Sentara's team of neurology experts are leaders in treating neuromuscular and nerve disorders. We rely on decades of experience to care for people with these challenging conditions with compassion and skill. We provide personalized care, the latest treatments and the support you need to live healthier.
At Sentara, we understand that medication or surgery aren't the only ways to manage neuromuscular and nerve disorder symptoms. That's why our team includes specialists such as speech therapists, occupational and physical therapist as well as music therapists. The Sentara Music and Medicine Center focuses on evidence-based music therapy. Our specially trained experts use music to improve speech, physical movement and cognitive ability.
Developing Therapies
Our neurologists are actively involved in numerous clinical trials for promising new therapies. As a core member of the Virginia Neurosciences Initiative, our team collaborates with neuroscientists, medical providers, universities and industries statewide. We are committed to finding treatments that may slow, or even stop, the progression of neuromuscular and nerve disorders.
Whether newly developed or established care, your treatment and support options are extensive with Sentara. You and your care team will carefully review and consider each as we strive to ease your symptoms and minimize their effect on you.
Assistive devices: As your muscles weaken, you may need devices that aid in daily activities. Our physical and occupational therapists can help you acquire devices such as raised toilet seats, grab bars and shower seats. These devices can allow you to maintain your independence.
Braces and other stabilizing devices: As muscles weaken, you may need braces, canes or walkers to you maintain your mobility. Our specialized physical and occupational therapists work with you to find the aids you need to stay independent.
Breathing aids: If muscular dystrophy weakens muscles around your lungs, you may have difficulty breathing. Sleep apnea devices can improve your sleep by helping you breathe more easily at night. If your muscles weaken severely, a ventilator can help force air in and out of your lungs.
Complementary therapies: Some people find relief with therapies such as acupuncture, biofeedback or meditation. We can help you find ways to add these alternative treatments into your care plan.
CyberKnife® Radiosurgery: This procedure doesn't actually involve surgery. It's an innovative computer imaging device that directs high doses of radiation directly at the trigeminal nerve. Over several months following the procedure, you develop a lesion on the nerve. This helps disrupt the pain signals and provides relief.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS): Your surgeon places electrodes in areas of your brain controlling motor function. We also implant a device called an impulse generator under your collarbone. The device is similar to a pacemaker. It provides an electrical impulse to stimulate your brain's electrodes so you can better control your movements.
Intravenous immunoglobulin: We inject high doses of normal antibodies from donated blood directly into your veins. This can temporarily modify your immune system.
Lifestyle changes: We help you modify your lifestyle to reduce your symptoms. We recommend getting plenty of rest and eating a well-balanced diet that includes potassium-rich foods. Potassium helps relieve muscle cramping. Exercise is also important for maintaining strength. You may only be able to exercise for a few minutes at a time without getting tired. Our physical therapists can help you navigate challenges and build endurance.
Medications: Your doctor may prescribe medications to slow down the degeneration of motor neurons and relieve your symptoms. Several FDA-approved drugs help taper the progression of muscular dystrophy and relieve symptoms. We also use two types of medications to treat myasthenia gravis. One type, called anticholinesterase medications, improves the signaling between your nerves and muscles. The other type, known as immunosuppressant drugs, suppresses abnormal immune responses.
Microvascular decompression surgery: A neurosurgeon completes this procedure by moving any blood vessel that's compressing your trigeminal nerve.
Neuromodulation: During this procedure, we stimulate your trigeminal nerve directly to alter its ability to transmit pain signals.
Nutritional counseling: Our experts help you maintain your strength through proper nutrition.
Physical therapy: We know it's important to keep your muscles moving and maintaining strength. Our specialized physical therapists work with you to help you maintain mobility and relieve muscle stiffness and cramps.
Plasma exchange: This process, also called plasmapheresis, uses a machine to remove harmful antibodies in your blood. We then replace them with healthy plasma.
Speech therapy: Our trained speech therapists help you preserve as many verbal communication skills as possible and overcome any swallowing difficulties.
Surgery: If your thymus gland is abnormal, we can perform a procedure called a thymectomy to remove it. This procedure reduces symptoms in more than 70 percent of patients who do not have a thymus gland tumor.
Vagus nerve stimulation: Using an implanted device to stimulate one of your vagus nerves, which run on both sides of your body from your brain to your abdomen, can help treat conditions and related pain.