Services

Migraine affects 12% of Americans, causing debilitating headache pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light. If you have the condition migraine, you owe it to yourself to meet with the experienced team at Tidewater Neurology. They offer medications that reduce the severity of your migraine attacks, as well as provide advanced treatments that lower the frequency of future headaches.

To learn more about your treatment options, call the office in Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, or the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina, or book an appointment online today.

What is migraine?

Migraine ranks as one of the most debilitating conditions you can experience. Migraine is a brain disorder, and during an attack, there is a burst of electrical activity, causing a cascade of biochemical reactions that affect blood vessels and nerve endings. The result of this complex interaction can produce severe headaches, nausea, light or sound sensitivity, and/or vertigo.

Many things trigger migraine, and each person has their triggers. A few examples of the most common triggers include:

• Stress
• Lack of sleep
• Drinking alcohol
• Changes in the weather
• Dehydration
• Strong odors
• Lights
• Certain foods
• Caffeine
• Hormones

Foods that frequently trigger migraine include cheese, chocolate, and items containing caffeine or artificial sweeteners. Food additives, especially monosodium glutamate (MSG) and foods rich in histamines such as fermented foods, dried fruits, eggplant, and processed meats, also trigger migraine.

What symptoms occur during a migraine attack?

You may have food cravings or experience mood swings in the days before your migraine attack begins. About one-third of patients experience aura before their migraine. Patients with aura have unusual sensations like uncontrollable muscle movements or seeing flashes of light.

After the migraine attack begins, you experience:

• Severe, throbbing pain around one or both temples
• Sensitivity to light, sound, smell, or touch
• Nausea and vomiting
• Vertigo (sensation that the room is spinning)
• Dizziness or lightheadedness

If you don’t take medication to reduce your symptoms, the pain lasts at least four hours and may go on for days, and at times even longer.

How is migraine treated?

Your Tidewater Neurology provider begins by helping you identify things in your life that are contributing. Often lifestyle changes alone can reduce the frequency of your migraine attacks.

Your provider may also prescribe medication. You take some medications at the beginning of the attack to reduce the severity and duration. You may also need preventive medications that help reduce the frequency of future migraine attacks.

Tidewater Neurology specializes in several advanced migraine treatment options, including:

• CGRP monoclonal antibody injections
• Botox® injections (for chronic migraines)
• Peripheral nerve block
• Neuromodulation
• Intravenous therapies

CGRP injections and Botox block the neurological cascade that occurs in your brain. The other treatments calm the nerves or prevent them from triggering the cascade.

If you suffer from the condition migraine, it’s time to learn about treatments that can substantially improve your quality of life. Call Tidewater Neurology or book an appointment online today.

You could develop one of more than 100 sleep disorders, but no matter which one you have, they all deplete your energy, disrupt your day, and diminish your performance. The team at Tidewater Neurology specializes in sleep studies to diagnose the specific disorder, and they create customized treatments that target your health needs.

If you're desperate for a good night's sleep, call the office in Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, or the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina, or request an appointment online today.

What are the most common sleep disorders?

The four top sleep disorders are:

Insomnia

Insomnia refers to having a hard time falling asleep, waking too early, and waking frequently or staying awake during the night.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

RLS causes uncontrollable urges to move your legs and odd sensations in your legs. The problem strikes when you lay down to rest and continues during the night.

Sleep Apnea

When you have sleep apnea, you briefly stop breathing 5-30 times or more every hour while you sleep. You don't usually wake up, but each apnea episode disrupts your sleep.

Types of sleep apnea include:

• Obstructive apnea develops when the tongue and soft tissues in your throat cover the airway.
• Central sleep apnea occurs when your brain doesn't send signals to the muscles that control breathing.

Narcolepsy

Narcolepsy causes sleep attacks that make you suddenly fall asleep during the day. Some people with narcolepsy also experience cataplexy, which is a sudden loss of muscle strength and control.

What symptoms occur due to sleep disorders?

