Plaintiff worked for defendant as a truck driver. On 19 December 2003, plaintiff was unloading stock when a box of Gatorade fell from two feet above his head and struck plaintiff in the center of his forehead. Plaintiff fell to the floor, hit the back of his head, and was knocked unconscious for approximately five minutes. Plaintiff was transported to Pender Memorial Hospital emergency department, then transferred to the New Hanover Medical Center where x-rays of plaintiff's spine and left shoulder were obtained. Both x-rays indicated normal results. CT scans of plaintiff's brain and chest were also conducted and normal results were indicated. Plaintiff was diagnosed with a concussion and neck strain and was kept at the hospital overnight for observation.

On 23 December 2003, plaintiff presented to the Cape Fear Valley H

Question 1

I am a neurologist and would like to know:

What precautions I should take with regard to the cardiovascular

system, before and after prescribing mexiletine for cases of

myotonia.

Whether there is a group of patients who should not receive this drug.

Question 2

Can myasthenia gravis be unilateral and, if so, how often?

Question 3

Can the creatine phosphokinase (CPK) level in the blood, or the presence

of certain auto-antibodies, help to differentiate muscle dystrophies from

myositis?

Question 4

Can percussion myotonia occur with motor neurone disease? If so, please

explain the mechanism and cause-effect for this.

Question 5

Can benign intracranial hypertension be diagnosed on the basis of

persistent headache and CT-brain scan findings of slit ventricles with

no papilloedema and preserved spontaneous venous pulsations on

ophthalmoscopy? And do you recommend cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)

pressure measurement as a routine investigation in the diagnosis of this

type of disorder?

Question 6

In my experience in the treatment of stroke patients, the combination

of atenolol 50 mg, hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg and amlodipine 10 mg is

very effective in the treatment of resistant hypertension. Can you tell

me whether this combination of antihypertensives is contraindicated in

diabetic patients?

Question 7

Can diabetic mononeuropathy of the third cranial nerve cause ipsilateral

pain of the face and tenderness (but not redness) of the affected eye? Can

these symptoms be explained by Tolosa-Hunt syndrome?

Question 8

1. For how long should adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) be given

to patients after stoppage of myoclonic seizures in West's syndrome?

2. If seizures recur after stoppage, should ACTH be re-administered?

Question 9

In acute attacks of multiple sclerosis (MS), where methylprednisolone is

not available, can pulse steroid therapy be given with a one-off dose of

200 mg dexamethasone?

Question 10

Is there a role for aciclovir in idiopathic Bell's palsy?ffffff220