What disorder do neurosurgeons treat?
Neurosurgeons treat disorders involved with the brain, spine and nerves. Cervical and lumbar disc prolapse is a very common disorder treated by neurosurgeons.
Brain Conditions: Injuries to brain/skull, brain tumours, brain bleeding, brain aneurysms, brain AVM, hemifacial spasms, trigeminal neuralgia, hydrocephalus (accumulation of water in the brain), brain infections (brain abscess/ tuberculosis/parasitic infections).
Spinal Conditions: Spinal injuries, tumours involving spine/spinal cord, spinal AVMs, disc prolapse involving cervical/thoracic/lumbar region, back and neck pain due to cervical and lumbar spondylosis, spinal infections ( spinal abscess/spinal tuberculosis).
Peripheral Nerves: Entrapment neuropathy (compression of the nerves): carpal tunnel syndrome/tarsal tunnel syndrome/cubital tunnel syndrome etc.
Nerve Injuries: nerve tumours; neve abscess, injection nerve palsies.
Can extreme anxiety cause neurological symptoms?
Extreme anxiety is a very common cause of many neurological symptoms like headache, giddiness, lack of sleep, etc. However, the history of anxiety is not relieved or not expressed by many of these patients. Further, anxiety aggravates pre-existing pain or symptoms in several neurological conditions. Hence for complete recovery, anxiety/ the underlying cause of anxiety should be addressed.
When should you consult an orthopedic surgeon?
If the patient has
Joint or musculoskeletal pain that is progressive and interfering with daily activities
Any type of arthritis
Congenital bone anomalies
Bone tumours
Sports injuries
What kind of surgeries do orthopaedic surgeons perform?
Internal fixation of bones with plates and nails
Joint replacements (knee, hip, elbow, shoulder)
Revision joint Surgeries
Bone tumour excision and joint reconstructions
Arthroscopic knee, shoulder surgeries for sports injuries
Soft tissue repairs
Correction of congenital deformities and osteotomies
Spine surgeries (decompression and fusion)
How is joint Replacement done?
In Arthritis, the damaged cartilage and bone from the joint are replaced with a prosthesis made of metal, polyethylene, ceramic, etc to regain normal joint biomechanics.
When should a joint be replaced?
Moderate to severe arthritis interfering with daily activities.
What is the total recovery time for knee replacement?
Most patients resume their daily activities by 6 weeks, complete recovery occurs between 3-4 months.
Who is a Podiatrist?
A podiatrist is a qualified doctor who is an expert in evaluating and managing foot and leg problems medically or surgically.
When should I see a Podiatrist?
Consult a Podiatrist if you are suffering from foot ulcers or pain, redness, swelling over foot or legs, numbness or pinprick or burning sensation of feet, unsteady gait, ankle sprain, corn/callus, bunions, high arched or flat foot or foot deformities, heel pain, fungal nails, Achilles pain, dry cracked heels/sole, athlete’s foot, varicose veins, dark discoloration of skin/toes, infection of toe web- spaces, unusual pain or swelling over the calf etc. A podiatrist would do the relevant clinical examination and manage your foot/leg problems.
Are diabetic patients at high risk for foot complications?
Yes, diabetic patients compared to no-diabetics are more prone to foot complications and may present with any of the complaints mentioned in question 2.
