CONDITIONS WE TREAT

We are an international centre for Movement Disorders with our specialists treating a range of conditions. Find more information below on some common conditions we treat.

For further information and potential treatment options please speak with you current treating doctor.

Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson’s disease is progressive, neurodegenerative disease in which there is currently no cure. Parkinson’s affects an area of the brain that controls movement and is therefore known as a ‘movement disorder’. Common motor symptoms include tremor, postural and gait disturbance, bradykinesia and rigidity. Other difficulties that are sometimes experienced include speech and voice changes, swallowing changes, memory and concentration, sleep disturbances and bowel and bladder function. Treatment options such as medications are targeted at reducing the severity of these symptoms to improve quality of live.

For more information on Parkinson’s Disease please refer to Pakinson's Australia.

Essential Tremor

Essential Tremor is a nervous system disorder where patients experience a shaking or rhythmic trebling of the hands, head, voice legs or torso. Symptoms can be present on one or both sides of the body and can also worsen over time. Tremor can disrupt daily tasks such as drinking from a cup or tying your shoelaces. Common treatment options for essential tremor include managing symptoms with medication or DBS surgery.

Tourette's Syndrome

Tourette’s Syndrome is a neurological disorder which causes involuntary motor and phonic tics. Tics can include repeatedly blinking, shrugging shoulders or saying offensive words.

Dystonia

Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder which causes muscles to become difficult to control. Common symptoms include muscle spasms, twisting, patterned movements and tremors. It can affect one muscle, a muscle group or the entire body.

Cervical dystonia affects the neck and shoulders. It causes abnormal movements which can affect the posture of the head and neck. Common treatment options include Botulinum toxin injections. For more information on Botulinum toxin injections please click here.

Blepharospasm

Blepharospasm is a neurological condition characterised by uncontrollable continual blinking or forcible closure of the eyelids. Common treatment options include Botulinum toxin injections. For more information on Botulinum toxin injections please click here.

Hemifacial Spasm

Hemifacial spasm is a nervous system disorder characterised by involuntary movements, twitching or contraction of the muscles on one side of the face. Common treatment options include Botulinum toxin injections. For more information on Botulinum toxin injections please click here.

Focal Spasticity

Focal spasticity is a disorder characterised by excessive muscle activity as a result of damage to the spinal cord. Common problems include pain, stiffness or difficulty moving a limb. Common treatment options include Botulinum toxin injections. For more information on Botulinum toxin injections please click here.

Axillary Hyperhidrosis

Axillary hyperhidrosis, excessive underarm sweating, is a common condition. Many factors can contribute to axillary hyperhidrosis including genetics and physical and emotional stress. Common treatment options include Botulinum toxin injections. For more information on Botulinum toxin injections please click here.

Chronic Migraine

Migraine is a type of recurring, chronic primary headache. It is a very common condition with about 15% of people experiencing this at some point in their life. A migraine is characterised as a headache lasting between 4-72 hours and has the following characteristics:

At least two of the following:

Moderate to severe pain
Throbbing
One sided
Worsens with physical activity.

In addition to the above a migraine must also have one of the following:

Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
Phonophobia (sensitivity to noise)
Nausea
Vomiting

To be classified as chronic migraine the patient must experience headaches for at least 15 days per month for more than 3 months and at least 8 of those days per month have migraine characteristics.

There are a range of treatment options for migraines ranging from lifestyle changes to medication.

Treatment-Resistant Depression

In Australia, treatment resistant depression (TRD) is the type of depression that does not show sings of response even after trialling 2 or more medications. With this type of depression symptoms are harder to treat, the likelihood of symptoms resolving, or reducing, becomes less likely and recurrence of symptoms increases. for more information about TRD and TMS please visit the Queensland Neurostimulation Centre website.