Conditions we treat

Plain-language guides to the brain, spine and nerve conditions Dr. Daggubati treats: what causes them, how they are diagnosed, when they can be watched, and when surgery is the right choice.

• Lumbar Herniated Disc (Sciatica)A lumbar disc herniation happens when the soft center of a spinal disc pushes through its outer ring and…
• Lumbar Spinal Stenosis & Neurogenic ClaudicationLumbar spinal stenosis is a narrowing of the spinal canal from age-related changes: bulging discs, thickened…
• Lumbar SpondylolisthesisSpondylolisthesis means one vertebra has slipped forward on the one below it, either from a stress fracture…
• Lumbar RadiculopathyRadiculopathy is the medical term for a pinched or irritated nerve root. In the lumbar spine it produces…

• Cervical Herniated DiscA herniated disc in the neck presses on a nerve root or, less commonly, the spinal cord. Most patients have…
• Cervical RadiculopathyCervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the neck is compressed by a disc herniation or bone spur.…
• Cervical MyelopathyCervical myelopathy is compression of the spinal cord in the neck, usually from arthritis, disc degeneration,…

• Intradural Spinal TumorsIntradural spinal tumors grow inside the dura, the tough membrane that holds the spinal cord and its fluid.…
• Extradural Spinal Tumors & Spinal MetastasesExtradural tumors grow in the bones of the spine or the space around the dura, outside the membrane that…
• Spinal Tumors (Overview)Spinal tumors fall into two broad groups: tumors that arise from the spinal cord and its coverings…

• Brain Tumors (Overview)Hearing the words “brain tumor” is frightening. Most people who come to see us have just had an MRI ordered…
• Gliomas & GlioblastomaGliomas arise from the brain’s supporting cells. They range from slow-growing low-grade tumors (astrocytoma,…
• MeningiomaMeningiomas are the most common primary brain tumor. They grow from the lining of the brain (the meninges)…
• Brain MetastasesBrain metastases are cancers that began elsewhere — most commonly lung, breast, melanoma, kidney or colon —…
• Colloid CystA colloid cyst is a benign cyst that forms in the third ventricle, a fluid-filled space in the center of the…

• Vestibular Schwannoma (Acoustic Neuroma)A vestibular schwannoma is a benign tumor of the balance nerve, growing in the narrow canal between the inner…
• Trigeminal Neuralgia & Hemifacial SpasmTrigeminal neuralgia causes brief, electric-shock-like facial pain triggered by chewing, talking, brushing…
• Epidermoid & Other Skull Base TumorsThe skull base is the floor of the cranial cavity where the brain meets the face and neck, crowded with…

• Pituitary AdenomaThe pituitary is a pea-sized gland at the base of the brain that controls hormones throughout the body.…
• Cushing’s Disease & AcromegalyCushing’s disease (excess cortisol) and acromegaly (excess growth hormone) are caused by small pituitary…
• Rathke’s Cleft CystA Rathke’s cleft cyst is a benign fluid-filled remnant from pituitary development. Most cause no problems and…

• Chiari MalformationIn Chiari I malformation, the lower part of the cerebellum (the tonsils) sits below the opening at the base…
• Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a build-up of spinal fluid in the brain’s ventricles in older adults. It…
• Hydrocephalus (Adult)Hydrocephalus is an accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid that raises pressure inside the head. In adults it…
• CSF Leak & EncephaloceleA CSF leak occurs when the membrane containing spinal fluid tears, allowing clear fluid to drain from the…

• Spinal Fractures (Cervical & Thoracolumbar)A spinal fracture is a break in one of the vertebrae. Some are minor injuries that heal in a brace; others…
• Head Injury & Traumatic Brain InjuryHead injuries range from a mild concussion that needs rest and time to a bleed inside the skull that needs…
• Subdural Hematoma & Brain HemorrhageA subdural hematoma is a collection of blood between the brain and its outer covering, usually after a fall…

• Carpal Tunnel SyndromeCarpal tunnel syndrome is compression of the median nerve at the wrist. It causes numbness and tingling in…
• Cubital Tunnel SyndromeThe ulnar nerve passes behind the elbow — the “funny bone” — and can be compressed there, causing numbness in…
• Peroneal Neuropathy & Meralgia ParestheticaThe peroneal nerve wraps around the outside of the knee and can be compressed by leg crossing, weight loss,…