Trigeminal neuralgia (TN) is a chronic pain condition affecting the trigeminal nerve, which is responsible for facial sensation and motor functions like chewing. It is classified as a form of neuropathic pain and is known for causing intense discomfort. Trigeminal…
I have treated quite a few cases of migraines relatively successfully. However with any treatment, there may be patients who will respond little or not at all. Conversely, towards the other end of the spectrum, there will be patients for…
Occipital neuralgia is a subtype of headache that affects the back of the head (occipital region). It can present as a sharp piercing pain which can last from seconds to minutes. This can develop into debilitating chronic occipital pain. The…
A phantom limb is the sensation that an amputated or missing limb is still attached. Approximately 80 to 100% of individuals with an amputation experience sensations in their amputated limb. However, only a small percentage will experience painful phantom limb sensation. These sensations are relatively common in amputees…
The term Neurogenic Bladder refers to nerve dysfunction of the bladder. Symptoms can include urinary incontinence, urgency, frequency and overactive bladder. Causes of neurogenic bladder may be from diseases of the central nervous system like strokes, tumours, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s…
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome (CTS) is a very common disease in our society which stems from repetitive stress on the hands and wrists. Over time this leads to inflammation and swelling of an area of our wrist called the carpal tunnel.…
Bell’s Palsy is a condition of acute onset facial paralysis due to dysfunction of the facial nerve. The presentation is quite confronting and usually patients rightly present to the emergency department worried about a stroke. Scans of the brain will…
Chronic groin pain is a very tricky problem to treat. In sport it is the 3rd most common reason after ACL and fracture for keeping players off the field. Because of the extremely complicated anatomy of the groin, pain in…
I have seen quite a few patients now with chronic tail bone pain. The medical term for this is coccydynia. The common causes are childbirth and trauma, and women tend to have this condition more often than men. The usual…
Faecal incontinence is the involuntary loss of faeces aka ‘soiling your pants’. It is one of the more under-recognised conditions due to the taboo nature of poo. Faecal incontinence reduces quality of life – affected patients do not want to…