brain is functioning. These neurologic findings are sometimes attributable to post-concussive syndromes, following an accident or other head injury, and sometimes not and are caused by other environmental factors. The symptoms that occur often include imbalance or dizziness, tremor, headache, wincing of one or both eyes, tearing, fear of light, (photophobia), intolerance to sounds, (hyperacusis), reduced or deteriorating handwriting, (micrographia/dysgraphia), cognitive loss, personality/behavioral change, and on and on. If these neurologic symptoms are as a result of a structural abnormality, they are usually caught long before the patient is referred to my office. However, when there is no underlying demonstrable change, i.e. on MRI, this points to a neurophysiologic problem. Neurophysiologic problems are such that they cannot be seen on imaging studies. It would be like taking a picture of your car to try and figure out why the motor won’t start. These types of problems can only be observed on clinical examination of a patient and by utilizing other non-imaging type examinations such as the neurodiagnostic equipment found in my office. The good news is that if no structural lesions are involved, there is often a good chance of complete recovery once the diagnostic dilemma is uncovered and appropriate functional neurologic rehabilitation is utilized. The patients that we see with these types of problems refer to my office misdiagnosed, or undiagnosed. Often they are on drugs that they have no idea why they are taking, and which are not only not helpful, but oftentimes harmful. (Whenever you are prescribed a drug, you should ask why). They have seen several doctors and have had batteries of tests. We particularly enjoy working with these types of patients, as when they get better the joy is heartfelt by all.