Treatments & Diagnostic Tools

Weiss Medical Associates offers the most comprehensive treatment programs and advanced diagnostic procedures available to detect, evaluate and care for a wide range of neurologic conditions. Equipped with state-of-the-art technology and a highly-trained and friendly staff, you won’t have to travel any further than our offices to get the answers and care you need.

Treatments

Your relationship with your neurologist is the foundation of your healthcare program. Treatment at Weiss Medical Associates begins with a thorough neurologic evaluation at your New Patient visit. During this appointment, Dr. Weiss will review your medical history and any previous testing you may have had, and assess your current symptoms and level of health. Most importantly, he takes the time to get to know and listen to you as a patient, not a medical chart.

After a thorough medical diagnosis, Dr. Weiss will create a customized treatment program according to your individual needs. Treatment programs may include:

• Neurologic treatment for patients of all ages
• Prescription medicine and/or natural supplements
• Trigger point injections
• Occipital nerve blocks
• Pain management
• VAX-D therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Nutritional consultation
• Accupuncture
• Physical Therapy
• Addiction treatments
• Integrative Medicine with Next Step^® Institute
• Massage therapy

With a supportive staff and frequent follow up appointments, Dr. Weiss is able to carefully coordinate and manage your ongoing care, making adjustments as needed to continue best serving you. Schedule your New Patient Visit today.

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Diagnostic Tools

Weiss Medical Associates is proud to announce the addition of a Hitachi AIRIS II Open MRI to our Eagle facility. Unlike other MRI machines, our MRI is open on all four sides—easing the anxiety and claustrophobia some patients experience in traditional “tube” type MRIs.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a method used by physicians to look inside the human body and obtain anatomical and functional diagnostic information. MRI differs from other diagnostic imaging techniques (such as CT scan or X-ray) in that it can provide highly detailed images of the internal body using harmless magnetic fields and radio waves, instead of radiation or radioactive substances. MRI is a convenient and safe, non-invasive procedure, with no known side or after effects.

With incredible accuracy, MRI can detect many abnormalities which CT and X-rays cannot, especially those involving soft tissue. In fact, MRI can reduce the need for biopsies, exploratory surgery, and other diagnostic procedures which carry associated risk.

MRI is also versatile, with the ability to image most parts of the body for effective clinical evaluation of:

Our advanced MRI uses a powerful magnet that enables pictures of the inner body to be clearer and more detailed, allowing doctors to diagnose medical conditions earlier and more accurately.

Weiss Medical Associates’ Open MRI on the Eagle/Gypsum border provides an unsurpassed level of patient care. Our facility is open seven days a week with flexible scheduling, allowing for exams to be coordinated before and after regular working hours. Most insurances and worker’s compensation are accepted, and flexible payment plans and discounted rates are available.

MRI appointments are available to all patients—Scans are available for all body parts (does not have to be neurology-related), and you do not have to be under the care of Dr. Weiss. Neurologic scans are read by Dr. Weiss in-house, while all other images are sent to our team of radiologists at Boulder Radiology for quick and accurate reports.

For more information on Weiss Medical Associates’ Open MRI, please see the MRI Preparation Sheet for Patients.

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Electroencephalograms (EEGs) or Ambulatory Electroencephalograms (also known as Quantitative EEGs, or QEEGs) are tests which record electrical activity in the brain to analyze brain function. The test is done when multiple electrodes are placed on the scalp, which record the brain’s spontaneous electrical activity over a period of time (varying from 20 minutes with regular EEGs, or 72 hours for Ambulatory EEGs). The information gathered from EEGs provides physicians with a color picture of brain activity in a physiological or working state.

EEGs are an excellent diagnostic tool for any injury or illness that may affect the brain. Common applications are in the cases of epilepsy, coma, encephalopathy, tumors, stroke or other focal brain disorders. Other neurologic uses for EEGs are to help determine if a seizure occurred and where it originated, to consider the degree of a concussion following head trauma, or to see if there is evidence of early changes consistent with Alzheimer’s disease.

