Neuro Flashcards
Vise-like in nature
Exacerbated by emotional stress, fatigue, noise, or glare.
Hypertonicity of neck muscles
Tension Headache (TTH)
Severe unilateral pain that starts around the temple or eye
Ipsilateral nasal congestion or rhinorrhea, lacrimation, redness of the eye, or Horner’s syndrome (ptosis, miosis anhidrosis)
Cluster Headache
Nausea, vomiting, photophobia, visual hallucinations (stars, sparks, flashes of light)
Light and sound sensitivity
Migraine Headaches
History of traumatic event
Contant dull ache
Impaired memory, poor concentration, emotional instability, irritability.
Post-Traumatic Headaches
Chronic daily headaches
Headaches unresponsive to medication with history heavy analgesics use.
Medication Overuse Headache (MOH)
retained awareness or impared awareness
Simple
Depends on which area of the brain is involved;
Complex
Appears to be awake but not in contact with others in the environment
No memory of what occurred
Facial grimacing, gesturing, lip smacking, chewing, repeating words or phrases
Partial Seizures
Tonic phase characterized by sudden muscle stiffening
Clonic phase characterized by rhythmic jerking
Generalized Seizures
Last longer than 2 minutes
Eyes are closed
No postictal phase
Psychogenic non-epileptic Seizure
Intracerebral hemorrhage Gradual onset as blood builds
Subarachnoid hemorrhage
Maximal impact right away, intense “worse headache of my life”
Hemorrhagic Stroke
Sudden onset
Altered mental status with ipsliateral facial droop
FASTER
Face - drooping
Arms - one limb weaker
Stability- steadiness on feet
Talking - slurred
Eyes - visual changes
React - MEDEVAC
Ischemic Stroke
Uncomfortable
“Creeping crawling” sensation”
Pins and needles” feeling
Restless Leg Syndrome
Cushing’s Triad:
Bradycardia
Hypertension
Respiratory irregularity
Signs of basilar skull fracture:
Battle signs”Raccoon eyes”
Hemotypanum
CSF rhinorrhea/otorrhea
CN deficit
Cranial Trauma
Immediate loss of conciousness
Lucid interval
Increasing headache with deteriorating neurologic function
Epidural Hemmorhage
History of trauma
Acute:1-2 days after onsetChronic:
15 days or more after onset
Subdural Hemmorhage
Sudden severe HA.
“The worst headache of my life”
“Thunderclap Headache”
Subarachnoid Hemorrhage(SAH)
NEXUS Criteria (for C-spine)
N: focal neurological deficit
S: midline spinal tenderness
A: altered mental status
I: intoxicated
D: distracting injuries
Spinal Cord Injury
Pain with back flexion or prolonged sitting
Pain radiating down the leg due to compression of neural structures
Lower extremity weakness or numbness
Radiculopathy
Pain, numbness, tingling in the lower back, and radiating down 1 or both legs
Leg weakness or foot drop
Problems with bowel or bladder control
Problems with erection
Cauda Equina Syndrome
Pain, burning, and tingling in the median nerve
Most bothersome during sleep
Late signs:
Weakness or atrophy in the thenar muscle
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Classic triad:
Fever
Nuchal rigidity
Change in mental status
Positive brudzinski and kernig sign
Meningitis
Abrupt onset of unilateral facial paralysis
Paralysis of the forhead
Face feels stiff and pulled to one side
Ipsilateral restriction of eye closure
Difficulty with eating and fine facial movements
Disturbances in taste
Bell’s Palsy
Common complaints are lower back pain, joint pain, severe headache, neck pain, facial pain
Defined as an acutely painful condition that persists beyond the usually expected 6-12 week time course for healing
Chronic Pain Syndrome
Difficulty initiating or maintaining sleep
Fatigue or malaise
Poor attention / concentration
Mood disturbance
Daytime somnolence
Reduced motivation of energy
Insomnia