Most sleep disorders have specific symptoms. For example, narcolepsy causes sleep attacks, obstructive sleep apnea is known for loud snoring, and parasomnias (another group of sleep disorders) cause behaviors like sleepwalking and sleep eating.

However, all sleep disorders interrupt your sleep cycle. The lack of quality sleep leads to problems such as:

• Excessive tiredness during the day
• Headaches
• Irritability
• Memory loss
• Difficulty concentrating
• Mood changes

People with sleep disorders easily fall asleep when they sit down during the day or, worse, while driving.

How are sleep disorders diagnosed?

The only way to diagnose a sleep disorder is with a sleep study. If your symptoms suggest obstructive sleep apnea, you may do a home sleep study by wearing sensors that record your breathing and blood oxygen levels.

Other sleep disorders need a supervised sleep study at the clinic. That allows your provider to get more detailed information. In addition to measuring breathing and blood oxygen, a supervised sleep study monitors your heart activity, brainwaves, and eye, arm, and leg movements.

How are sleep disorders treated?

Your provider creates a customized plan based on the type of sleep disorder and the severity of your symptoms. Examples of possible treatments range from medications, nerve stimulation, and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) to cognitive-behavioral therapy, improving your sleep habits, and losing weight.

If you have questions about your sleep or need help with a sleep disorder, call Tidewater Neurology or book an appointment online today.

The first signs of multiple sclerosis usually occur in people aged 20-40 years, but the disease can appear at any age. Starting treatment early gives you the best chance to slow down the progression of MS and reduce the damage to your nerves.

At Tidewater Neurology, the skilled team has extensive experience helping people with multiple sclerosis manage their pain, maintain mobility, and stay active. Don’t wait to seek comprehensive care. At the first sign of symptoms, schedule an appointment by calling the office in Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, or the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina, or using the online booking system.

What causes multiple sclerosis?

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder that causes your immune system to attack the nerves in your spinal cord and brain. The attack damages a protective cover around each nerve called the myelin sheath.

As the sheath breaks down, the nerves can’t carry electrical signals from your body. As a result, you may lose control of a number of bodily functions.

Does multiple sclerosis follow the same course?

Multiple sclerosis can follow several courses. The most common course (relapsing-remitting MS) consists of periods of active disease, called exacerbations or relapses, followed by a period of remission. You cycle between these phases, and during active periods, your MS may or may not get worse.

Many people progress from relapsing-remitting MS to secondary progressive MS. In this course, they may have fewer relapses, but their disease progresses, and their symptoms worsen.

Others have a primary progressive MS diagnosis. They never have periods of remission. Instead, their disease worsens from the day of diagnosis.

What symptoms appear if I have multiple sclerosis?

Many people experience eye symptoms first, but MS causes a wide range of symptoms because it depends on which nerves the disease attacks and the extent of the nerve damage:

• Double vision
• Blurry vision
• Numbness
• Dizziness
• Tremor
• Chronic fatigue
• Difficulty speaking
• Lack of coordination
• Loss of sexual response
• Muscle weakness in limbs
• Difficulty walking (unsteady gait)
• Electric-shock sensation when bending the neck
• Incontinence

You may also feel a squeezing sensation around your body.

How is multiple sclerosis diagnosed?

Tidewater Neurology diagnoses multiple sclerosis based on your symptoms. However, they also run tests to rule out other possible causes of your symptoms, including:

• Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)
• Evoked potential tests
• Blood tests
• MRI

An MRI shows lesions on your brain and spinal cord that MS causes.

How is multiple sclerosis treated?

Your treatment focuses on slowing down the progressive nerve damage, relieving your symptoms, and improving your mobility.

Your provider creates a customized treatment plan that may include one of several possible disease-modifying medications. These drugs reduce the frequency and severity of exacerbations and stop the immune system from attacking your nerves.

You may need other medications to ease problems associated with multiple sclerosis, such as muscle stiffness, pain, and insomnia. Your provider also recommends physical therapy, rehabilitation, or occupational therapy to help you maintain mobility and function.

