Sciatic Treatment and Causes

Sciatic pain is caused by general compression or irritation of one of the sciatic nerve roots. The symptoms often include lower back pain, buttock pain, and pain and numbness in various parts of the leg and foot. Symptoms typically effect only one side of the body. Spinal disc herniation which presses on one of the lumbar or sacral nerve roots counts for 90% of sciatica pain cases. Other compressive spinal causes include lumbar spinal stenosis, where the spinal canal narrows and compresses the spinal cord. The narrowing can also be cause by herniation or inflammation, which decreases available space for the spinal cord and irritating nerves from the spinal cord that connect to the sciatic nerves. Pregnancy may also cause sciatic nerve damage due to the weight of the fetus pressing on the nerves. Most cases do not harm the fetus or the mother, indirect harm may come from a numbing effect in the legs.

Sciatic treatment in NJ varies on a case by case basis. Medications are commonly prescribed, but are often a temporary solution. Surgery for unilateral sciatica involves the surgical removal of part of the disc. Long term care appears to be equivalent to conservative care. Epidurals show quality evidence to suggest short-term pain reduction with epidural steroid injections.
If you are in need of sciatic treatment in NJ, contact North Jersey Brain and Spine Center today. We are the largest neurosurgical group practice in Bergen County NJ. Our neurosurgeons are board certified and specialized in spine, neuro-oncology, skull related surgery, endovascular, and functional neurosurgery.

North Jersey Brain and Spine Center

Hackensack Office
20 Prospect Avenue Suite 907
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 342-2550

Spine Specialists in NJ

If you are suffering from back pain, you may need spinal surgery to help alleviate said pain. The North Jersey Brain and Spine Center is a physical therapy and rehabilitation facility that is staffed with spine specialists in NJ that have access to four local area hospitals if surgery is necessary.

Many times, we can perform minimally invasive surgery done with lasers as opposed to knives. This is beneficial to patients in many ways. There is less risk of infection. It is less painful and generally takes less time for recovery. It is also less scarring than traditional surgery.

North Jersey Brain and Spine Center’s specialist work to ease a large number of movement disorders, including:

• Parkinson’s disease
• Essential tremors
• Dystonia
• Spasticity

We use all of the most up-to-date equipment and methods and are the only facility in New Jersey to utilize the ClearPoint system for deep brain stimulation technology (DBS). This allows for a quicker surgery and quicker recovery.

If you would like more information on any of the treatments that our spine specialists in NJ perform, contact North Jersey Brain and Spine Center to schedule an appointment.

North Jersey Brain and Spine Center
680 Kinderkamack Road
Suite 300 (3rd floor)
Oradell, NJ 07649
(201) 342-2550

Arteriovenous Malformation

Arteriovenous malformations are lesions that appear on arteries or veins. It can cause blood to flow through these systems without going through the heart or other intermediaries. This can cause serious problems, but it is possible to go through life without ever discovering the condition.. Most people with arteriovenous malformations have had them since birth, but they can also develop later in life.

The North Jersey Brain and Spine Center is a physical therapy and rehabilitation facility that can help to treat patients with arteriovenous malformations and other types of brain and spinal disorders.

Arteriovenous malformation are usually harmless until they rupture. If one ruptures, it is necessary to stop the bleeding and seal the rupture. Our neurosurgeons have access to four local area hospitals and can perform emergency same day surgeries.

Treatment for arteriovenous malformations depends on whether or not it has ruptured, but generally requires a craniotomy inside the skull to locate abnormal veins and arteries.

If you are suffering from an arteriovenous malformation, contact North Jersey Brain and Spine Center.

North Jersey Brain and Spine Center
680 Kinderkamack Road
Suite 300 (3rd floor)
Oradell, NJ 07649
(201) 342-2550

Glioblastoma Multiforme Specialists in NJ

Glioblastomas are one of the most common types of brain tumors. They form out of glials, the most common type of brain cells, and have different levels of malignance. Glioblastoma multiforme is the most malignant level. Since glioblastoma multiforme has no specific symptoms and also appear similar to other types of brain ailments, it can sometimes be difficult to diagnose without taking sample tissue.

North Jersey Brain and Spine Center is a physical therapy and rehabilitation facility that has glioblastoma multiforme specialists who can help to diagnose and treat glioblastoma multiforme and other types of brain or movement disorders.

