Diseases Treated
Here at the Neurology Insitute of Melbourne, we strive to provide the most advanced methods of diagnosing, treating and managing disorders of the brain and nervous system such as Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease and stroke.

Stroke
A stroke is a sudden loss of brain function due to a disturbance in the blood vessels supplying blood to the brain. This can be due to lack of blood supply caused by thrombosis or embolism or due to a hemorrhage. As a result, the affected area of the brain is unable to function, leading to inability to move one or more limbs on one side of the body, inability to understand or formulate speech or inability to see one side of the visual field.

Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that often impairs the sufferer’s motor skills, speech, gait and balance, as well as other functions. Parkinson’s disease belongs to a group of conditions called movement disorders. It is characterized by muscle rigidity, tremor, a slowing of physical movement and, in extreme cases, a loss of physical movement. Parkinson’s disease is a treatable disease that Dr. Unger uses the latest techniques and medications to combat.

Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias
Dementia is defined as a progressive loss of memory and other cognitive functions that is not reversible.  Alzheimer’s Disease is a type of dementia, which specifically effects a patient’s ability to do Activities of Daily Living (driving, doing finances, cooking, feeding oneself, and caring for ones daily needs). Alzheimer’s Disease can be associated with word finding difficulty.  There are various treatments available for these conditions including Alzheimer’s which greatly slow the progression of the disease.  Early treatment is the key.

Seizures
Seizures are electrical disturbances in the brain, such as a “short” in a wire. There are two types, Grand Mal and Petit Mal.  Grand Mal seizures can cause the patient to lose consciousness and have convulsions, incontinence and tongue biting.  Petit Mal seizures are characterized by staring spells without convulsions.  These are often followed by a confusion state.  Sometimes Petit Mal seizures can be associated with vision changes or weird smells, and sometimes a tremor in one arm or leg without loss of consciousness can be a symptom of a Petit Mal seizure.

Multiple Sclerosis
MS affects the ability of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord to communicate with each other. In MS, the body's own immune system attacks and damages the myelin. When myelin is lost, the axons can no longer effectively conduct signals. The name multiple sclerosis refers to scars (scleroses – better known as plaques or lesions) in the white matter of the brain and spinal cord. Patients can have various symptoms such as vision changes, speech changes, paralysis, or numbness.  These symptoms may not go away and can progressively disable the patient.  It is not always easy to diagnose MS, but Dr. Unger uses tests such as MRI, lumbar puncture (spinal tap) or evoked potentials to confirm the diagnosis. There are a number of medications that can treat MS and slow the progression of the disease.

Dizzy Spells
One of the most common symptoms prompting patients to visit their physician is Dizziness. Dizziness is defined as feeling lightheaded, unsteady, having a loss of balance or vertigo. Dizziness can be caused by inner ear problems, strokes, seizures, or other neurologic conditions. Dr. Unger is an expert in determining the cause of dizzy spells and treating them appropriately.

Neuropathy
Neuropathy is characterized by numbness and sometimes weakness in the legs which spreads to the arms and is often symmetrical. It can be an early sign of diabetes, Vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid problems, and other diseases. Neuropathy is one of the many diagnosis that Dr. Unger treats using state-of-the-art equipment and his expertise of neurological conditions.

Back Pain
According to a recent study, back pain affects 80% of American at some point in their life. The causes of back pain are not always what they may seem. One does not often think of a neurologist when they have back pain, but Dr. Unger is skilled at non-surgical treatments for back pain, and can also give you advice about if and when you need surgery. Contact Dr. Unger's office and see what they can do for you.

Headaches
According to The National Headache Foundation, over 45 million Americans suffer from chronic, recurring headaches and of these, 28 million suffer from migraines. About 20% of children and adolescents also have significant headaches. Some headaches represent a more serious underlying cause such as a brain tumor or an aneurism.  However, most headaches are benign such as migraine headaches or tension headaches.  These are easily treatable with combining medications to prevent headaches with ones to take for breakthrough pain.  They can also be treated with vitamin supplements or by taking away medications that cause headache.  Dr. Unger is skilled at helping you find the combination that works best for you.

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