What Services Do We Provide?

Disorders of the nervous system can affect the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves and muscles. The neurology specialty spans a number of disorders encompassed by these nervous system structures. At MCC, our neurology team focuses on helping patients with a variety of neurological health concerns, including:

Contact our Neurology Department: 641.494.5290

Headaches

A Headache is defined as a pain in the head or upper neck. It is one of the most common locations of pain in the body and has many causes.

How are headaches classified?

Headaches have numerous causes, and in 2007 the International Headache Society agreed upon an updated classification system for headache. Because so many people suffer from headaches and because treatment sometimes is difficult, it is hoped that the new classification system will allow health care practitioners come to a specific diagnosis as to the type of headache and to provide better and more effective treatment.

There are three major categories of headaches:

1. Primary headaches

2. Secondary headaches

3. Cranial neuralgias, facial pain and other headaches

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a condition involving recurrent seizures, triggered by electrical signals in the brain. At least two seizures with no traceable cause are necessary to properly diagnose epilepsy. Regardless of severity, all seizures need to be taken care of, because they can pose dangers during activities such as driving and swimming.

Sleep Disorders

Sleep disorders are common conditions that involve difficulties falling asleep, staying asleep or waking up. Sleep disorders may develop as a result of changes in the brain regions and neurotransmitters, stress, anxiety, depression, poor sleep habits or many other possible causes. By not getting sufficient sleep at night, many people are affected during the day and may have difficulty completing their everyday activities.

Memory Disorder

Memory disorder, or dementia, is a series of age-related symptoms that involves a loss of mental skills and deteriorating brain function. Dementia literally translates to “Deprived of mind” and is most often caused by Alzheimer’s disease. Symptoms of dementia occur when nerve cells die or lose communication and slowly lose their ability to function.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive disease that develops when the cells that produce dopamine are dead or severely damaged. Dopamine acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain and helps control behavior, cognition, motor activity and several other actions. When these cells do not function properly, the brain often loses control of some bodily actions. Parkinson’s disease often begins as a tremor in the hand that slowly spreads throughout the body, causing slowed voluntary motion, rigid muscles, stooped posture, loss of involuntary movements and speech change. These symptoms usually occur gradually and can go undetected for months or years. There is no cure for Parkinson’s disease, but symptoms can usually be controlled through medication or physical therapy.

Why Us?

Our neurologist has training and experience in epilepsy treatment and sleep disorders. He also has clinical expertise in electroencephalogram (EEG), electromyogram (EMG), nerve conduction studies (NCS), evoked potentials, sleep disorders and more.

For additional information, please contact the Neurology Department at 641.494.5290 or use our online form to schedule an appointment. Our neurology patients come to us from Albert Lea, Algona, Charles City, Iowa Falls, Mason City, New Hampton and neighboring areas.