Disease Guides & Medical Conditions
Comprehensive information about neurological and spinal conditions, their symptoms, causes, and treatment options available at our practice.
"Understanding your condition is the first step toward effective treatment and recovery."
— Dr. Sayuj Krishnan
Common Conditions We Treat
Degenerative Disc Disease
Degenerative Disc Disease
Age-related spinal disc changes that are common and often asymptomatic; symptoms require clinical and imaging correlation
Severity:
Moderate to Severe
Recovery Time:
Depends on diagnosis and treatment
Key Symptoms:
- Chronic back pain
- Stiffness
- Reduced flexibility
Spinal Stenosis
Spinal Stenosis
Narrowing of spinal canal causing nerve compression and pain
Severity:
Moderate to Severe
Recovery Time:
Depends on diagnosis and treatment
Key Symptoms:
- Leg pain
- Numbness
- Weakness
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Trigeminal Neuralgia
Severe facial pain caused by trigeminal nerve compression
Severity:
Severe
Recovery Time:
Depends on diagnosis and treatment
Key Symptoms:
- Electric shock-like pain
- Facial spasms
- Pain triggered by touch
Epilepsy
Epilepsy
Neurological disorder causing recurrent seizures
Severity:
Moderate to Severe
Recovery Time:
Depends on diagnosis and treatment
Key Symptoms:
- Seizures
- Loss of consciousness
- Muscle spasms
Herniated Disc
Herniated Disc
Bulging or ruptured spinal disc pressing on nerves
Severity:
Moderate to Severe
Recovery Time:
Depends on diagnosis and treatment
Key Symptoms:
- Back pain
- Leg pain
- Numbness
Cervical Radiculopathy
Cervical Radiculopathy
Nerve root compression in the neck causing arm pain and weakness
Severity:
Moderate to Severe
Recovery Time:
Depends on diagnosis and treatment
Key Symptoms:
- Neck pain
- Arm pain
- Numbness in arms
Brain Tumors
Brain Tumors
Abnormal growth of cells in the brain requiring surgical intervention
Severity:
Severe
Recovery Time:
Depends on diagnosis and treatment
Key Symptoms:
- Headaches
- Seizures
- Memory problems
Sciatica
Sciatica
Pain along the sciatic nerve from lower back to leg
Severity:
Moderate to Severe
Recovery Time:
Depends on diagnosis and treatment
Key Symptoms:
- Lower back pain
- Leg pain
- Burning sensation
Condition-Specific FAQs
Degenerative Disc Disease
What is degenerative disc disease and how is it different from normal aging?
Disc degeneration is common with aging and does not always cause symptoms. A diagnosis requires correlation between the pain pattern, examination, and imaging; treatment is based on the identified pain generator rather than the MRI label alone.
Can degenerative disc disease be reversed?
Disc aging itself cannot be reversed, but symptoms can often be managed with exercise-based rehabilitation, activity modification, medication, and selected pain interventions. Surgery is considered only when a specific structural problem matches the symptoms and has an accepted surgical indication.
What are the surgical options for degenerative disc disease?
Disc degeneration alone is not an indication for endoscopic discectomy. Surgery may be considered for a defined problem such as concordant nerve-root compression from disc herniation, spinal instability, deformity, or stenosis after appropriate non-surgical care. The operation is selected for that diagnosis, not for DDD as a broad label.
Spinal Stenosis
What causes spinal stenosis and can it be prevented?
Spinal stenosis is primarily caused by aging, arthritis, and bone spurs. While aging cannot be prevented, maintaining good posture, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking can help slow progression.
How is spinal stenosis diagnosed?
Diagnosis involves physical examination, MRI or CT scans to visualize the spinal canal, and sometimes nerve conduction studies to assess nerve function.
What factors affect outcomes after decompression for spinal stenosis?
Outcomes depend on the level and pattern of stenosis, symptom-imaging correlation, neurological status, comorbidities, the selected procedure, and rehabilitation. Expected benefits, alternatives, and risks should be discussed for the individual case rather than expressed as one fixed percentage.
Trigeminal Neuralgia
What triggers trigeminal neuralgia pain?
Common triggers include light touch, eating, talking, brushing teeth, or even a breeze on the face. The pain is often described as electric shock-like and can be debilitating.
What is microvascular decompression and when is it recommended?
Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a surgical procedure that relieves pressure on the trigeminal nerve by placing a cushion between the nerve and compressing blood vessel. It's recommended when medications fail to control pain.
What factors affect pain control after Gamma Knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia?
Expected pain control and its timing vary with the diagnosis, imaging findings, prior treatment, dose plan, and individual response. Alternatives, possible delayed benefit, recurrence, sensory effects, and other risks should be discussed for the individual case.
Epilepsy
When is epilepsy surgery considered?
Epilepsy surgery may be considered for drug-resistant epilepsy when multidisciplinary evaluation identifies a treatment target with an acceptable individualized risk profile. Functional mapping, alternatives, expected benefit, and neurological risks should be discussed.
What types of epilepsy surgery are available?
Surgical options include temporal lobectomy, lesionectomy, corpus callosotomy, and vagus nerve stimulation. The choice depends on the location and type of seizures.
What factors affect outcomes after epilepsy surgery?
Expected seizure control depends on seizure type and localization, imaging and EEG findings, the selected procedure, pathology, functional mapping, and individual clinical factors. Benefits, risks, alternatives, and uncertainty should be discussed by the multidisciplinary epilepsy team.
Treatment Approaches
Medical Management
Pain medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, and targeted therapies
Physical Therapy
Exercise programs, manual therapy, and rehabilitation
Minimally Invasive
Procedures for selected diagnoses after clinical and imaging correlation
Advanced Surgery
Complex procedures for severe cases requiring specialized care
Need Help with a Specific Condition?
Schedule a consultation to discuss your condition and review appropriate treatment options for your needs.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Sayuj KrishnanConsultant Neurosurgeon, Yashoda Hospital MalakpetLast reviewed 1 October 2025
This information is for educational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Please consult with Dr. Sayuj for personalized medical guidance.