Evaluation of Spinal Disorders


Signs and Simptoms

There are many neurological signs and symptoms that warrant neurological evaluation.  Some of the more common neurological signs and symptoms are listed below. 


Aphasia:  Inability to verbally express oneself either because of inability to coordinate speech or to select proper words. This may occur secondary to injury to select regions of the speech and auditory processing centers within the cerebral cortex of the brain.


Apraxia:  Disorders of voluntary movement, consisting of partial or complete incapacity to execute purposeful movement notwithstanding the preservation of muscle power, sensation and coordination. This neurological disorder is based in the brain or cerebellum.


Atony:  A lack of muscle tone.


Atrophy:  Shrinkage or wasting away of an organ or tissue because of a reduction in the size or number of its cells. Tissue atrophy may occur secondary to death or resorption of cells, diminished cellular proliferation, pressure, ischemia, malnutrition, decreased activity or hormonal changes.  The most common application of the term is muscle atrophy that can occur secondary to loss of nerve supply (denervation), disuse or secondary to muscle disease. 


Aura: Visual symptoms which occur prior to a particular neurological event such as a seizure or migraine that serves as a warning that additional signs or symptoms
will follow. 


Bradykinesia: The slowing of motor movements due to dysfunction of a specialized group of cells in an area of the brain called the basal ganglia. 


Cramping:  A painful muscle spasm, which may involve one or more muscles. It may occur from an electrolyte imbalance or neurological disorder.


Dementia:  An acquired loss of cognitive function that may affect language, attention, memory, personality and abstract reasoning

Diploplia: Double vision.