Dr. Weiss often recommends EEG studies in cases of seizure, syncope, headache, head trauma, brain contusion, memory loss, confusion, dementia, stroke, concussion, or changes with cognition.

EEGs are safe and effective diagnostic tools, and completely pain free. To prepare for an EEG, one must have clean hair (no hair products), and hair must be worn down (no braids, etc). Lastly, in order for accurate brain activity to be measured during testing, it is necessary to refrain from caffeine (soda, coffee, tea, etc.) before and during the test.

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Electromyography (EMG) and Nerve Conduction Velocity (NCV) studies test the health of muscles and nerves that control the muscles. To perform the tests, a needle electrode is inserted through the skin into the muscle tissue. Patients lie still as electrical activity “at rest” is observed and recorded, and then contract their muscles so shape, size and frequency of the resulting motor unit potentials may be noted. EMGs and NCVs are often indicated when patients report symptoms of weakness and examination shows impaired muscle strength. The studies are useful in the diagnosis of neurologic conditions such as entrapment neuropathies, carpal tunnel, peripheral neuropathy, radiculopathy, muscular dystrophy and inflammatory myopathies.

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Lumbar puncture, or spinal tap, is a diagnostic procedure that is performed in order to collect and look at the fluid (cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) surrounding the brain and spinal cord. During a lumbar puncture, a needle is carefully inserted into the lower back (lumbar spine) to allow for fluid collection. The samples are studied for color, blood cell counts, protein, glucose, and other substances. Lumbar punctures are done to find causes for symptoms that may be caused by infection, or to diagnose certain diseases of the brain and spinal cord.

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An evoked potential test, or evoked response, measures both the time it takes for nerves to respond to stimulation, as well as the size of nerves’ response. Conducting gel and electrodes taped to the head measure brain waves resulting from presented stimuli. Based on a patient’s symptoms, different types of evoked potential testing may be done: Visual evoked response (VER) is performed by stimulating the eyes with a test pattern; brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER) stimulates hearing with the use of various test tones; and somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) looks at reactions of the nerves of the arms and legs as they are stimulated by an electrical pulse. Evoked potential testing may be called for in cases of diminished vision, vision disturbance, diminished hearing, vertigo, dizziness, central sensory loss, spinal cord injury, radiculopathy, or most frequently, multiple sclerosis.

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VAX-D (short for Vertebral Axial Decompression­) is non-invasive treatment for chronic back and neck pain. The treatment is designed to relieve the pressure on structures that may be causing chronic spinal pain, and is an effective and safe option that lacks the risks associated with surgery, injections, or anesthesia. Conditions for which VAX-D treatment may be indicated include:

*Patients with certain conditions such as tumors, bone fractures, or osteoporosis are not candidates for this therapy.

VAX-D works by applying distraction of the vertebrae, while allowing the muscles along the spinal column to relax. In distracting the spine, VAX-D takes the pressure off of the discs and spinal nerves, and allows the back to heal itself. Tension is applied while following the natural curvatures of the spine. The key to the distraction is a repetitive series of pulls, holds and releases over the course of the 45 minute treatment.

Patients receive an average of 20 treatments, once per day, five days per week. The total number of treatments can vary depending on the severity of the patient’s condition.

Studies have proven VAX-D very effective in reducing low back pain and radicular symptoms, with a 70% success rate and improvement in functional outcome reported from individuals suffering from disc-related back pain. Results from independent sources (hospitals, private clinics, clinical studies) show levels of success in the range of more than 7 out of 10 people.

At Weiss Medical Associates, approximately 80% of patients report a significant improvement in pain and function following four weeks of VAX-D treatment. Prior to VAX-D, many of our patients had been treated with physical therapy, massage therapy, epidural injections, and activity modification without significant success, and were considering surgery as their only remaining option. VAX-D provided these patients with a non-surgical alternative treatment of their back pain that is cheaper, less invasive and has been proven effective in improving their symptoms.

VAX-D treatment is available at both our East Vail and Eagle locations. Inquire about VAX-D treatments today.

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