There have been 1917 new brain cancer cases registered in Australia in 2022. Brain cancer is also the most severe reason to have brain surgery. The statistics say that the chance of surviving at least 5 years is 23%. For this reason, it is crucial to have good healthcare and a great brain surgeon.
However, there are other reasons for neurosurgery. Almost 70% of spinal surgeries in Australia are performed by neurosurgeons. Other reasons for neurosurgery include stroke and hydrocephalus.
This article will discuss the main reasons to perform neurosurgery and their causes and treatments.
Brain tumor
Both children and adults can develop benign or malignant brain tumors. The location, size, and type of the tumor all influence the signs and symptoms of a brain tumor.
They may consist of:
l headaches that may wake you up at night or be worse in the morning
l difficulty with language comprehension, speech, or thought
l Seizures
l a side or area of your body that is weak or paralyzed
l Dizziness or issues with balance
l vision problems or hearing problems
l facial tingling or numbness
l sickness or vomiting
If some of those symptoms are repetitive, neurosurgeon Brisbane clinics have professionals who can take away all the doubts and give you some answers about your brain health.
Benign brain tumors are typically successfully treated with surgery and don’t recur. The cancerous ones are more tricky and require different treatments depending on their size, such as:
l Brain surgery
l Radiation therapy
l Chemotherapy and others
Chronic back or neck pain
A chronic pain condition lasts more than three months and the discomfort may be constant or intermittent.
Your daily activities, such as working, maintaining a social life, and taking care of others or yourself, may be hampered by chronic pain. As a result, you might experience depression, worry, and difficulty sleeping, which leads to new issues.
Chronic pain causes:
l persistent sickness
l cancer
l Broken bone
l infections
l worry or tension
A neurologist can examine you to see which treatment you might need and if you will need a neurosurgeon.
Medication, lifestyle modifications, and various therapies are all used to treat chronic pain. You may require the assistance of a psychiatrist or psychotherapist if your chronic pain is psychosomatic.
Hydrocephalus
The excessive buildup of cerebrospinal fluid in your brain’s ventricles, also known as brain cavities, is known as hydrocephalus. Your ventricles widen as a result of the extra fluid, which exerts damaging pressure on the brain’s tissues.
Congenital hydrocephalus can be caused by:
● Premature birth complications, including ventricular hemorrhage.
● infections that can inflame the tissue of the fetal brain during pregnancy, such as rubella.
The acquired hydrocephalus can be caused by:
l brain injury.
l Stroke.
l malignancies in the brain or spinal cord
l a brain or spinal cord infection, such as meningitis.
The main symptoms may be:
l Headache.
l vomiting and feeling nauseous
l vision issues.
l delays in development (in kids)
l Feeling worn out
l Balance and coordination issues
l loss of short-term memory
Hydrocephalus can be treated but not cured. There are two types of brain surgery for treating this condition.
l A shunt- a flexible tube inserted into the brain. The extra cerebrospinal fluid is sent to a different part of your body where it can be absorbed.
l Endoscopic third ventriculostomy- a tiny hole is created in the third ventricle’s floor This establishes a channel for cerebrospinal fluid to circulate normally in and around your brain.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
One of the most typical conditions affecting the hand is carpal tunnel syndrome. Affected individuals may have pain, numbness, and generalized weakness in their hands and wrists. It happens when the carpal tunnel in the wrist narrows. The tendons and median nerve (which are inside the carpal tunnel) press against one another and expand, which disables sensation in the fingers and hand.
Some of the main causes are:
l Heredity
l Pregnancy
l Hemodialysis
l A fractured and dislocated wrist
l hypothyroidism)
l Diabetes.
l Alcoholism
l A carpal tunnel syndrome tumor.
l Greater age
This condition is first treated non-surgically if it’s possible. For example, wearing a wrist brace at night or taking ibuprofen or another non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication.
Injections of cortisone are also employed.
The surgery is done if the previous options didn’t work. The ligament covering the carpal tunnel at the base of the palm is sliced (released) during the procedure.
To sum it up, many conditions require a visit to a neurologist and after that to a neurosurgeon if the condition you have requires that. Don’t be afraid of the surgery because sometimes it’s the only way to make your life better.
Other than the aforementioned diseases and conditions, some others also can require a neurosurgeon’s help and they are Spinal Fractures, Parkinson’s Disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Herniated Disk (Slipped, Ruptured or Bulging Disk), Essential Tremor, and others. Don’t hesitate to make an appointment right away if you think you might have some of these.
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