Botulinum Toxin

Our neurologists employ many different methods to treat painful conditions such as chronic migraines, abnormally contracted muscles from dystonia, stroke, spinal cord injuries and cerebral palsy. Though most people are familiar with the use of Botox to smooth famous faces, it is a highly effective anesthetic when used to alleviate pain caused by muscle tension. Small amounts are injected into stiff muscles to block the signal between the nerve and the muscle in order to relax the rigid muscle and alleviate pain. To ensure patients optimum comfort during the procedure, our highly skilled neurologists use a technique called Electromyography to improve the effectiveness of Botox treatment.

Offering hope for conditions once deemed untreatable, Deep Brain Stimulation is a surgical procedure in which a pacemaker is inserted into the brain to send electrical impulses into specific areas of the brain in order to stimulate proper function. It has proven to be an effective treatment for such disorders as:

• Chronic pain
• Parkinson's Disease
• Dystonia and other movement disorders
• Tourettes syndrome
• Major depression

Performed in our in office infusion center, we offer our patients experiencing conditions such as multiple sclerosis, inflammatory neuropathy, and chronic migraine relief with infusion therapy. Our experienced infusion nurse is able to administer IV medications in a comfortable, pleasant and private setting.

Commonly referred to as a “pain pump,” Intrathecal drug therapy delivers medication directly into the area surrounding the spinal cord. Using a local anesthetic, a small pump is surgically inserted to deliver medication through a catheter. Because the medication is going right into spinal fluid, it works far more efficiently and requires a much lower dosage than traditional methods of delivery. Patients who have been unable to control their pain with oral medications, and those adversely affected by drug interactions can benefit from this therapy.

Also called a Spinal Tap, this procedure continues to be an essential diagnostic tool aiding in the diagnosis of Guillian-Barre syndrome, mulitiple sclerosis, inflammatory neuropathy, meningitis, and encephalitis. Using a local anesthetic, we use state of the art technology to insert a needle into the lower back to collect cerebrospinal fluid for examination.

Dr. Brannon Morris, the only Pediatric Neurologist in the Athens area, provides outpatient care for the evaluation, diagnosis and implementation of therapies for a vast range of pediatric neurological disorders. We work in partnership with your established pediatrician and our local hospital, Athens Regional Medical Center to deliver the best comprehensive care for your child.

A minimally invasive procedure that is performed using local anesthesia, a small sample of skin is taken to obtain tissue information. It has proven to be an effective tool in the diagnosis of otherwise difficult to determine neuropathies.

Used to alleviate the painful symptoms of fibromyalgia, chronic headache and myofascial pain syndrome, Trigger Point/Nerve Block injections use a combination of local anesthesia and anti-inflammatory medications to manage the muscular spasms that are associated with these disorders.

Employing the same principles involved in sonar, this painless, non invasive test measures both the structure of the carotid arteries, and the movement of blood through blood vessels.  The US/TCD gives important information about the site of a stroke and the patient's progress after treatment.  Performed by certified ultrasound technicians in our Athens office, this test can also detect abnormalities in blood vessels, lymph nodes and lymphatic vessels as well as evaluate blockages to blood flow.

When anti seizure medications are not well tolerated or effective for epilepsy patients, Vagus Nerve Stimulation, sometimes called a “pacemaker for the brain” is an effective therapeutic device.  Surgically implanting a pulse generator into the chest, the device sends out electrical signals along the vagus nerve through a wire threaded under the skin.  The electrical currents stimulate the nerve, and are programmed and monitored by our neurologists.  A hand held magnet is given to the patient, and can stop or reduce the severity of an on coming seizure by providing an immediate current of electricity.  Epilepsy patients receiving this therapy have reported less severe seizures with shorter recovery times, and improved sense of well being and mood, improved alertness and cognitive skills and decreased emergency room visits.