To slow down the nerve damage of multiple sclerosis, call Tidewater Neurology or book an appointment online today.

Back pain is one of the most common health challenges in adults, but it’s not just for older adults. It affects 40% of adults aged 18 to 44.

The experts at Tidewater Neurology have extensive experience determining the cause of your pain and providing treatments that ease your symptoms and help you get back to your active life. To get personalized care for back pain, call the office in Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, or the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina, or book an appointment online today.

What causes back pain?

You can pull a back muscle or ligament while lifting a heavy item. Or you could end up with back pain due to a sports accident or, more often, from an overuse injury.

Overuse injuries develop when you frequently repeat the same movement. The repetitive motion creates small tears that may gradually turn into a full rupture.

As you get older, the structures supporting your spine gradually deteriorate and weaken. These degenerative changes cause painful back problems such as:

• Herniated discs
• Osteoarthritis
• Spinal stenosis
• Osteoporosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Slipped vertebrae

Any condition or injury that involves your spine can also easily pinch the spinal nerves.

How does radiculopathy relate to back pain?

Back pain seldom appears alone. The conditions responsible for your pain also cause stiffness, limited movement, and muscle spasms.

Pinched nerves, a condition called radiculopathy, add another layer to your symptoms. They cause pain, tingling, or burning sensations that follow the nerve and travel down into your legs.

Sciatica is one of the most common examples of lower back (lumbar) radiculopathy. A pinched sciatic nerve leads to low back pain and intense, electric-shock pain that suddenly shoots down one leg. In severe cases, a damaged nerve causes muscle weakness and numbness.

How is back pain diagnosed?

Your Tidewater Neurology provider talks with you about your symptoms and completes a physical exam. Then they may order blood tests and diagnostic imaging or run specialized tests to determine the exact cause of your pain.

When your symptoms suggest nerve compression, your provider performs an electromyogram (EMG) and nerve conduction study (NCS). These tests reveal problems in your muscles and the nerves that trigger muscle contractions.

How is back pain treated?

Your initial treatment for back pain includes conservative measures such as limiting activities that irritate your back, anti-inflammatory medication, and physical therapy.

If your pain doesn’t improve, your Tidewater Neurology provider may give you an epidural steroid injection or an epidural nerve block. These injections effectively relieve your symptoms because they target the specific nerves causing your pain.

When you still have pain despite all other treatments, your provider may recommend minimally invasive surgery to repair the underlying problem. Examples of surgery to relieve back pain include removing herniated discs, decompressing nerves, replacing damaged discs, and performing spinal fusions.

If you need relief from back pain, call Tidewater Neurology or book an appointment online today.

Whether you’re concerned about changes with your memory or you have a family member whose thinking ability seems to be declining, it’s important to get early help from the team at Tidewater Neurology.

Their expertise in helping dementia patients and their families has helped many to enjoy their best life despite managing the challenges of progressive memory loss. If you have questions about dementia care or would like to schedule an appointment, call the office in Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, or the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina, or use the online booking feature today.

What are the different types of dementia?

Dementia refers to a group of disorders that cause memory loss, a decline in thinking ability, and behavioral and emotional changes. There are many different types of dementia. Some are curable; others are not.

There are four primary types that there is no cure for and cause a progressive decline in memory and cognitive ability. The progressive dementias include:

Alzheimer’s disease

Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, develops when proteins accumulate around and inside the nerves in your brain. Over time, the clumps of protein enlarge and destroy more nerves, which affects your memory, thinking ability, personality, and behavior.

Vascular dementia

Vascular dementia, the second most common type of dementia, occurs when blood flow to your brain diminishes or is blocked. That can happen due to a blood clot, fatty buildup, or after a stroke.

Lewy body dementia

This type of dementia is caused by an accumulation of proteins in the brain called Lewy bodies. People who develop Parkinson’s dementia also develop Lewy bodies in their brain.

Frontotemporal dementia

Frontotemporal dementia also arises from clumps of proteins, but the proteins initially affect a different brain area than Alzheimer’s and Lewy body dementia. As a result, its early symptoms differ from the other dementias.

