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In addition to brain tumors, Neurosurgery of Kalamazoo diagnose and treat a variety of brain and skull related disorders and injuries. We can help relieve intense pain and our practice remains committed to developing and delivering effective treatments.

Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)

This condition is caused by an increased amount of cerebrospinal fluid (commonly called CSF) in the brain’s ventricles. The ventricles are a system of large, fluid-filled open spaces inside the brain. Too much CSF in the ventricles can elevate pressure in the skull. It can damage delicate brain tissue.

Symptoms

Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is an abnormal buildup of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain’s ventricles, or cavities. It occurs when the normal flow of CSF throughout the brain and spinal cord is blocked. The ventricles enlarge which puts pressure on the brain. While it can occur in people of any age, it most typically is found in the elderly. It may result from a subarachnoid hemorrhage, head trauma, infection, tumor, or complications of surgery. If a person develops NPH without any of these factors then the cause is unknown. Symptoms of NPH often resemble those of Parkinson’s Disease and/or Alzheimer’s Disease.

Diagnosis

TN diagnosis is based primarily on the person’s history and description of symptoms, along with results from physical and neurological examinations. Other disorders that cause facial pain should be ruled out before TN is diagnosed. Some disorders that cause facial pain include post-herpetic neuralgia (nerve pain following an outbreak of shingles), cluster headaches, and temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ, which causes pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement).  Because of overlapping symptoms and the large number of conditions that can cause facial pain, obtaining a correct diagnosis is difficult, but finding the cause of the pain is important as the treatments for different types of pain may differ.

Most people with TN eventually will undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan to rule out a tumor or multiple sclerosis as the cause of their pain. This scan may or may not clearly show a blood vessel compressing the nerve. Special MRI imaging procedures can reveal the presence and severity of compression of the nerve by a blood vessel.

A diagnosis of classic trigeminal neuralgia may be supported by an individual’s positive response to a short course of an antiseizure medication. Diagnosis of TN2 is more complex and difficult, but tends to be supported by a positive response to low doses of tricyclic antidepressant medications (such as amitriptyline and nortriptyline), similar to other neuropathic pain diagnoses.

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Treatment

Surgical placement of a shunt in the brain to drain excess CSF into the abdomen where it can be absorbed as part of the normal circulatory process. This allows the brain ventricles to return to their normal size. Regular follow-up care by a physician is important in order to identify subtle changes that might indicate problems with the shunt.

Prognosis

Although some people may experience temporary improvements, the symptoms of NPH usually get worse over time if the condition is not treated. Treatment with shunts varies from person to person, some people can recover quickly after treatment and enjoy a good quality of life. Early diagnosis and treatment improves the chance of a good recovery. Without treatment, symptoms may worsen and cause death.

Neurosurgery of Kalamazoo has been utilizing minimally invasive procedures that greatly reduce patient recovery time. They are considered one of the sacroiliac joint surgery centers of the world. When it comes to spinal expertise, Neurosurgery of Kalamazoo provides the critical care meeting its patients’ needs with limited down time resulting in quick recoveries.

Anatomy of the Spine

The spinal column is the body’s main support structure. Its thirty-three bones, called vertebrae, are divided into five regions: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral and coccygeal.

Where Neck Pain Begins

Neck pain is a common problem that severely impacts the quality of your life. It can limit your ability to be active. It can cause you to miss work. Many different causes may lead to pain in your neck.

Where Lower Back Pain Begins

Lower back pain is a common problem that severely impacts the quality of your life. It can limit your ability to be active. It can cause you to miss work. Many different causes may lead to pain in your lower back.

Compression Fractures of the Spine

This is a collapse of vertebral bone. It can affect one or more vertebrae. Compression fractures typically develop in your mid or lower back. This can change the shape of your spine.

Vertebroplasty

This minimally-invasive procedure is an injection of bone cement into a vertebra. It stabilizes a compression fracture of the spine. One or more vertebrae may need to be treated.

