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Patient Education News

Neurology Associates of Lincoln Nebraska Educates Patients About Meralgia Paresthetica
February 14, 2012

Neurologist Matthew Kniss, M.D., Lincoln Neurology Meralgia paresthetica is a neurologic condition that results in tingling, numbness and burning pain in the outer part of the thigh.

The neurologists of Neurology Associates in Lincoln, Nebraska provide their patients with a helpful summary of this condition and possible treatment options.

According to the neurologist, "Meralgia paresthetica occurs when the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve — a nerve that supplies sensation to the surface of your upper thigh — becomes compressed, or pinched." This is more likely to occur in individuals who are overweight, pregnancy or have been diagnosed with diabetes.

Epilepsy Seizure Triggers
January 27, 2012

Seizures are often triggered by factors such as lack of sleep, alcohol consumption, stress, or hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle.

These seizure triggers do not cause epilepsy, a brain disorder that results in repeated seizures, but can provoke first seizures or cause breakthrough seizures in people who otherwise experience good seizure control with their medication. Sleep deprivation in particular is a universal and powerful trigger of seizures. For this reason, people with epilepsy should make sure to get enough sleep and should try to stay on a regular sleep schedule as much as possible. For some people, light flashing at a certain speed or the flicker of a computer monitor can trigger a seizure; this problem is called photosensitive epilepsy. Smoking cigarettes also can trigger seizures.

What Type of Headache Is It?
October 19, 2011

Headaches are very common and are responsible for millions of doctor visits each year. More than 9 in 10 adults will experience a headache sometime in their life. Nearly 2 out of 3 children will experience headache in childhood by age 15.

The International Headache Society has classified more than 150 types of headaches. They have categorized them primarily as "primary headaches" or "secondary headaches". It is possible for people to have more than one type of headache at the same time.

Primary headaches occur independently and are not caused by another medical condition. The most frequent type of primary headaches are:

Migraine
Tension-type Headache
Cluster Headache

Secondary headaches are the result of a different medical condition causing pain-sensitive nerve endings to be pressed on or pulled or pushed out of place. They may result from underlying conditions including fever, infection, medication overuse, stress or emotional conflict, high blood pressure, psychiatric disorders, head injury or trauma, stroke, tumors, and nerve disorders (particularly trigeminal neuralgia, a chronic pain condition that typically affects a major nerve on one side of the jaw or cheek).

Parkinson's Disease Symptoms
October 7, 2011

Parkinson's disease (PD) belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders. Early symptoms of Parkinson's are subtle and develop gradually. As the symptoms become more pronounced, patients may have difficulty walking, talking, or completing other simple tasks. Not everyone with one or more of these symptoms has Parkinson's disease, as these symptoms can also appear in other diseases.

The four main symptoms of Parkinson's disease are:

Tremor, or trembling in hands, arms, legs, jaw, or head
Rigidity, or stiffness of the limbs and trunk
Bradykinesia, or slowness of movement
Postural instability, or impaired balance

Other symptoms that may be experienced in people with Parkinson's disease include depression, difficulty with chewing and swallowing, speech changes, sleep problems, pain, and fatigue and loss of energy.

Migraine Prevention Medications
September 26, 2011

Some people with frequent and severe migraine headaches may benefit from using a preventive migraine medication. Preventive medications are considered if the migraines occur one or more times per week, or if the migraines are particularly disabling. Preventive medicines are also recommended for individuals who use other headache medications more than three times a week.

There are several medications available to help prevent migraines. Most were initially marketed for medical conditions other than migraine. These include:

Antiepileptics (AEDs), which were developed for treating epilepsy, but help prevent migraines by increasing levels of select neurotransmitters and dampening pain impulses;
Beta-blockers, which treat high blood pressure, but are also effective for reducing the risk of developing a migraine;
Calcium channel blockers, such as verapamil, are usually prescribed to treat high blood pressure, but their ability to stabilize blood vessel walls also appears to prevent the blood vessels from either narrowing or widening, which also affects blood flow to the brain;
Antidepressants may be helpful for individuals with other types of headaches because they increase the production of serotonin and may also affect levels of other chemicals, such as norepinephrine and dopamine.

Find a Neurologist Who Cares About Patient Education

Find a leading neurologist who specializes in the treatment of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children and Adolscents, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Adults, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, headache, multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, and stroke.

Learn more about each doctor to find a neurologist who is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has been licensed to practice medicine by your state medical board.

Some neurologists include the professional suffix “F.A.A.N.” or “FAAN” with their name. This means that they area “Fellow” of the American Academy of Neurology. Being a Fellow means that the neurologist is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Canada and has completed an evaluation designed to asses the knowledge, experience and skills necessary to provide high quality neurology care.