What symptoms develop due to dementia?

These are some of the most common symptoms of dementia:

• Memory loss
• Confusion
• Problems with concentration, speaking, and communication
• Difficulty planning and organizing
• Getting lost in familiar places
• Trouble solving problems
• Changes in personality and behavior
• Taking longer to complete daily tasks
• Balance and movement problems
• Mood changes
• Gait changes

Memory loss is an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease, Lewy body dementia, and vascular dementia. By comparison, personality and behavioral changes are the first symptoms of frontotemporal dementia.

How is dementia treated?

Progressive dementias have no cure, but the Tidewater Neurology team can prescribe medications that ease symptoms. The FDA has approved at least six drugs for mild to advanced Alzheimer’s.

Most Alzheimer’s drugs improve memory, attention, and language. These drugs may also help patients with Lewy body dementia and vascular dementia. One drug used primarily for Alzheimer’s diminishes protein plaques in the brain.

If you have frontotemporal dementia, your provider may prescribe antidepressants or other medications to ease behavioral problems. Patients diagnosed with vascular dementia need procedures to restore blood flow to the brain and medications to treat the conditions that cause blood vessel blockages.

You can receive comprehensive dementia care at Tidewater Neurology. To schedule an appointment, call or use the online booking feature today.

Alzheimer’s disease accounts for 60-80% of all cases of dementia. Though there’s currently no cure for this progressive disease, the experienced team at Tidewater Neurology offers a range of medications that improve symptoms and diminish the buildup of proteins that cause Alzheimer’s.

The caring team offers ongoing support for Alzheimer’s patients and their families, helping each person to live the highest quality of life for as long as possible. If you or a loved one need help with Alzheimer’s, call the office in Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, or the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina, or request an appointment online today.

What is Alzheimer’s disease?

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of progressive dementia that develops as two proteins, tau and amyloid-beta, build up in the brain. The proteins gradually accumulate and form tangles and plaques that kill neurons and make the brain shrink. As brain damage becomes more widespread, it destroys the ability to function and live.

What symptoms occur in a person with Alzheimer’s?

Memory loss, the earliest sign of Alzheimer’s, often begins with difficulty remembering recent conversations and events. Overall mental ability and the ability to concentrate diminishes.

Many people with Alzheimer’s often repeat the same statements or questions and regularly lose their possessions. You may notice that your loved one can’t quite find the right words to identify items, express their thoughts, or have conversations.

Daily decisions and routine activities get harder to do. For example, people with Alzheimer’s may suddenly not manage to cook a meal, they choose clothes that are inappropriate for the weather, or get lost in places where they frequently go. In later stages, they forget how to dress, bathe, and eat.

The progressive brain changes affect behaviors and moods. It’s common for people with Alzheimer’s to:

• Feel depressed
• Have mood swings
• Distrust others (including family)
• Become irritable and aggressive
• Have difficulty sleeping
• Start wandering away from home
• Lose their inhibitions
• Develop unwarranted suspicions
• Develop hallucinations

In addition to difficulty sleeping, many people with Alzheimer’s become more confused, anxious, and agitated at dusk, a behavior that’s commonly called sundowning.

How is Alzheimer’s treated?

The current medications available for Alzheimer’s can’t cure the disease, but they may slow down progressive changes and improve symptoms.

The team at Tidewater Neurology offers the most advanced medications, such as aducanumab. They administer aducanumab through intravenous infusion therapy — the medication helps to reduce amyloid plaques in the brain.

Medications that help improve memory, attention, language, and the ability to perform simple tasks include:

• Aricept®
• Exelon®
• Razadyne®
• Namenda®
• Namzaric®
• Aduhelm™

Some of the medications are for early-stage Alzheimer’s, while others work for people in moderate to late stages.

Your provider may also prescribe medications that improve sleep or recommend behavioral therapy. Counseling often helps family members and caregivers learn how to manage the challenging behaviors, mood swings, and hallucinations that can occur in the advanced stage.

