Neurology

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  Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

At the last set of courses we ran, I asked GPs in the audience the following questions:
How many feel they can confidently do Hallpike's manoeuvre?
How many do it but are not quite sure what you are doing?
How many just don't bother to do it at all because they are not sure what they are doing?
  Carpal tunnel syndrome
Carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is caused by compression on median nerve as it passes through carpal tunnel. The ulnar nerve is not affected as it lies above the carpal tunnel.
  Bell's palsy
An RCT was published in 2007 which looked at treatment of Bell's palsy with prednisolone and/ or acyclovir, suggesting we rethink our prescribing in Bell's palsy.
  Headaches
  Vertigo
Let's be clear – here I am talking about rotatory vertigo: the illusion of movement – often described by patients as 'the world spinning'. This comes from the labyrinth or brainstem. I am not talking about pre-syncopal postural hypotension, that sensation you get if you leap out of bed too fast in the morning! The problem is that in the elderly the two often overlap.
  Long QT syndrome

This was the subject of the BMJ's 'Easily Missed' series. Here I'll look from a GP perspective.
As the review points out, it is easily missed because the main presenting symptom (syncope) is common, or because it is mis-diagnosed as epilepsy (the hypoperfusion of syncope may result in epileptic type movements).
  Transient loss of consciousness
This section might be better entitled 'faints, dizziness and funny turns' because it includes the NICE guidance on transient loss of consciousness followed by sections on syncope and long QT syndrome, dizziness and vertigo
  Neuropathic pain
NICE published new guidance on neuropathic pain (both in diabetes and other conditions) in 2010.
  Investigating peripheral neuropathy

This BMJ article looked at the causes of symmetrical peripheral neuropathy and how best to investigate it.

The symptoms include loss of sensation +/– burning pain of gradual onset. In a myelopathy the symptoms may be similar but reflexes should be preserved.
  Driving and first seizure
Until 2009, those with a class 1 (ordinary) licence were banned for 12m. However, in 2009 the DVLA changed the guidance relating to class 1 licence holders (those for class 2 remain the same).