Patterns of Headache
Headache
Headache is a very common presenting problem. The vast majority of headaches, even though they can be disabling for patients, will be benign. Patients may often associate headache with hypertension…
MRI of the brain showing reduction in brain tissue volume - consistent with Huntington's disease
Huntington’s Disease
Introduction Huntington’s disease – HD - (aka Huntington’s chorea, named after George Huntington [1872]) is an autosomal dominant disorder that shows full penetrance. It is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that…
Tendon reflex hammer
Lower Limb Examination
The key aim is to identify the anatomical site of the lesion: central (UMN - brain and spinal cord)versus peripheral (LMN - nerve roots and peripheral nerves). • NB –…
Signs seen in papilloedema
Malignant Hypertension
Introduction Malignant hypertension (aka - hypertensive crisis) is a very high blood pressure that typically comes on suddenly and quickly. It is defined as systolic blood pressure of >180 mmHg and /…
Medication overuse headache
Medication Overuse Headache
Introduction Medication overuse headache (AKA rebound headache) usually occurs in patients with a past medical history of severe headache, for which they have frequently/ excessively used analgesics. Clinical Features Chronic…
An example of a visual aura in migraine
Migraine
Introduction Migraine is a common cause of headache affecting about 15% of individuals. Migraine headaches are typically unilateral, recurrent, and last anywhere up to 72 hours. It is more common…
Perhaps the most famous sufferer of MND - Stephen Hawking
Motor Neuron Disease (MND)
Introduction Motor neuron disease (aka MND, Motor neurone disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis - ALS) is degenerative neurological disease, seen worldwide. In MND is degeneration of motor neurons in the motor…
Clinical features of multiple sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Introduction Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory condition of the CNS. It results from demyelination and axonal loss of nerves in the CNS. Peripheral nerves are not affected. It…
Muscle Disorders
Introduction The main feature of muscle disorders is weakness without reflex loss. This helps us to differentiate these disorders from the neurological causes of weakness: UMN lesion – weakness with…
Drooping eyelid seen in myasthenia gravis
Myasthenia Gravis
Introduction Myasthenia Gravis is an acquired, autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction. Antibodies attack the Acetylcholine receptor. This results weakness in muscles, particularly the ocular, bulbar and proximal skeletal. "Fatigability"…