FAQ's about CPM and other neurological issues

What is CPM?

Central Pontine Myelinolysis also known as osmotic demyelination syndrome, is a neurological disease caused by severe damage of the myelin sheath of nerve cells in the brainstem, more precisely in the area termed the pons. It is characterized by acute paralysis, dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), and dysarthria (difficulty speaking), and other neurological symptoms. This condition is rare in the general community, although it is an emergency disorder, you will need to go to a hospital for diagnosis and treatment. However, most people with this condition are already in the hospital for another condition. There is no cure, only treatment and gradual improvement of its connected deficits.  Therapy may help maintain muscle strength, mobility, and function.

What is Neuropathy?

Neuropathy is a complication of a number of different medical conditions and is a common condition. Three types of nerve can be involved; autonomic nerves, motor nerves and sensory nerves. Symptoms of sensory neuropathy often begin in the feet with a gradual onset of loss of feeling, numbness, tingling, or pain and progress toward the center of the body with time. The arms or legs may be involved. The inability to determine joint position may also occur, which can result in clumsiness or falls. Extreme sensitivity to touch can be another symptom of peripheral neuropathy. The sensation of numbness and tingling of the skin is medically known as paresthesia. When there is damage to the motor nerves (those that control movement) occurs, symptoms include weakness, loss of reflexes, loss of muscle mass, cramping, and/or loss of dexterity. There is no main treatment although stopping further damage and treating the symptoms is an outlet to investigate. 

What is Malabsorption?

Malabsorption is a state arising from abnormality in absorption of food nutrients across the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Impairment can be of single or multiple nutrients depending on the abnormality. This may lead to malnutrition and a variety of anemias.

What is Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a large organ behind the stomach that produces digestive enzymes. There are two main types, acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. Signs and symptoms of pancreatitis include pain in the upper abdomen, nausea and vomiting. The pain often goes into the back and is usually severe. In acute pancreatitis a fever may occur and symptoms typically resolve in a few days. In chronic pancreatitis weight loss, fatty stool, and diarrhea may occur. The most common causes of acute pancreatitis are gallstones and heavy alcohol use. Acute pancreatitis is usually treated with intravenous fluids, pain medication, and sometimes antibiotics.

What is Vitamin Deficiency?

The body needs many different vitamins to function adequately. A lack of one or more vitamins may cause symptoms that may be mild or severely debilitating depending on the vitamin and the period of deficiency. Vitamin deficiency may be associated with inadequate dietary intake or with certain conditions such as alcoholism and malabsorption syndromes where the body is unable to efficiently absorb nutrients and vitamins from the food that has been eaten.

What is a TIA?

A TIA is a transient ischemic attack, or a mini stroke, is a brief episode characterized by neurological symptoms. A mini stroke is a serious event because it is often the warning sign of an impending stroke. The symptoms of a mini stroke begin suddenly and vary depending on the part of the brain that is affected. For instance a person who suffers a mini stroke in the area of the brain that controls hand movement may develop difficulty writing for a few minutes or even a few hours. A person who experiences a mini stroke of a similar size in the brainstem, an area of the brain which harbors the centers for gait balance, voice control, and eye movements, might feel temporarily unable to carry on with his or her day because of vertigo, difficulty speaking, or double vision. Mini strokes are most noticeable when they affect the parts of the brain that control movement and feeling in the face, arm, or leg. Mini strokes can also affect the ability to understand and produce speech.

What is Pseudobulbar Palsy?

Pseudobulbar palsy is a clinical syndrome of dysarthria, dysphagia, a hyperactive gag reflex and labile emotional responses. It results from bilateral upper motor neuron brainstem lesions.