Category: Uncategorized

Should Hemifacial spasms be treated?

Posted on | by Dr.Jaydev Panchawagh | Leave a Comment on Should Hemifacial spasms be treated?

Many a patient’s relative asks me if it is necessary to treat hemifacial spasms. While I appreciate that he/ she loves their wife/ husband/ son/daughter /relative/ friend irrespective of the fact that they have facial spasms, one must understand the patient’s misery.

Hemifacial spasms are not just cosmetic

Initially, the spasms may begin as small and infrequent twitches  around the eye. Over a period of time these twitches progress to obvious muscle contractions involving the entire ye, cheek, nose, chin and neck. This not only results in facial asymmetry, but also some disfiguring appearance, albeit episodically. This leads to embarrassment, depression, social avoidance, loneliness and in certain cases occupational hazards as well. Daily activities like reading, writing, using devices like mobile phone or computer, watching Television may quickly get affected. Occasionally, there may be hearing problems like tinnitus, clicks in the ear etc that may negatively influence the patient’s emotions.

Besides, hemifacial spasms by themselves cause facial palsy that is underlying and obvious only to the trained eye.

Spasms also may cause facial tiredness and to some extent muscle aches due to constant spasms, though facial pain is not associated with it per se.

Hemifacial spasms must be treated

I therefore urge patients and their well-wishers to consider exploring options and getting counseled by experts (not inexperienced people) regarding the pros and cons of surgery. MVD surgery is the only possibly permanent  treatment. Please watch our channel on YouTube to know more.

Cure for Hemifacial Spasms- Botox or Surgery

Posted on | by Dr.Jaydev Panchawagh | 1 Comment on Cure for Hemifacial Spasms- Botox or Surgery

One thing that doesn’t stop amazing me is the firm belief people have, that chemical drugs taken for pain chronically are safe, and that surgery has all the risks.
In chronic conditions like pain or Hemifacial spasms the disease takes hold of the person’s psyche completely and the suffering is perpetuated and augmented.
If the condition happens to have a fairly potent surgical answer for permanent cure, the entire cascade of suffering due to the disease on one side… and medicines on the other side… can be nipped in the bud. The notion “that surgery is the last resort”…can, not only be wrong, but dangerous…..as the problems enter in the negative cycle of chronicity and psychological and physical trauma…Not to mention the side effects of the chronic medications.
I see this happening almost daily at the MVD surgery centre where people ask me after relief, “Why were we not told that it could be CURED with surgery five or ten years back ?”
I have no answer to this.
Watch this new film which touches on one such important facet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b7P4UP-0bcA

Technological Charity for Excellence

Posted on | by Dr.Jaydev Panchawagh | Leave a Comment on Technological Charity for Excellence

Today the Indian medical field is mired with multiple issues.  Inaccessibility of high level and technology intensive treatment to common public, level of medical education and research, trust between doctors and patients and the economics of the medical treatment…to name a few.
When I started as a young neurosurgeon I slowly realized the issues and hindrances in the quest for excellence.
Brain and spinal cord surgery, known as Neurosurgery, is especially technology intensive.
Perfect Execution of Neurosurgical operations need equipment which need to be imported to deliver the best.
They also attract heavy duties to add to the problem.
Without doubt, technology plays a huge part in giving the best results in this field.
High end technology can cure brain tumors and spine problems, making the sufferers productive again for their families and for the society at large.
The problem of acquiring these technologies is the cost.
The burden it places on the hospitals is that the cost has to be recovered from the patients and it increases the financial burden on the sick.
The traditional view of charity has been to give money to these patients for the treatment… but it has many drawbacks. To identify THE REAL needy is becoming almost impossible due to easy availability of “financially weak” Certificates.
The concept of “Charity through technology” needs to be seriously considered for this same reason.
If technology can be acquired through charity, we are able to deliver the best treatment in affordable cost to the needy.
Higher technology allows for cure in areas like brain tumours and strokes, which are increasing in the society.
This, in turn, gives back a productive individuals to the families and to the society….the result far superior to giving some monetary aid for the treatment by older technology and with inferior results.
They say, “Give a man fish to eat and his one meal is taken care of but..Teach the same man the art of fishing… and his poverty is permanently eradicated”
Similarly “give a man money to get treated and his treatment is temporarily assured but cure him with best technology ensuring best “functional” results which will preserve his functions.. and his life is permanently improved”
So perhaps we need to closely look at and implement this model of “Charity through technology” for the greater good of the society.
Another important benefit of this type of Charity is the progress in science and research, such technological advances bring about, in our society. Only through this approach can we stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of the world in science, education and research.
The famous example of this in the field of Neuroscience was the collaboration between the world famous neurosurgeon Dr Harvey Cushing, who is known as the father of world Neurosurgery, and Henry Ford.
Their collaboration changed the face of brain and spine surgery in the first half of the last century.
We need this kind of philanthropy by our kind and scientifically minded donors to take us to the next level.
Jaydev Panchawagh

 

 

Microvascular Decompression or MVD surgery is the only treatment that has a potential to cure Hemifacial spasm.

Posted on | by developernbvc | Leave a Comment on Microvascular Decompression or MVD surgery is the only treatment that has a potential to cure Hemifacial spasm.
As stories go, there is nothing to beat that of one where people overcome difficulties to become winners. This video is of two such individuals who suffered from Hemifacial spasm for many years, endured social stigma, preferred social isolation rather than face friends/family/ strangers.
They were so fed up that they decided to explore options for the treatment of Hemifacial spasm on Google and YouTube.
That is when they chanced upon our YouTube channel and our educational videos that gave them the confidence to go ahead with surgical treatment. Microvascular Decompression or MVD surgery is the only treatment that has a potential to cure Hemifacial spasm.

A satisfying result of a major brain tumour Surgery.

Posted on | by developernbvc | Leave a Comment on A satisfying result of a major brain tumour Surgery.
45 year old patient who came to our Brain Tumour Centre Two years back… in terrified state as she was diagnosed with a very large brain Tumour, again came yesterday to my clinic.
This time she was happy and healthy. Her fresh check MRI showed that the tumour was totally resected.
A satisfying result of a major brain tumour Surgery.
Credit to my whole team.
See the photos below.

The Condition of Spondylolisthesis (Or slipping of one vertebra over another)

Posted on | by developernbvc | Leave a Comment on The Condition of Spondylolisthesis (Or slipping of one vertebra over another)
The condition of Spondylolisthesis (Or slipping of one vertebra over another)
causes severe backpain, Inability to live normal life and Claudication pain in buttocks, thighs and Calves.
In this, one entire Vertebra slips over another and if left untreated can progress in its slippage.
Below..You can see how the nerves going to the legs are severely compressed due to this slippage.(Green arrows).
And after successful correction.
The person was allowed to walk the very next day and discharged on the third day….to lead normal life.