Neurological care in southern New Hampshire

Our experienced neurologists provide comprehensive diagnosis and treatment for conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord and nerves at Appledore Medical Group.

Comprehensive neurological care

The neurology care teams at Appledore Medical Group — made up of neurosurgeons, neurologists and nurses — are specially trained in treating brain conditions.

We understand a neurological disorder can be overwhelming, which is why we focus on providing compassionate and comprehensive patient care. Our specialists will work closely with you to help you understand your diagnosis and test results, as well as create the best possible treatment plan for your individual needs.

Our specialists have experience treating a variety of neurological conditions, including:

  • Benign brain tumors
  • Chiari type I malformation
  • Cognitive disorders
  • Colloid cysts of the 3rd ventricle
  • Dementia
  • Hydrocephalus
  • Malignant brain tumors
  • Metastatic brain tumors
  • Migraines
  • Movement disorders, such as Parkinson's disease or essential tremors
  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Seizure disorders
  • Traumatic brain injury/head trauma

Types of diagnostic tests offered

Electromyography (EMG)

Your muscles move when nerve signals from the brain tell them to get to work. Electromyography measures how well your muscles respond to those signals. If the test picks up a problem, you may be diagnosed with what is called a neuromuscular disorder.

Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS)

Nerve signals are electrical impulses that travel quickly throughout your nervous system. Sometimes, problems with the electrical activity in your nerves can cause pain, tingling, or weakness in your muscles. NCS measures how fast and how strong the electrical activity is in a nerve. The test can tell whether a nerve has been damaged.

Neurological treatments and surgeries

Our goal is to create the most effective treatment plan to help you manage your condition. To do this, we use advanced services and surgeries, such as:

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

DBS is a surgical procedure that helps ease the symptoms of patients with movement disorders. DBS is often described as a brain pacemaker, as it provides small electrical pulses to areas of the brain that control movement.

DBS offers many benefits to patients, including:

  • A reduction in the need for medication
  • Improved quality of life (compared to medication treatment alone)
  • Increased ability to do daily activities, such as bathing or getting dressed
  • Up to 5 additional hours of movement control each day

It is important to note that DBS is not a cure for movement disorders, but it can successfully treat symptoms.

Candidates for DBS

You may be a candidate for treatment with DBS if your movement disorder symptoms have previously been well controlled with medication, but you are now experiencing medication side effects. This includes abrupt on/off fluctuations or involuntary movements called dyskinesias.

You may also be a candidate if you have a tremor that is not responding well to medical therapy.

Image-guided cranial surgery

Image-guided cranial surgery uses advanced technology to provide neurosurgeons with an enhanced, detailed image of the procedure on a computer screen. These enhanced images allow for increased precision during brain surgery.

SPG Block

Sphenopalatine Ganglion Block (SPG Block) can provide relief from migraines and other types of headache and facial pain. SPG Block is a procedure where concentrated lidocaine, a pain reliever, is delivered through the nose and applied directly to the group of nerves that causes these headaches. Relief is often immediate and last for weeks or months without the need for other injections or medicines.

SPG Block is effective for the treatment of migraines. It can also help other symptoms associated with severe headaches, like nausea.

The procedure takes about 20 minutes, is virtually pain free and has no required preparation. SPG is about 90 percent effective and can be repeated as needed to reduce pain.

Botox® Treatment For Chronic Migraines

  • Botox injections for chronic migraines.
  • Botox injections for muscle spasticity after strokes.
  • Botox injections for Sialorrhea (excessive drooling or salivation).
  • Botox injections for Dystonia (a movement disorder in which a person's muscles contract uncontrollably)