Neurology ON THE CENTRAL COAST
Treatment for Migraines, Brain Injuries, Spinal Pain & More
Neurology is the branch of medicine dedicated solely to the nervous system, but pain or discomfort in any part of your body could warrant a trip to the neurologist. Examining the nervous system provides key insight to how the body interacts with the brain. Salinas Valley Health’s Neurology Department caters to patients dealing with various neurological conditions, with an emphasis on migraine treatment and head injuries.
When to Visit a Neurologist
People often believe a neurologist can only help them with issues related to the head and brain. However the entire body can be affected by neurological conditions.
Neurologists can help treat the following:
- Carpal tunnel syndrome – This painful wrist condition occurs when the median nerve in the forearm feels pressure from the wrist. Neurologists often treat carpal tunnel with anti-inflammatory medication and physical therapy. Surgery is sometimes required.
- Back pain – Back pain is often the result of a pinched nerve – when muscles or bone expand and trap a nerve between them. These can result in numbness, pain and a tingling sensation. The longer the nerve is trapped, the worse the condition becomes. Neurologists can find the pinched nerve and recommend appropriate exercises or medication to treat it.
- Epilepsy – This condition is characterized by abnormal brain activity that causes a person to have frequent, random seizures. Neurologists are needed to help reduce seizure attacks and control epileptic symptoms with drug therapy.
- Chronic back and neck pain – Your back and neck consist of numerous muscles that see constant use day in and day out. Commonly referred to as “knots,” trigger points are areas in the muscle that have become sensitive and painful. Sometimes these pains can be so intense that a special kind of treatment known as trigger point injection is required to alleviate muscle tension.
- Headaches – The medical field still does not understand a lot about headaches, but neurologists are leading the charge to learn more. A neurologist can help provide relief from headaches and prevent their frequency with medication, physical therapy and stress relief techniques.
Contact the Salinas Valley Health Neurology Department for assistance with pain and severe headaches. Our migraine treatment program has made remarkable progress in the treatment and prevention of severe headaches.
Your brain and your nervous system work together to help you do things like see, smell, taste, feel and move. Your nervous system sends signals to your brain to control these important functions. It also takes messages from your brain to your muscles, organs and skin. But sometimes there is a problem, and the signals can’t be sent. Click here to learn about different issues that can occur and the symptoms that are present with each.
