Brain & Spine Wellness Center

02/27/2026

Dr. Afzal had the pleasure to present at the today to discuss the efficacy of using a multimodal neuro rehabilitation approach for patients with TBI.

02/06/2026

🧠 Precision Matters in Long COVID & POTS Recovery

For many people with Long COVID or post-infectious conditions like Lyme disease, symptoms such as rapid heart rate, dizziness, and fatigue are consistent with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) — a form of autonomic nervous system dysregulation — rather than a lack of conditioning or effort.

One important factor in recovery is how the nervous system is challenged. With AxisAI, much of rehabilitation occurs in a 70-degree reclined position, which reduces orthostatic stress and helps stabilize heart rate. This allows us to engage brainstem and autonomic pathways without triggering the heart rate fluctuations that often limit traditional rehab approaches.

When the brain and autonomic system are trained in a supported position, it becomes possible to create meaningful neurological change while minimizing post-exertional crashes.

02/04/2026

🧠 Why Some Neurological Symptoms Persist After COVID

It’s common for people to assume that once inflammation improves after COVID, neurological symptoms should resolve as well. For many, that’s true — but not for everyone.

In some cases, even after inflammation has resolved, the brain may remain disregulated meaning the neural connections are not fully recalibrated. This can lead to ongoing symptoms such as brain fog, dizziness, reduced cognitive stamina, or sensory overload — particularly under stress or increased cognitive demand.

Understanding this distinction matters. Persistent symptoms are not a lack of effort or resilience — they reflect a nervous system that needs targeted support to restore more efficient brain network function. Identifying these patterns through neurological evaluation can help guide more effective recovery strategies.

02/02/2026

For many people, neurological symptoms after COVID don’t resolve simply with time — or even after inflammation improves. Emerging research highlights an immune–brain connection, where immune activation, neuroinflammation, and blood–brain barrier disruption may alter how brain networks communicate, even after the acute infection has passed. Clinically, this helps explain why some individuals feel “better” on paper, yet still struggle with brain fog, dizziness, sensory overload, or reduced cognitive endurance, particularly under stress or exertion. Understanding the immune–brain connection is key to recovery.

References
* Nalbandian A, Sehgal K, Gupta A, et al.
Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Nature Medicine. 2021.
* Douaud G, Lee S, Alfaro-Almagro F, et al. Brain and cognitive changes in patients with long COVID compared with controls. Brain. 2024.
* Greene C, Hanley R, Campbell M, et al.
Blood–brain barrier disruption in long COVID with cognitive impairment. Nature Neuroscience. 2024.

01/31/2026

Persistent “brain fog” after COVID-19 is not just a subjective experience — it has been objectively measured in research.

Studies comparing individuals with Long COVID to recovered controls show measurable impairments in cognitive performance, including episodic memory, attention, working memory, processing speed, and verbal fluency. These findings help explain why many people struggle with focus, mental stamina, and daily cognitive demands months after infection.

Beyond cognitive testing, research also demonstrates structural brain changes, including alterations in white and gray matter, that may persist long after the acute illness and relate to ongoing cognitive symptoms.

🧠 When neurological symptoms linger, recovery often requires more than “waiting it out.” A neurological assessment can help clarify whether brain networks are contributing to persistent symptoms — and guide next steps toward recovery.

References:
• Douaud G, Lee S, Alfaro-Almagro F, et al. Brain and cognitive changes in patients with long COVID compared with controls. Brain. 2024;147(10):3611–3626.
• Rogne ME, Helvik AS, Rinten H, et al. Structural brain changes in post-COVID condition and its relationship with long-term cognitive sequelae. Brain Communications. 2024;7(1):fcaf070.
• Nalbandian A, Sehgal K, Gupta A, et al. Post-acute COVID-19 syndrome. Nature Medicine. 2021.

01/30/2026

This video shows a side-by-side comparison of tremor before and after one week of AxisAI brain-based rehabilitation, followed by a 6-month follow-up.

While care in our office was brief, the goal was not short-term symptom suppression — it was to initiate meaningful change in motor network regulation. That progress has been maintained over time, translating into steadier, more controlled movement during real-life tasks months later.

An important part of sustaining this change is continued home brain rehabilitation. She has remained consistent with targeted exercises designed to reinforce motor and sensory network integration, including use of the Vilim Ball ().

01/14/2026

Real time migraine resolution reflects individualized neurologic assessment and system-specific intervention, rather than symptomatic suppression.

In many patients, migraine expression is strongly driven by vestibular dysfunction, visual motion sensitivity, and brainstem network dysregulation.

01/11/2026

Migraines aren’t solved with one magic fix — they improve when the right tools support the nervous system.

Here are some of my go-to migraine supports 👇

At home:
❄️ Ice to the upper neck and front of the neck to calm trigeminal and autonomic input
👤 Gentle isometric head and neck pressure to reduce guarding and overload
🧠💥 Sinus support when congestion or pressure is part of the headache pattern — including targeted nutraceuticals like Sinatrol by
⛈️ Pressure regulation support like Zōk Relief () for weather or barometric pressure related symptoms

In clinic:
⚙️ AxisAI Vestibular Rehabilitation for migraine patterns involving dizziness, motion sensitivity, visual overwhelm, or vestibular migraine
⚡ StimPod neuromodulation () for targeted nerve retraining
🌿 gammaCore vagus nerve stimulation () to support autonomic regulation and pain modulation

Migraine care works best when we treat the whole system — not just the pain.

📌 Save this for your next migraine

01/09/2026

Migraine isn’t “just a headache.”

It’s a neurologic condition driven by brain network excitability, genetics, and inflammatory pain pathways. That’s why migraines can involve dizziness, light and sound sensitivity, nausea, neck stiffness, and brain fog — not just head pain.

Understanding the physiology matters, because effective migraine care starts with identifying how your nervous system is functioning, not just chasing the pain.

01/07/2026

12/03/2025

In a large study of middle-aged adults (ages 45–70), nearly 24% reported dizziness or imbalance. Importantly, these symptoms were strongly linked with poorer general health and mental health distress — especially for women and older age groups.

Smit, A.L., Eikelboom, R.H., Bucks, R.S. et al. Dizziness and imbalance and their association with general and mental health in a community-based cross-sectional study of middle-aged individuals: the Busselton healthy ageing study. BMC Public Health 25, 1287 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22502-z

11/16/2025

Learn about the Precision Brain Program initial examination - where we uncover what parts of the brain are contributing to your neurological symptoms!