Dr. Payne’s Team Saves Employee. Read more and watch the video

Phoenix Neurological Associates, LTD was just named one of seven international centers of Excellence for Guillan Barre and CIDP. Read more

BITE NITE 2010
Our first fundraiser took place on June 5, 2010 at Scottsdale Resort and Conference Center. PNA Center for Neurological Research teamed up with the ALS Association Arizona Chapter to co-host a night dedicated to ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease). BITE NITE consisted of 5 top Valley Restaurants, 5th and Wine, Cien Agaves Tacos & Tequila, Oregano's Pizza Bistro and Va Bene who served up samplers of their best dishes, with great entertainment by our favorite local band Dearspeak, with silent and live auctions. The night was an absolute blast and a success. People enjoyed great food while enjoying each other’s company for a night that was dedicated to funding ALS research. Thank you for everyone who truly made this night a success. Due to the positive praise and feedback, BITE NITE will be an annual event, so if you weren’t able to attend, we look forward to seeing you there next year! Thanks again for your support, dedication and contributions, we couldn’t have made this night possible without you.

Check out photos from BITE NITE here.

Dystonia

Dystonia Symptoms | Causes of Dystonia | Dystonia Treatment

Dystonia is a neurological muscle disorder characterized by involuntary muscle spasms.

Dystonia Symptoms

Patients with dsytonia may experience uncontrollable twisting, repetitive movements, or abnormal postures and positions. These can affect any part of the body, including the arms, legs, trunk, eyelids and vocal cords. General dystonia involves the entire body. Focal dystonias involve only one body location, most commonly the neck (spasmodic torticollis), eyelids (blepharospasm), lower face (Meige syndrome), or hand (writer's cramp or limb dystonia). Depending on what part of the body is affected, the condition can be very disabling.

Dystonia Cause

Dystonia results from abnormal functioning of the basal ganglia, a deep part of the brain which helps control coordination of movement. These regions of the brain control the speed and fluidity of movement and prevent unwanted movements.

Dystonia Treatment

There is a three-tiered approach to treating dystonia: botulinum toxin (botox) injections, medication, and surgery. These may be used alone or in combination. Botox injections help block the communication between the nerve and the muscle and may lessen abnormal movements and postures. Surgery is considered when other treatments have proven ineffective. The goal of surgery is to interrupt the pathways responsible for the abnormal movements at various levels of the nervous system. Some operations purposely damage small regions of the thalamus (thalamotomy), globus pallidus (pallidotomy), or other deep centers in the brain. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has been tried recently with some success. Other surgeries include cutting nerves leading to the nerve roots deep in the neck close to the spinal cord (anterior cervical rhizotomy) or removing the nerves at the point they enter the contracting muscles (selective peripheral denervation).