The team at Tidewater Neurology provides compassionate care for Alzheimer’s. To schedule an appointment, call or connect online today.

Medical conditions often trigger seizures. But if you have a seizure that a health problem is not the cause of, you have a high chance of having another seizure within the next six months.

After a seizure, you should always schedule a thorough neurologic exam at Tidewater Neurology. Its medical team has years of experience determining the cause of a seizure and providing treatments to prevent future events. Call the office in Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, or the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina, or book an appointment online today.

What are seizures?

Seizures occur when the nerves in your brain suddenly become overactive and send out an abnormal surge of electrical activity. The electrical surge is temporary, but the chaotic activity affects your movements, behaviors, and senses.

How do seizures differ from epilepsy?

Seizures arise from many underlying medical conditions, including:

• Stroke
• High fever
• Low blood sugar
• Traumatic brain injury
• Imbalance of calcium or potassium
• Central nervous system infection
• Certain medications
• Autoimmune disorders
• Blood vessel conditions in the brain
• Inflammatory brain condition
• Brain tumor

You have epilepsy when you have two or more seizures that are not caused by a medical condition.

What symptoms develop during a seizure?

Many people associate seizures with losing consciousness and having body-wide muscle contractions. But there are many types of seizures that cause a range of symptoms. You can have such mild symptoms that no one notices you had a seizure.

Seizure symptoms include:

• Weak or limp muscles
• Tense or rigid muscles
• Brief muscle twitches
• Convulsions (whole-body spasms)
• Repetitive movements
• Blanking out or staring into space
• Loss of consciousness
• Blurry vision or seeing flashes of light
• Rapid heartbeat
• Inability to hear or talk
• Numbness or tingling
• Feeling confused
• Out-of-body sensations

Most seizures last from 30 seconds to two minutes. Afterward, you may recover immediately, or it could take hours before you feel back to normal.

How do neurologists diagnose seizures?

Your Tidewater Neurology provider begins by learning about your symptoms and completing a comprehensive physical exam and neurological evaluation. They order blood tests and may perform a lumbar puncture to get a sample of your cerebrospinal fluid to rule out an infection.

You also have an in-office electroencephalogram (EEG). An EEG shows brainwave patterns associated with seizures and may target the area in your brain where the seizure began.

Depending on your EEG results, your provider may order additional tests such as an MRI or CT scan that reveal problems in your brain.

How are seizures treated?

In addition to treating any underlying medical conditions, your provider prescribes medication that prevents future seizures. If you still have seizures despite trying several medications, they may recommend:

• Ketogenic diet
• Vagus nerve stimulation
• Deep brain stimulation
• Surgery

During surgery, your provider removes or destroys a small area that triggers your seizures, or they may cut the connections between nerves.

If you suffered a seizure, you need medical care and comprehensive treatment from the skilled team at Tidewater Neurology. Call or book online today.

The tremors and movement changes caused by Parkinson's disease usually appear after the age of 55, but they can develop in your 30s or 40s.

The experienced team at Tidewater Neurology works closely with each person, providing comprehensive care that supports the best life possible. Whether you need ongoing medication management, deep brain stimulation, or coordinated care with specialists like physical therapists, Tidewater Neurology is there to help.

To schedule an appointment, call the office in Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, or the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina, or use the online booking feature today.

What is Parkinson's disease?

Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that affects your ability to move. The condition develops when nerves in specific areas of your brain deteriorate.

The affected nerves produce a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) called dopamine that regulates muscle movement. As the nerves die, dopamine levels fall, and that changes your movement.

What are the primary symptoms of Parkinson's disease?

The four primary symptoms of Parkinson's include:

• Tremor (uncontrollable shaking)
• Rigidity (muscle stiffness)
• Postural instability (loss of balance)
• Bradykinesia (slow movement)

Tremors usually begin in your hands, but you may also notice the problem in your jaw, arms, and legs. In many cases, Parkinson's tremors appear while you rest and improve when you start to move that part of your body.

