Stroke! That dreaded word which conjures up images of a dear old relative who was bedridden and miserable in the last years of his or her life. A well known word but one that is largely misunderstood by people.
A common misconception is that it happens to the elderly. In India more than 1.2 million people suffer from strokes every year and a considerable number of them (an estimated one in five) are aged under 40.
A ‘stroke‘ is what occurs when blood flow to the brain is suddenly cut off. In such a situation, brain cells immediately begin to deteriorate and die. It is imperative to restore blood flow to the brain as quickly as possible in order to avert brain damage and potential death. The interruption of blood flow could be cause either by blockage or by bleeding. Blockage of an artery causes what is known as an ‘ischaemic stroke’. It is the most common and it causes about 87% of strokes. Bleeding causes what is called ‘haemorrhagic stroke’. It is rarer but considerably more dangerous.
We at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital employ state of the art technology to treat strokes in order to not only save patients’ lives but also their quality of life.
Cluster headaches are bouts of intensely painful headaches. Typically they begin at night, usually a couple of hours after the patient goes to sleep. More painful than migraines, they (thankfully) last for shorter periods of time. The attacks occur over extended time periods of weeks or months, hence the name. Between ‘clusters’ they can disappear for months or even years. They do however tend to be cyclical, occurring at the same times of the year. The root cause is unfortunately unknown but the source of the pain is the trigeminal nerve which is the nerve in the face that controls sensations of heat and pain. The nerve is activated and causes eye pain which is closely associated with the headaches.
Among other treatments, we offer radio frequency ablation to help patients overcome their Debilitating Pain.
The same Trigeminal Nerve is the source of probably among the most excruciatingly painful experiences we know of. Known as ‘Trigeminal Neuralgia’ and commonly referred to as ‘tic doloreux’ the pain takes the form of stabbing shock-like jolts which occur in volleys lasting from seconds to two minutes. The whole attack can sometimes last up to two hours.
Searing, burning, jolts, aches – trigeminal neuralgia can present a whole range of pain, all of which can cripple a person physically and mentally. The constant pain is a cause of deep despair among patients. But, with modern medicine, there are a host of treatment options available to patients ranging from medication to surgery to radio frequency ablation.
Encephalitis is a rare and dangerous condition which presents as swelling or inflammation of brain tissue. This can have dangerous permanent ramifications ranging from personality changes to impaired brain function and even loss of life. Encephalitis has a number of causes, some of them unknown. At least 20% of cases are what is known as ‘autoimmune encephalitis’.
Autoimmune diseases or disorders are those which take place when the body’s own defence system (immune system) attacks healthy tissue as if they were foreign invaders. In Autoimmune Encephalitis, the body’s immune system attacks healthy brain tissue causing swelling and impaired functions. While it has probably been around forever, it has only been recognised as a disease as recently as this millenium.
Given its wide-ranging symptoms, its causes and treatments, it is treated by teams comprising as many as four different types of Specialists – Neurologists, Psychiatrists, Rheumatologists and Immunologists. Among the most advanced treatments for this condition is immunotherapy which we are proud to offer.
Guillain Barre Syndrome is another rare condition in which the immune system attacks the peripheral nervous system. A terrifying autoimmune disorder, It begins with a feeling of weakness in the legs and extremities. This feeling can spread rapidly throughout the body in anywhere from two days to two weeks. The symptoms increase in severity to a point where the patient can experience complete paralysis. Even the respiratory muscles are affected, causing patients to require mechanical assistance to breathe. Guillain Barre syndrome must be treated exclusively in a hospital. The exact cause of it has not yet been determined but it is known that patients are affected by it after suffering from a viral or bacterial infection.
The autoimmune system attacks peripheral nerves, damaging the myelin sheath of the nerves. This causes a disruption in information flow to the brain. Unable to communicate with the brain and central nervous system, bodily functions begin to suffer.
Diagnosis is difficult as the early symptoms are similar to a host of other conditions. Doctors will need to take a complete medical history of the patient. To confirm suspicions of Guillain Barre Syndrome, nerve conductivity tests will be performed, as will a spinal tap or lumbar puncture, for analysis of Cerebrospinal Fluid. Treatment may include Immunoglobulin Therapy and Plasmapheresis.
