Brain, spine, and peripheral nerve conditions

A diagnosis that covers many different things. The path forward depends entirely on the type of tumor, its location, and how it is behaving — not on the word itself.

Tumors that spread to the brain from a cancer elsewhere in the body. Modern multidisciplinary care has changed what is possible — the right plan depends on the primary cancer, the number and size of lesions, and your overall situation.

A tumor of the meninges — the protective lining around the brain. Most are benign and slow-growing; the decision about treatment depends on size, location, and what the tumor is doing.

A tumor of the master hormone gland at the base of the skull. Some make hormones the body does not need; others press on nearby structures, especially the optic nerves.

Brief, electric-shock-like facial pain triggered by light touch, talking, or eating. Often caused by an artery pressing on the trigeminal nerve as it exits the brainstem.

Compression of the spinal cord in the neck. Symptoms — clumsiness, balance trouble, hand weakness — develop gradually and time is not on your side once they appear.

A pinched nerve in the neck — most commonly a herniated disc or bone spur compressing C6 or C7 — causing radiating arm pain, numbness, or weakness.

Most disc herniations improve without surgery. The decision is rarely just "is there a herniation" — it is whether your symptoms match the imaging and how much function you have lost.

Narrowing of the spinal canal causing leg pain, weakness, or numbness — usually worse with standing or walking, better with sitting or leaning forward.

Sharp, radiating pain down one leg from a compressed nerve root — most often caused by a herniated disc or by narrowing where the nerve exits the spine.

Forward slippage of one vertebra over another — most often L4 on L5 or L5 on S1, causing back pain and sometimes leg symptoms from associated stenosis.