Think Neuro

Barbara S. Giesser, MD, FAAN, FANA, is an internationally recognized clinician and award-winning educator who has specialized in the care of persons with Multiple Sclerosis since 1982. Her approach to the diagnosis and management of persons with MS combines advanced diagnostics and a personalized medication plan for each patient with an emphasis on integrating lifestyle and wellness strategies into the neurologic treatment plan.

Learn about disease modifying therapies for the treatment of Multiple Sclerosis in this PNI Minute.

For more information: (310) 582-7613 | pacificbrainhealth.org

Ever heard of a disease called Trigeminal Neuralgia? It's called the "Suicide Disease" because it causes unbearable pain in the face and temples. It's often triggered by everyday things like brushing teeth, shaving, or putting on makeup. In many cases, the culprit is an out-of-place blood vessel that rubs against the trigeminal nerve in the side of the face. Other causes include tumors, infections, inflammatory conditions, or traumatic injury. Whatever the reason, the nerve short-circuits, bringing on stabbing, searing pain. Dr. Barkhoudarian and the Pacific Facial Pain Center team offer a comprehensive approach to treatment. They try medication first and move on to surgery if the condition persists. That may mean a minimally invasive surgery, working close to the nerves by the brain. It takes a light touch, and Dr. Barkhoudarian, an expert in keyhole neurosurgery, has one. Often, the pain is gone as soon as a patient wakes from anesthesia. To a sufferer of Trigeminal Neuralgia, Dr. Barkhoudarian is a miracle worker. To him, it’s another wonder of his profession, and one that can make a huge difference in his patients’ lives.

For more information:

pacificneuro.org | (310) 582-7640

Dr. Walavan Sivakumar is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon with a focus on skull base and minimally invasive and endoscopic neurosurgery. Selected as a multiple-year recipient of the SuperDoctor Rising Stars Edition, Dr. Sivakumar has a particular interest and expertise in brain tumors, skull base tumors, pituitary/parasellar tumors, and intraventricular brain tumors, and he applies the keyhole concept, utilizing advanced neuroimaging and microsurgical techniques to minimize collateral damage to the brain. He practices at PNI-South Bay located at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, California. In addition, he treats patients at the Spine Institute at Little Company of Mary to help relieve and cure back conditions due to spine involvement.

Dr. David M. Butler is board certified both by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology. Affiliated with Providence Saint John's Health Center throughout his career, Dr. Butler has been providing compassionate, expert care to his patients since 1988. In 2019, he transitioned over to Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute.

For more information:

https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/about-us/our-team/ | (310) 582-7640

Dr. David M. Butler is board certified both by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology. Affiliated with Providence Saint John's Health Center throughout his career, Dr. Butler has been providing compassionate, expert care to his patients since 1988. In 2019, he transitioned over to Pacific Eye, Ear & Skull Base Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute.

For more information:

https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/about-us/our-team/ | (310) 582-7640

Dr. Carrillo is a board-certified neurologist and neuro-oncologist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of primary and secondary brain tumors, including glioblastoma multiforme, primary CNS lymphoma, meningioma, and brain metastases, as well as the neurologic complications of cancer. In addition, Dr. Carrillo is involved in the enrollment of patients into several clinical trials.

For more information:

https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/about-us/our-team/ | (310) 582-7640

Dystonia is a mysterious condition that causes muscles to contract involuntarily. It can strike many parts of the body, making the head turn, the eyelids close, or the hand twist. We don’t know what causes dystonia. It can arise after head trauma or a stroke, and it often appears in conjunction with Parkinson’s disease. There is no cure, but experts like Dr. Natalie Diaz, a neurologist at PNI, can ease the symptoms with medication. A treatment you may not expect: Botox. A natural toxin, Botox prevents the release of a neurotransmitter that causes the muscles to contract. After an injection, dystonia sufferers very often find that their symptoms dissipate, and that is a welcome relief from this strange, discomforting disease.

For more information:

pacificneuro.org | (310) 582-7640

Dr. Scott Kaiser is a rare breed, and he shouldn’t be. He’s a geriatrician. There are only 7,000 of them in the U.S., even though 10,000 Americans are turning 65 every day. Part of the reason: Gerontology typically doesn’t pay as well as other specialties, so it often attracts people who are purely committed to the practice, like Dr. Kaiser. He loves his work because there is so much he can do for his patients, and so much they can do for themselves. Want to remain healthy in brain and body for years to come? Here are the truly magic bullets: sleep, exercise, a good diet, an active social life, creativity, a strong sense of purpose, and good primary care. Take diet: “When you're in your produce aisle, you're basically hunting for your medicine,” Dr. Kaiser says. Green leafy vegetables have compounds that protect them from sun damage as they grow. They protect us as we age, too. Exercise? The only thing better than a kale salad for aging might be a vigorous dance class, he says. It challenges us mentally and physically. “Exercise is the closest thing we have to a miracle drug for brain health,” Dr. Kaiser says. “It's unbelievable.” Have a listen to Dr. Kaiser, and you might just get excited about aging, rather than dreading it. That’s the last magic bullet: A positive attitude about getting older. Our episode with Dr. Kaiser will almost certainly help with that.

For more information:

pacificneuro.org | (310) 582-7640

Dr. William Buxton is Director, Neuromuscular & Neurodiagnostic Medicine, and Fall Prevention, Brain Health Center; Adult Neurology. He is a board certified in Adult Neurology with Subspecialty Certification in Clinical Neurophysiology through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology with additional certification in Electrodiagnostic Medicine through the American Board of Electrodiagnostic Medicine.

For more information:

https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/about-us/our-team/ | (310) 582-7640

David A. Merrill, MD, Ph.D., is an adult and geriatric psychiatrist with double-board certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is the director of the Pacific Brain Health Center at Pacific Neuroscience Institute. Dr. Merrill has worked for several decades with patients suffering from the behavioral health sequelae of age-related neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disorder. His more recent clinical and research work have expanded to include patients with a history of head trauma, tumor, and stroke

For more information:

https://www.pacificneuroscienceinstitute.org/about-us/our-team/ | (310) 582-7640

In 1993, the rock band Bon Jovi recorded a song called I’ll Sleep When I’m Dead. We’ve learned a lot since then, namely, that sleep is just as important as food and water. Sleep is like a shower for the brain, according to PNI neurologist Dr. Natalie Diaz. It washes away toxic compounds, some of which may be associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. It also helps us preserve important memories and purge the neural connections we don’t need. In this Think Neuro Mini, Dr. Diaz tells us how to sleep like rockstars, but not like Bon Jovi, who got it all wrong back in 1993.

For more information:

pacificneuro.org | (310) 582-7640