Author | Spine Specialist in Chandigarh

Occipital Neuralgia: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

The nerves that run from the top of the spinal cord up through the scalp are known as occipital nerves. A medical condition in which occipital nerves gets inflamed or injured is called Occipital Neuralgia. Dr Anil Dhingra, a well-experienced neurosurgeon in Chandigarh highlights the symptoms and causes of Occipital Neuralgia. Symptoms Many times, the pain is confused with migraine or other types of headache as the symptoms are similar. However, the treatments are different so it is essential to get it diagnosed from a doctor. Symptoms of Occipital Neuralgia include: Aching and throbbing pain which begins at the base of the head and goes to the scalp. One or both sides of the head aching. Pain behind the eye. Increased Sensitivity to light. A Tender scalp. Pain in the movement of the neck. Causes Pressure or irritation on the occipital nerve because of injury could be the reason behind Occipital Neuralgia. Besides this some medical conditions that are linked to it are as follows: Trauma received by the back of the head. Tightening of neck muscles. Osteoarthritis Cervical disc disease Inflammation of blood vessels. Treatment When encountered with pain you can try some home remedies for temporary relief which includes: Applying heat to the neck. Taking some rest in an isolated dark place. Massage the painful muscles of the neck. Once you are temporarily relieved of the pain, immediately see a Neurosurgeon who may write you some anti-inflammatory medicines, muscle relaxants or nerve blocks depending on your condition. Occipital […]

Emotional Problems after Traumatic Brain Injury

Often after getting a traumatic brain injury there comes a significant shift in the way a person thinks and feels. Emotional problem is one such issue that persons with traumatic brain injury face. Dr Anil Dhingra, listed among the best brain surgeon in Chandigarh highlights some emotional problems people with a traumatic brain injury has to face and how can they deal with it. Mood Swings Sometimes brain injury affects the portion of the brain that controls emotions of a person. As a result of which episodes of sudden crying and laughing or “the emotional roller-coaster” increases. A person might be angry at a moment and be laughing at next. Often, there is no trigger of such fluctuations in mood which is why this becomes confusing for the family. However, episodes of mood swings decrease after a few months of injury but if it doesn’t improve over time, seeking medical help is suggested. Anxiety Intense, excessive and persistent worry or fear about everyday situations is termed as anxiety. Rapid heart rate, heavy breathing, and sweating are common symptoms of anxiety. People with traumatic brain injury face difficulty in concentrating and problem-solving due to which they might not be able to complete a task. This is the reason for anxiety in such patients. Sometimes, sudden flashbacks of the incident which led to the injury might also lead to anxiety. This is known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Treatment for anxiety varies from patient to patient, that is why getting checked […]

Parkinson’s Disease

A neurological condition that affects the speed, fluency, quality, and ease of movement is termed as a movement disorder. Cerebral Palsy, Ataxia, and Tourette syndrome including Parkinson’s disease are some of the movement disorders which affect a person’s ability to move or stay still. Dr Anil Dhingra best neurosurgeon in Chandigarh discusses the symptoms, causes treatment of Parkinson’s disease as follows: What is Parkinson’s disease? Parkinson’s is the disease which damages our central nervous system which includes our brain and spine. It is a medical condition which damages the cells that makes dopamine in a part of the brain. Dopamine cells are responsible for sending information to other cells which makes us do the actions we need to do. Parkinson’s disease makes these cells die as a result of which the motor system of our body gets affected. What are the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease? Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease vary from individual to individual. Some of the symptoms are as follows: – Tremor: Tremor is an uncontrolled shaking which usually begins in hands and arms but it can sometimes happen in jaw or feet too. – Stiffness: Parkinson’s cause rigidness which makes it difficult to move parts of the body. – Slow movements: Actions like walking, eating and even talking, becomes hard and slow in Parkinson’s disease. In medical terms, this condition is called Bradykinesia. – Changes in Walking: One of the common signs witnessed in patients with Parkinson’s is that your arms stop swinging when you walk. Gradually, your […]