What other symptoms does Parkinson's disease cause?

Parkinson's is a progressive disease that gradually damages more nerves. As a result, existing symptoms get worse, and new symptoms may appear.

You can gradually develop a wide range of motor (muscle-related) and non-motor symptoms. You may:

• Drag your foot when walking
• Take shorter steps when walking
• Develop a stooped posture
• Have a hard time writing by hand
• Have difficulty swallowing
• Experience changes in your speech
• Speak with a soft or flat voice
• Lose facial expressions
• Develop constipation
• Have trouble sleeping
• Suffer memory loss (Parkinson’s dementia)
• Hallucinate or have delusions

Hallucinations refer to seeing and hearing things that aren't really there. Delusions are less common, but when they occur, you have thoughts that are real to you but aren't based in reality.

How is Parkinson's disease treated?

The Tidewater Neurology team creates a treatment plan that eases your symptoms and improves your movement. Parkinson's treatments include:

Medications

Your provider prescribes medications that increase levels of dopamine, prolong the impact of the neurotransmitter, or mimic its effect in your brain. You may also need medications that control specific symptoms, such as tremors.

If you develop side effects or reach a stage where medications don't have the same effect, you may need surgery.

Surgery

Parkinson's surgery, called deep brain stimulation, targets the structures in your brain that control muscle movement. Your provider implants an electrode in your brain and a small impulse generator under your skin.

The generator sends an electrical impulse through the electrode and into your brain. The mild stimulation regulates the brain's nerve activity, which improves your tremors.

If you have questions or need ongoing treatment for Parkinson's disease, call Tidewater Neurology or request an appointment online today.

Though you may have a wide range of neuropathy symptoms, two of the most common are pain and tingling sensations.

At the first sign of a possible nerve problem, it's time to consult with the exceptional team at Tidewater Neurology. As experts in nerve conditions, they find the source of your pain and start treatments that ease your symptoms and promote healing.

To schedule an appointment, call the office in Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, or the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina, or use the online booking feature today.

What is neuropathy?

Neuropathy generally refers to any type of nerve damage or disease. Since there are many possible nerve conditions, they're placed into broader categories based on the number of nerves and type of affected nerves.

Of the different categories of neuropathy, peripheral neuropathy is the most common. Peripheral neuropathy refers to problems in any of the nerves outside your brain and spinal cord.

You can develop peripheral neuropathy from many underlying health conditions, including:

• Diabetes
• Herniated discs
• Spinal stenosis
• Degenerative disc disease
• Kidney disease
• Hypothyroidism
• Peripheral artery disease
• Viral and bacterial infections
• Vitamin B12 deficiency
• Autoimmune diseases

Diabetes causes more cases of peripheral neuropathy than any other condition.

What symptoms occur due to neuropathy?

The symptoms you experience depend on the type of nerve damage. Some types of neuropathy may affect one type of nerve; others damage several nerves and cause more symptoms.

Sensory nerves

Sensory nerves pick up signals throughout your body involving your senses, such as pain, pressure, and temperature. Then the nerves transmit that information to your brain. When you have damaged sensory nerves, you develop symptoms like pain, tingling, burning, and numbness.

Motor nerves

These nerves carry information from your brain to your muscles. As a result, damaged motor nerves lead to symptoms such as muscle weakness, cramping, and muscle loss (atrophy).

Autonomic nerves

Your autonomic nerves control functions that support your ability to live and stay healthy, such as your heart rate, digestion, breathing, and blood pressure.

Damage to autonomic nerves causes symptoms associated with the affected body system. For example, you may experience changes in body temperature, excessive sweating, nausea, and a fast heartbeat.

How is neuropathy treated?

Your Tidewater Neurology provider determines if a health condition contributes to your neuropathy. If so, your treatment begins by treating that condition. In many cases, taking care of the underlying problem allows the nerves to heal, and your neuropathy improves.