Glioblastoma multiforme can have a wide range of symptoms. Some of which include:

• Sudden seizures
• Chronic headaches
• Nausea
• Memory loss
• Personality changes

Due to risk of brain damage and the rapid growth of glioblastoma multiforme, treatment is difficult and is usually performed in stages. Surgery is performed to remove the main part of the tumor to reduce symptoms. Afterwards, radiation is used to reduce more cells and reduce chances of remission.

If you would like more information on our glioblastoma multiforme specialists, contact North Jersey Brain and Spine Center to schedule an appointment.

North Jersey Brain and Spine Center
680 Kinderkamack Road
Suite 300 (3rd floor)
Oradell, NJ 07649
(201) 342-2550

Deep Brain Stimulation

Recently Dr. Hooman Azmi and Dr. Fiona Gupta spoke about Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) at the MRI Interventions Reception which was held at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco. The doctors are experts in the field of brain and movement disorders. DBS is a surgical treatment that involves the implantation of a device called a brain pacemaker, which sends electrical impulses to specific areas of the brain. This treatment has been especially successful in treating movement affective disorders such as Parkinson's disease, essential tremor, dystonia and chronic pain.

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disease with primary symptoms such as tremors, rigidity, bradykinesia and postural instability. While DBS does not cure Parkinson's disease it has proved to help manage symptoms and subsequently improve the patient's quality of life. Some patients affected by Parkinson's disease have symptoms that can not be adequately controlled by medications. By sending high frequency electrical impulses to specific areas of the brain it directly diminishes the side-effects that some Parkinson's medications induce.

About three weeks after the surgery the brain pacemaker is turned on and will take affect. Once a month the stimulator is adjusted and within 4-6 weeks the settings will stabilize. DBS does not damage any part of the brain so it is possible to have it removed if a treatment in the future is found to be better or there is a cure. The purpose of DBS is to restore patient's quality of life, not limit them from activities. It is possible to be active again and play sports after undergoing DBS surgery.

Below is an interview with Dr. Fiona Gupta:

North Jersey Brain and Spine Center
680 Kinderkamack Road
Suite 300 (3rd floor)
Oradell, NJ 07649
(201) 342-2550 

Cerebral Aneurysm Specialists

Brain aneurysms occurs when blood vessels clot in and in most cases eventually rupture. It is not known why this happens, but the effects can be fatal. Other symptoms include severe headaches, vomiting, fainting, seizures, lethargy, paralysis and comas. However, it is possible for an aneurysm to occur and not show symptoms. It is also possible for an aneurysm to occur and not rupture. In any case, an aneurysm is extremely dangerous.

North Jersey Brain and Spine Center is a physical therapy and rehabilitation facility that is staffed with experienced neurosurgeons and cerebral aneurysm specialists that can diagnose and treat a wide variety of brian and movement disorders.

If a brain aneurysm has ruptured, it is important to get treated immediately. If it has not yet rupture, there is less of an emergency and the aneurysm will be watched to see if it grows in size. If it gets worse, action will be taken. Treatment for both ruptured and unruptured aneurysms usually involves either endovascular coiling or surgical clipping.

If you would like more information on cerebral aneurysm specialists, contact the North Jersey Brain and Spine Center to schedule an appointment.

North Jersey Brain and Spine Center
680 Kinderkamack Road
Suite 300 (3rd floor)
Oradell, NJ 07649
(201) 342-2550

Herniated Disc Discectomy

Herniated discs are the common cause of many types of neck, shoulder, and arm pain. The separate discs that make the vertebrae become herniated when the the outer band (annulus fibrosus) ruptures and leaks. The common treatment for this is cervical herniated disc discectomy. This is the removal of the herniated discs and the joining of the vertebrae through spinal fusion or bone grafts.

North Jersey Brain and Spine Center is a physical therapy and rehabilitation center located right in the center of Bergen County. Our professional neurosurgeons can perform surgeries at four of the local hospitals. These are some of the symptoms that may occur from a herniated disc:

• Mild or severe neck pain or pain between shoulder blades
• Intense pain during movement
• Radiating pain (radiculopathy) through the arms, hands, or fingers
• Numbness or tingling in the arm or shoulder

Patients can usually get out of bed on the same day of surgery, and movement will gradually increase daily. Patients are usually discharged within two days. If you would like more information on herniated disc discectomy, contact North Jersey Brain and Spine Center.

North Jersey Brain and Spine Center
680 Kinderkamack Road
Suite 300 (3rd floor)
Oradell, NJ 07649
(201) 342-2550