Neuropathy: Causes & Symptoms

Our whole body consists of millions of nerves, that carry messages from one part of the body to another thus making our nervous system work. The nerves at any part or location of our body can get damaged by some injury or disease. These general diseases and malfunctioning of nerves are referred to as Neuropathy. Dr. Anil Dhingra an endoscopic spine surgeon in Chandigarh will tell you all about Neuropathy. It is usually classified on the basis of cause, and location of the nerves that affected. For example, if nerves of brain or spinal cord are affected then it is referred to as Peripheral Neuropathy. Causes of Neuropathy: – Vitamin Deficiency Deficiency of the B vitamins and folate can cause damage to nerves. The more specific is vitamin B12. Genetic or Inherited Disorders Genetic or inherited Disorders can one of the common reasons behind neuropathy. For example, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and Friedreich’s ataxia. Drugs or Medication Certain Drugs and Medications can cause Neuropathy. Even excessive use of any drug can also lead to the same. Trauma/Injury Prolonged pressure on a particular nerve, any injury or certain kind of trauma are the most common causes of neuropathy. Even the decreased blood flow to certain nerves can also lead to prolonged damage. Diabetes A most common condition associated with peripheral neuropathy is diabetes. It is most common for the people who are suffering from diabetes for a long time and have a problem in controlling it. Symptoms: – The gradual loss of feeling, […]

What is Micro Discectomy?

Surgical procedures earlier meant large incisions, long recovery period and painful rehab. Now, with the evolution of technology, surgical procedures aren’t as painful as they were earlier. We as the best neurosurgeon in Chandigarh explain the term. • What is Micro Discectomy? Microdiscectomy also known as microdecompression or microdiskectomy is a minimal invasive surgical procedure performed on herniated lumbar disc. During the surgery, surgeon removes portions of herniated disc to relieve pressure on the spinal nerve column. • How is Micro Discectomy Performed? Microdiscectomy is performed to remove the disc material placing pressure on nerves. The patient is under the influence of anesthesia when the surgery is performed. Surgeon makes 1 to 12 inches of incision on affected disc and uses a lighted microscope to see the affected area. The surgeon will then remove the damaged herniated tissue relieving the pressure on the nerve. The incision is then closed with sutures. • Risks Involved in Micro Discectomy Complications in microdiscectomy are rare. However, there are some risks involved which includes: 1. In 1% to 2% surgeries, there is a risk of leak of cerebrospinal fluid (Dural tear). 2. Nerve root damage. 3. In 5% of cases, there is a risk of recurrent disc herniation. 4. Bowel/bladder inconsistence. 5. Infection 6. Bleeding • Advantages of Micro Discectomy As microdiscectomy is a small invasive surgery, there are certain advantages involved in the surgery. 1. Small incision on skin. 2. Less damage to surrounding tissues. 3. Pain is relieved immediately. 4. Recovery period […]

Sciatica Pains And Its Causes

Sciatica is a common type of pain affecting the sciatic nerve, which is a large nerve in humans and other animals. Sciatic nerve begins in the lower back and runs through the buttock and lower limb. The Sciatica pain may go down the back, outside, or front of the leg. The most common symptoms of sciatica include lower back pain which extends through the hip and buttock and down one leg. The pain may get worse when you sit, sneeze or cough. Spine specialist in Chandigarh, Dr. Dhingra discussed the common causes of sciatica pain are: – -Risk Factors Smoking, obesity and occupation are some of the modifiable risk factors inflicting sciatica pains. Non-modifiable risk factors include increasing age, and history of back pain. -Spinal Disc Herniation In 90% cases, pressing on one of the lumbar or sacral nerve roots is the most frequent cause of sciatica. It most often occurs during weight lifting. In most of the cases, people below 50 years reported sciatica due to spinal disc herniation. -Spinal Stenosis It is a medical condition in which spinal canal, the space the spinal cord runs through, narrows and compresses the spinal cord or sciatic nerve roots. Bone spurs, inflammation or herniated disc are the major reasons responsible for the narrowing. This is true in the cases for individuals above the age of 50 years. The pain is commonly brought on by standing, walking or sitting for extended periods of time. -Piriformis Syndrome The piriformis is a muscle in […]

Analysing a Brain Tumour

The arranging procedure evaluates the spread of tumor past the birthplace site. Brain cancer is way different from other cancers. Tumors may reposition inside the cerebrum, however it is very uncommon for primary brain tumors to spread outside of the cerebrum, or far from the Sensory Nervous System (SNS). Therefore, brain tumor is generally reviewed as opposed to staged. The cerebrum tumor evaluating framework highlights four particular evaluations and furnishes your care group with a comprehension of how the tumor develops. This procedure enables the neurosurgeons to coordinate cerebrum disease medications to singular needs. To decide the development and advancement of tumors in the cerebrum, specialists center around the qualities of the tumor and its impact on usefulness. The fundamental elements used to evaluate mind tumors include: Size and area Kind of tissue or cells influenced Resectability (the probability that part or the majority of the tumor can be evacuated by medical procedure) The spread of the tumor within the cerebrum or spinal rope The likelihood the tumor has spread beyond the cerebrum or SNS An entire evaluation will likewise factor in age and any cerebrum growth manifestations that are restricting essential capacities, for example hearing or development. Cerebrum malignancy evaluating is very different than organizing different tumors in the body. Diseases in the lung, colon and bosom are organized in view of their area in the body, measure, lymph hub inclusion, and conceivable spread. Tumors in the mind are reviewed in light of how forceful the tumor cells show […]