Your provider also creates a plan to treat your symptoms and relieve your pain. The specific type of treatment you may need depends on your diagnosis. However, common types of treatments used for neuropathy symptoms include medications, physical therapy, local nerve blocks, and minimally invasive surgery.

Many neuropathies also improve by following a healthy diet and getting more exercise. This approach is essential in people with diabetes who need to keep their blood sugar in the normal range.

If you develop pain, tingling, or other signs of neuropathy, call Tidewater Neurology or book an appointment online today.

Most people know Botox® as a cosmetic treatment for eliminating wrinkles. But they may not realize that Botox was in use for medical conditions long before it became the top aesthetic procedure.

The experts at Tidewater Neurology perform Botox injections for neurological conditions associated with uncontrollable muscle contractions and pain.

To schedule an appointment, call the office in Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, or the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina, or use the online booking feature today.

What is Botox?

Botox contains a purified form of botulinum toxin. After your provider injects Botox, the medication stops nerves from releasing certain neurotransmitters. As a result, muscles relax, and pain diminishes.

When might I need Botox?

Botox relieves the symptoms of medical conditions such as:

• Chronic migraines
• Muscle spasticity
• Post-stroke spasticity
• Hemifacial spasm
• Cerebral palsy
• Multiple sclerosis
• Hypersalivation
• Dystonia (involuntary muscle contractions)

Muscle spasticity frequently occurs in neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, stroke, and spinal cord injuries.

Spasticity refers to muscle stiffness and spasms that cause jerky, uncontrollable movements. The condition is often painful and affects your ability to sleep and complete daily activities. The spasms and pain improve as Botox relaxes the muscles.

Does Botox cause side effects?

Botox has a decades-long history showing it's safe and effective. It's so safe that it's injected into facial muscles to reduce wrinkles. But like all drugs, some side effects are possible.

The most common problems include pain, slight swelling, and bruising at the injection site. In rare cases, the medication may spread beyond the injection site and affect other muscles. Your provider fully explains all possible side effects based on where they plan to place your injections.

What should I expect during Botox treatments?

Your Tidewater Neurology provider begins by identifying the specific muscles that need a Botox injection. Then they inject several small doses, precisely targeting the muscles responsible for your symptoms.

The number of injections you need depends on the underlying condition. As one example, if you have chronic migraines, your provider injects Botox into about seven muscles that trigger these severe headaches.

Your provider uses a thin needle, which significantly reduces any discomfort. However, you can have a topical anesthetic to ensure your comfort during the injections.

After your Botox treatment, you can return to your usual activities, but it's important to avoid rubbing the area. It typically takes several days for the medication to take effect and feel its full impact on your symptoms.

While Botox is highly effective, it produces temporary results. In most cases, your results last about three months, then you need another treatment to maintain your symptom relief.

To learn how Botox may improve your symptoms, call Tidewater Neurology or request an appointment online today.

Intravenous (IV) infusions allow you to receive a precise dose of medication and, in many cases, get faster relief from your symptoms.

The experienced professionals at Tidewater Neurology offer IV infusions in the comfort of their office, providing essential treatments for a wide range of conditions from migraines and multiple sclerosis to Alzheimer's disease.

If you have questions about IV infusions or need to schedule treatment, call the office in Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, or the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina, or request an appointment online today.

What are IV infusions?

IV infusions deliver essential medications directly into your bloodstream. When you get an IV infusion, your provider can precisely control the dose of your medication, as well as the rate at which it enters your bloodstream.

Both factors ensure you receive the most effective treatment for many diseases. IV infusion treatments also provide faster relief from your symptoms since they don't take time to travel through the digestive tract.

When might I need an IV infusion?

You may need an IV infusion because you can’t take some drugs orally. For example, biologics are advanced medications made from proteins produced by living cells. These proteins can't survive the stomach acids and enzymes in your digestive tract, so delivery must be through an IV infusion.

Some patients may have a medical or physical reason for not taking oral medications. With an IV infusion, they can still get the medicine they need.

What conditions benefit from IV infusions?

