Disorders

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a brain disorder characterized by decreased secretion of dopamine — a neurochemical that is responsible for controlling the brain's reward and pleasure centers, and regulating muscle movement. This chronic progressive neurological condition often begins as mild tremors, sometimes only on one side, before it gradually progresses to affect the entire body. Symptoms:

• Hand, arm, leg, jaw, and face tremors
• Bradykinesia or slowness of movement
• Rigidity or stiffness of the limbs
• Gait abnormality

The exact cause of this debilitating disease still remains unclear. Although the symptoms can be controlled with medication, surgery, and deep brain stimulation, these forms of treatment fail to effectively cure the disease. At Plexus, we treat PD along with an active neuro-rehabilitation program that helps reduce tremors and improve mobility in patients.

Multiple Sclerosis is a demyelinating disorder of the central nervous system, caused by breakage in the myelin sheath (a thin layer covering the axons of the neuron). Although there are many theories, the cause of this debilitating disease is not yet fully known. It can be diagnosed by symptomatology, MRI findings, Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) analysis, and Visual Evoked Response (VER).

The manifestations of this disease vary depending on the site of the lesion and the extent of damage. Common symptoms include visual impairment (demyelination of the optic nerve), weakness in the limbs, dizzy spells, various sensory symptoms, and shooting pain in the spine.

While there are several modes of treatment available — such as steroids, interferons, and copolymer — there is no cure for multiple sclerosis. However, has been proven to significantly reduce the lesion load (the number of damaged areas) and deliver effective results.

Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is damage to the spinal cord that leads to loss of muscle function and sensation in parts of the body below the site of injury. Patients can suffer from both motor and sensory weakness, with or without the involvement of the sphincter (the muscle responsible for control over urination or defecation).

Generally, patients tend not to feel any sensation below the site of the injury, but the region is often characterized by severe weakness.

SCIs can have devastating effects on people’s lives. However, with a comprehensive neuro-rehabilitation program, Plexus can help make the dream of complete rehabilitation a reality.

Motor Neuron Disease (MND) is a slow, progressive degeneration that eventually leads to the death of motor neurons. End organ functions such as walking, talking, and swallowing become increasingly difficult as the neurons in the brain stem and the spinal cord begin to deteriorate.

Patients suffering from MND generally face progressive weakness in the upper and lower limbs (arms and legs), difficulty in swallowing (resulting in drooling of saliva), or difficulty in articulating. Other symptoms include noticeable twitches in the muscles and difficulty breathing. There are many kinds of MNDs such as:

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
• Lou Gehrig Disease, Post-Polio Syndrome (PPS)
• Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)
• Progressive Muscular Atrophy (PMA)
• Pseudobulbar Palsy (spastic)
• Progressive Bulbar Palsy

Through our advanced treatment programs, we have successfully helped rebuild the lives of MND patients from across the country and the world.

Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA) is a progressive, degenerative disease that is genetically contracted. While it can manifest in different ways, there is no clear categorization of the disease. The one common symptom of SCA is the gradual deterioration of movement-related functions.

Symptoms:

• Ataxia or coordination and balance-related challenges
• Uncoordinated walking
• Diminished hand-eye coordination
• Dysarthria or abnormal speech
• Involuntary eye movement
• Poor vision
• Challenges in processing, learning, and remembering information

At Plexus, many of our patient who have suffered from SCA have recovered successfully through rehabilitation programs.

Muscular Dystrophy (MD) is a muscular genetic disorder caused by the absence of a protein called ‘dystrophin’. It is characterized by progressive weakness in the muscles (especially the proximal muscles present in the shoulder and hip regions). People with MD find day-to-day activities such as walking, climbing stairs, and lifting things particularly challenging.

However, with the advent recovery is now a distinct possibility. At Plexus, we provide customized treatment programs for patients suffering from any type of muscle dystrophies such as Duchenne’s, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), and limb girdle. The programs include in conjunction with rehabilitation therapies for holistic treatment.

Dystonia is a muscle-control disorder that causes involuntary actions such as slow repetitive movements, abnormal postures, or muscle tremors. While the cause remains unclear, it is often attributed to the damage of the brain’s basal ganglia, neurotransmitters, or motor cortex. Dystonia can be grouped into three categories: idiopathic, genetic, and acquired.

Symptoms

• Cramped feet
• Turning or dragging of feet
• Reduced motor coordination
• Uncontrolled neck movement
• Rapid blinking
• Involuntary muscle tremors
• Development of speech impediments

Over the years, we have used therapy programs to successfully treat many patients who have suffered from various forms of dystonia.

Cerebral Palsy is a group of neurological movement disorders that occur when there is insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain during birth. This results in delayed development. For instance, a 5-year old child suffering from Cerebral Palsy shows symptoms like inability to control the head and neck, difficulty in walking, and underdeveloped speech.

In addition, some children may even have symptoms of behavioral problems or seizures. The degree of weakness and defect may vary from person to person. At Plexus, we provide therapy along with an intensive rehabilitation program to treat these deficits.

Refractory Seizure, or drug-resistant epilepsy, refers to a type of seizure that can not be cured by conventional forms of treatment. It is diagnosed as ‘drug-resistant epilepsy’ when the patient fails to respond to at least two trials of suitable, anti-epileptic drugs. But with therapy, we have been able to successfully treat multiple cases of refractory seizures.