CANCER- A FRIGHTFUL BATTLE

CANCER is one of the biggest enemies in human life and the commonest cause of death. In today’s current rate it is estimated that five in fifteen persons will develop cancer during their lifespan. The word cancer has been derived from ‘CANCRUM’ which means ‘CRAB’, and it is said to have been applied to such tumors because the swollen veins around them resemble the limbs of a crab. It is believed different mechanism are involved in the transformation of a normal cell to a cancerous cell. Thus, cancer is regarded as ill genes, which may arise due to the error in DNA replication. When I specifically talk about my expertise as a Neurosurgeon, I have to deal with many cases related to a brain tumor. A brain tumor occurs when abnormal cells from within the brain. To add further to this, there are mainly two types of a tumor: malignant or cancerous tumors and benign tumors. Cancerous tumors can be divided into primary tumors and secondary tumors. A primary brain tumor is described as a low grade or a high-grade tumor. A low-grade tumor generally grows slowly which can turn into a high-grade tumor. A high-grade tumor is more likely to grow faster. A secondary brain tumor is a cancerous tumor that develops in another part of the body, such as the breast, lung, or colon, and then spread to the brain. The symptoms of primary and secondary cancers are similar. Some of the following symptoms are most common like […]

Make Yourself And Your Diet, Healthy This Monsoon!

After experiencing the scorching heat, we welcome the monsoon season with so much excitement. But it brings some health issues with it too. Dr. Anil Dhingra, Spine expert in Chandigarh, brings you with some precautions to stay healthy in monsoons. In this season our body is more prone to infections, allergies, and indigestion problems. The high level of humidity also affects our body and reduces its digestive capability. You should avoid eating if you aren’t hungry because it can result in digestive problems. Here are some tips to stay healthy this monsoon. Say ‘NO’ To Street Food During the rainy season we love to eat chaat, bhajiyas, and pakodas from the local streets, but the chances of this food being contaminated are very high, also it is unhygienic. Fried food should be avoided during monsoon. Don’t eat pre-cut veggies and fruits Pre-cut fruits and vegetables can easily catch bacteria and germs. Try to avoid eating pre-cut fruits and veggies. Also, vegetables like cabbage and spinach,and other leafy veggies should be cleaned and washed properly with lukewarm water before the preparation, as their leaves can contain worms. Drink Herbal Consume herbal tea for this monsoon to keep your immune system strong and healthy, it provides a therapeutic effect on your body. The tea should contain basil, pepper, ginger,cloves, and cinnamon which will keep your body warm. Add Garlic and Turmeric to your food Viral infections are common during monsoon. Getting drenched is also a problem which you can’t always avoid. Adding […]

Eat Healthy For A Smart Brain

Brain is the most important and the most complex organ in the human body. It is the command center of the body which helps us to move, feel, think and what not. Hence, it is important to keep your brain in peak working condition. The food you eat plays a major role in keeping your brain healthy and active and can even improve your memory and concentration power. Even the best spine specialist in fortis Mohali – Dr. Anil Dhingra believes that your food choice is the most influential variable to keep your brain in the state of vitality. Include the below mention items in your diet to keep your brain healthy. Fatty Fish – It is considered a rich source for providing omega-3 fatty acid. Your brain uses this fatty acid to memorize. It may slow mental decline with age and also prevent Alzheimer’s disease. Avocados – These green powerhouses are full of monosaturated fats, help to keep blood sugar level stable. It also contains vitamin K and folate, which prevent blood clots in the brain. It is also rich in vitamin B and C. Blueberries – It is one of the highest antioxidant rich in vitamin C, K, and fiber. The presence of gallic acid, it protects our brain from degeneration and stress. Broccoli – It contains vitamin K and choline, which keep your memory sharp. It is also loaded with vitamin C and is high in fiber too. Coconut Oil – It is one of the most […]