IV infusions treat many diseases, including:

• Multiple sclerosis
• Alzheimer's disease
• Migraines
• Lupus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Psoriatic arthritis
• Ulcerative colitis
• Crohn's disease
• Osteoporosis
• Hemophilia
• Inflammatory conditions
• Neurological and chronic pain

Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy treats patients with antibody deficiencies and other conditions.

What should I expect during my IV infusion?

Tidewater Neurology provides IV infusions in a comfortable room, where you can relax while getting the medication you need. Though side effects aren't common, highly trained staff constantly monitor your health during IV infusions, prepared to recognize and quickly treat any problems that arise.

The procedure involves inserting a needle into a blood vessel. If you have needle anxiety, talk with your provider before your infusion. They have years of experience administering IVs to people with anxiety. Their technique virtually eliminates pain, and they may use a topical anesthetic to eliminate potential discomfort.

Once the needle is in place, you sit back and wait for the transfusion to finish. In some cases, that could take several hours. However, your provider explains all the details before your infusion.

If you need an ongoing series of IV infusions, your provider may recommend getting a central line or port. Both stay in place as long as you need IV infusions, allowing you to avoid multiple needle sticks.

If you need IV infusion therapy, call Tidewater Neurology or request an appointment online today.

Carpal tunnel syndrome begins as a mild, slightly annoying pain or tingling in your hand and wrist. But without treatment, the condition can progress to cause permanent nerve damage.

The skilled team at Tidewater Neurology treats carpal tunnel syndrome with comprehensive therapies that ease your symptoms and restore normal function.

Don't wait to get help for carpal tunnel syndrome. To schedule an appointment, call the office in Mt. Pleasant, Goose Creek, or the West Ashley area of Charleston, South Carolina, or use the online booking feature today.

What is carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome develops when you have a pinched median nerve. The median nerves run down both arms and into your hands. The nerve and several tendons pass through your wrist by going through a narrow opening called the carpal tunnel. Any problem affecting the tissues in the tunnel can lead to carpal tunnel syndrome.

What causes carpal tunnel syndrome?

Carpal tunnel syndrome develops from several possible causes, including:

Repetitive use

If you frequently repeat the same hand and finger movements, the tendons and nerves become irritated and inflamed.

Wrist flexion and extension

Performing manual activities with your wrist bent down (flexion) or up (extension) puts pressure on the nerve and leads to carpal tunnel syndrome.

Wrist injuries

Injuries that damage the bones or soft tissues in your wrist can end up pinching the nerve.

Health conditions

A smaller-than-normal carpal tunnel, diabetes, and inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis increase your risk for carpal tunnel syndrome.

What symptoms indicate I have carpal tunnel syndrome?

Your initial symptoms may be mild and come and go. As the condition worsens, you experience:

• Hand and wrist pain
• Hand, thumb, or finger weakness
• Electric-shock sensations in your wrist and hand
• Tingling or burning in your thumb or first three fingers
• Numbness in your hand or fingers
• A sensation that you have swollen fingers (when they’re not)

The longer you go without treatment, the higher your chances are of developing permanent nerve damage.

How is carpal tunnel syndrome treated?

When you get help for carpal tunnel syndrome at an early stage, your Tidewater Neurology provider uses conservative therapies to relieve your symptoms and give the nerve time to heal.

At this stage, your treatment may include:

• Immobilizing your wrist (usually while you sleep)
• Changing or limiting hand activities to reduce stress
• Improving ergonomics to avoid bending your wrist
• Taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications
• Practicing nerve gliding exercises
• Getting a steroid injection
• Getting a nerve block

If your symptoms don't improve or you already have a severely damaged nerve, your Tidewater Neurology provider recommends outpatient surgery called carpal tunnel release. The procedure takes the pressure off the nerve by cutting the ligament covering the carpal tunnel.

To ease your symptoms and prevent serious nerve damage, seek treatment at the earliest sign of carpal tunnel syndrome. Call Tidewater Neurology or book an appointment online today.