Movement Disorders

The providers at Neurology Associates are dedicated to working with patients and the families of patients throughout Western N.C. who are affected by neurological movement disorders.

Movement disorders are neurological conditions that affect the quality, fluency, speed, and ease of movement. Involuntary or excessive movement may be involved.

Causes of movement disorders include nerve diseases, autoimmune diseases, infections, certain medicines, and injuries. These conditions can be inherited and run in families.

The Movement Disorder Center focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of all types of movement disorders. Proper diagnosis requires a complete medical history, a physical exam and a neurological exam. An MRI may be necessary as well.

Conditions Include:

Ataxia: Patients may experience lack of coordination and exhibit jerky movements that affect balance.

Cerebral Palsy: This term describes impaired movements caused by brain damage at birth.

Dystonia: Patients experience involuntary movements and prolonged muscle contraction.

Huntington’s disease: Also called Chronic Progressive Chorea. This disorder is passed down through families. Certain nerve cells in the brain degenerate affecting movement.

Multiple System Atrophy: (Shy-Drager Syndrome) This disorder affects multiple parts of the nervous system. Patients experience degeneration that affects movement.

Myoclonus: Patients exhibits rapid, brief and irregular movements.

Parkinson’s disease: This condition is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. Patients with Parkinson’s experience motor skill and speech impairment.

Progressive Suprenuclear Palsy: This is a rare disorder that affects eye movements and balance.

Restless Legs Syndrome/Periodic Limb Movement Disorder: Patients may experience excessive arm or leg movements during the day or in sleep.

Tics: Patients experience involuntary spasm-like muscle contractions most commonly in the face, mouth, eyes, neck or shoulder muscles.

Tourette’s syndrome: (TS) Patients with Tourette’s syndrome exhibit repetitive, involuntary movement and vocalizations called tics.

Tremor: Tremors can be inherited, or are symptoms of certain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease.

Wilson’s disease: This condition is inherited. It causes neurological and psychiatric symptoms and liver disease in patients.

 

Movement Disorder Treatment

When a cure for a movement disorder is not an option, the providers of Neurology Associates are dedicated to determining the most successful and appropriate course of treatment for the patient. The following procedures may be recommended to improve symptoms or relieve pain: Surgical Treatments, Drug Therapies, Botulinum Toxin Injections, and Deep Brain Stimulations (DBS) which involves an implantable tremor-control device.

For more information on movement disorder treatment, or to schedule an appointment to be assessed for a possible movement disorder, contact Neurology Associates at 828-485-2476. We are conveniently located in Hickory, Taylorsville, Denver and Lincolnton, Western North Carolina, just a short drive from Asheville, Statesville and Morganton.