Cervical Radiculopathy

This condition is an irritation or compression of one or more nerve roots in the cervical spine. Because these nerves travel to the shoulders, arms and hands, an injury in the cervical spine can cause symptoms in these areas. Cervical radiculopathy may result from a variety of problems with the bones and tissues of the cervical spinal column.

Herniated Disc (Cervical)

This condition is a rupture of one of the vertebral discs in your neck. A herniated disc can allow disc material to press harmfully against the spinal nerves.

Spinal Stenosis (Cervical)

This condition is a narrowing of the spinal canal that results from the degeneration of bones, discs, or joints in the cervical spine.

Myelopathy

This is a problem that affects your spinal cord. It happens when something presses harmfully against it. Your spinal cord is the main nerve pathway between your brain and your body. Pressure on it can cause problems throughout your body.

Degenerative Disc Disease

This condition is a weakening of one or more vertebral discs, which normally act as a cushion between the vertebrae. This condition can develop as a natural part of the aging process, but it may also result from injury to the back.

Facet Joint Syndrome

This condition is a deterioration of the facet joints, which help stabilize the spine and limit excessive motion. The facet joints are lined with cartilage and are surrounded by a lubricating capsule that enables the vertebrae to bend and twist.

Kyphosis

Herniated Discs

A herniated disc is a common injury that can affect any part of the spine. A herniated disc can cause severe pain and other problems in the arms or legs.

Lumbar Radiculopathy (Sciatica)

This condition is an irritation or compression of one or more nerve roots in the lumbar spine. Because these nerves travel to the hips, buttocks, legs and feet, an injury in the lumbar spine can cause symptoms in these areas. Sciatica may result from a variety of problems with the bones and tissues of the lumbar spinal column.

Spinal Stenosis

Spondylolisthesis

This condition occurs when a lumbar vertebra slips out of place. It slides forward, distorting the shape of your spine. This may compress the nerves in the spinal canal. The nerves that exit the foramen (open spaces on the sides of your vertebrae) may also be compressed. These compressed nerves can cause pain and other problems.

Osteoarthritis of the Spine

If you have back or neck pain that doesn’t go away, you may have osteoarthritis of the spine. Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis. For many of us, it develops slowly as we age. And it can keep you from being as active as you like.

Metastatic Cancer of the Spine

Scoliosis

This condition is an abnormal curvature of the spine. It most often develops in early childhood, just before a child reaches puberty.

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion (ACDF)

Artificial Cervical Disc Replacement (Prestige®)

This procedure replaces a diseased or damaged spinal disc with a specialized implant designed to preserve motion in the neck. This procedure can relieve the pain of pinched nerves in the cervical spine.

Cervical Posterior Foraminotomy

This surgery creates more space for a compressed spinal nerve in your neck. The procedure relieves painful pressure caused by a herniated or degenerative disc.

Cervical Laminaplasty (Cervical Laminoplasty)

Cervical Laminaplasty (no hardware)

Lumbar Disc Microsurgery

This minimally-invasive procedure relieves pressure on nerve roots caused by a herniated disc. It can eliminate the pain of sciatica.

Laminectomy

This procedure relieves pressure on the nerve roots in the spine. It is most commonly performed to relieve the pain of stenosis. This is a narrowing of the spinal canal that is often caused by the formation of bony growths that can press against the nerve roots. The surgeon may treat one or more vertebrae.

Lumbar Corpectomy

Minimally-Invasive Lumbar Microdecompression

This minimally invasive procedure is used to remove overgrown vertebral bone and soft tissue to relieve the compression of nerve roots in the lumbar spine. It is performed through a small incision on the back.

Lumbar Inter-Body Fusion (IBF)

TLIF: Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion

TLIF is generally used to treat back or leg pain caused by degenerative disc disease. The surgeon will stabilize the spine by fusing vertebrae together with bone graft material.

Lumbar Inter-Body Fusion (IBF)

In addition to brain tumors, Neurosurgery of Kalamazoo diagnose and treat a variety of brain and skull related disorders and injuries. We can help relieve intense pain and our practice remains committed to developing and delivering effective treatments.

Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)

This is an abnormal connection between blood vessels. It happens when arteries connect directly to veins without first sending blood through tiny capillaries. An AVM can look like a tangle of blood vessels. They form anywhere in your body, but most often they form in or around the brain and along the spinal cord.

Resection of Cerebral Arteriovenous Malformation

In this procedure, performed under general anesthesia, the surgeon opens the skull to remove an abnormal tangle of enlarged blood vessels called a cerebral arteriovenous malformation (or AVM). This procedure is generally used for small AVMs that are located on or near the surface of the brain.

Stereotactic Radiosurgery for Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)

This nonsurgical procedure is used to treat an arteriovenous malformation (also called an AVM) located deep inside the brain. During this procedure, beams of radiation are precisely focused at the AVM, destroying the abnormal vessels while leaving surrounding tissue unharmed. The procedure may take several hours.

Brain Aneurysm

This condition is a bulge that forms in the wall of a weakened artery in the brain. This bulge can leak or rupture, causing a stroke. An aneurysm can be life-threatening.

Cerebral Cavernous Malformation (CCM)

This is a mass of enlarged blood vessels in your brain or spinal cord. Pockets in the mass slow down or even trap blood. This can lead to blood clots, or to a leaking of blood we call a “hemorrhage.”

In addition to brain tumors, Neurosurgery of Kalamazoo diagnose and treat a variety of brain and skull related disorders and injuries. We can help relieve intense pain and our practice remains committed to developing and delivering effective treatments.

Neurosurgery of Kalamazoo offers comprehensive treatment of disorders related to nerves that are outside the brain or spinal cord. The peripheral nerves can be damaged by disease and trauma. There are actually more than 100 types of peripheral nerve disorders.
Movement disorders are highly complex and require a multidisciplinary approach to treatment. Our neurosurgeons provide advanced surgical options to appropriate candidates for managing these symptoms of these disorders.

Where Neck Pain Begins

Neck pain is a common problem that severely impacts the quality of your life. It can limit your ability to be active. It can cause you to miss work. Many different causes may lead to pain in your neck.

Where Lower Back Pain Begins

Lower back pain is a common problem that severely impacts the quality of your life. It can limit your ability to be active. It can cause you to miss work. Many different causes may lead to pain in your lower back.

Post-Laminectomy Syndrome

This condition, also called “failed back syndrome,” is a type of chronic pain. It can develop in some people after spine surgery.

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS)

This is a type of chronic, long-lasting, pain. In most cases, it develops in an arm or a leg that you have previously injured. With CRPS, you may have unexplained pain that won’t go away. It may be severe, and it may spread.

Spinal Cord Stimulation (Paddle Lead)

Spinal cord stimulation (also called SCS) uses electrical impulses to relieve chronic pain of the back, arms and legs. It is believed that electrical pulses prevent pain signals from being received by the brain. SCS candidates include people who suffer from neuropathic pain and for whom conservative treatments have failed.

Cubital Tunnel Syndrome

This condition, also called “ulnar nerve entrapment,” happens to the ulnar nerve in your elbow. This nerve travels along the inner side of your elbow and down to your hand. It’s the nerve that makes the jolt you feel when you bump your “funny bone.” With this condition, your ulnar nerve is compressed, stretched or irritated.

Ulnar Nerve Transposition

This surgery relieves pressure on the ulnar nerve at the elbow. It moves the nerve to keep it from being compressed by the medial epicondyle (a bony bump on the inner side of your elbow).

Carpal Tunnel Release (Open Technique)

Bursitis of the Hip (Trochanteric Bursitis)

This is an irritation or swelling of the trochanteric bursa. This small, fluid-filled sac is found on the outer side of the femur. It acts as a cushion for the iliotibial band, a thick tendon in your leg.

Neurosurgery of Kalamazoo provides comprehensive diagnosis and treatment of brain, spine and peripheral nerve disorders.

Neurosurgery of Kalamazoo continuously performs research.