Locations
Neurosurgery at the Center for Bone and Joint Health
Nashua, NH
About
Bio
I came to the US as a refugee from Vietnam when I was 10 years old. I became interested in the brain, and developed an admiration for the organ that confers us all with intellect and individuality, one of unmatched complexity and organization. I was interested specifically in neurosurgery, as the profession has treatment modalities to offer help to patients with pain, cancer, seizures, stroke, trauma. The field is very dynamic, with advances in understanding the pathology, techniques, and new treatment options occurring rapidly.
I love what I do, and take pride in my surgical skills. More importantly, however, I am humbled by patients' trust in me to care for them, and will do my best to take care of their neurosurgical problems. Let's get better!
SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Neurosurgery
Doctor Q&A
204 Answers
33 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Test is not perfect: Spinal tap looks at the cells, proteins, electrolytes and glucose levels in spinal fluid. Depending on the reasons for the test, some conditions are r... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Neurologist: Diagnostic eegs are read by neurologists. Neurosurgeons are trained to read eegs as they relate to lesions to be removed during epilepsy surgery.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Nerve irritation: L5-s1 disk herniation (slipped disc) can irritate either the L5 or s1 nerve root. Nerve irritation can cause leg pain, weakness, numbness. The outside... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Not in my experience: Patients typically do not experience relief with acupuncture for this condition.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 40-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Therapy, medications: Initial treatments for ddd and osteoarthritis of the neck include physical therapy, massage, medications. Some try acupuncture or chiropractic manipul... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 44-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Possibly: Nerve injury implies some kind of damage to the nerve itself. While spinal cord and nerves are both nervous tissue, nerves typically are structures th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Impaired function: Concussion can affect your physical state, thinking ability, emotional state, and can affect your sleeping pattern. Some common findings are headaches... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 48-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Impaired function: Concussion can affect your physical state, thinking ability, emotional state, and can affect your sleeping pattern. Some common findings are headaches... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Moderate: If drinking is affecting your ability to walk, and you are falling, then moderation is in order. If your back pain does not improve over the next week... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Impaired function: Concussion can affect your physical state, thinking ability, emotional state, and can affect your sleeping pattern. Some common findings are headaches... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Back to normal: Wait until you are back at baseline, without headaches, nausea, vomiting, poor concentration. Sleeping pattern changes, irritability.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Indirectly: Eegs record electrical activity of all the neurons under the electrodes. If there is a tumor present, the normal brain cells are not present, so the e... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 45-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Conservative Rx 1st: After a thorough neurological evaluation, your doctor might prescribe anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, narcotic and/or non-narcotic p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Something else: That is very unusual for a small puncture from a spinal tap to cause long lasting pain. There are usually other causes in the low back that can produc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Adjustment to flow: Shunt surgery is performed to divert spinal fluid from the brain compartment to the abdominal or lung cavity, to increase the body's ability to absorb... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 24-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Thorough evaluation: Assuming you are referring to a herniated disc, start with your primary care physician to begin work up, order appropriate studies, and decide if you ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
2 different surgery: In general, smoking increases the risks of blood loss and the need for transfusion during lumbar spine surgery. There is evidence that smoking acceler... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 54-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Timing is important: The most sensitive test to determine if someone is having a mini stroke is the neurological examination. A ct scan or MRI scan will confirm or refute... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Cost benefits ?: There have been no clinical trials of laser surgery versus standard surgery. The more recent reviews of laser disc decompression show limited evidenc... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
If symptomatic: Rathke's cleft cyst is a developmental remnant of rathke pouch, a normal structure formed during development of the pituitary gland. Most cysts are fo... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Not likely: The flow of fluid through the small tube is not enough to produce turbulent flow, which would produce noise. If the reservoir in the shunt valve is de... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 52-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Depends on symptoms: You are describing scoliosis, which is a spinal deformity. Treatment depends on severity of symptoms. A formal evaluation by a spine expert who dea... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 52-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
No worry: Your temp is normal.
As long as you remain active, and perform daily check on your incision to make sure it is clean and not red or draining, you ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
No relationship: Compression of the median nerve at the carpal tunnel has no relationship to the chiari malformation. Patients with chiari i malformation may have syri... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
No: There is no evidence that anxiety, stress or oral contraceptives cause brain tumors. It is more likely that having a brain tumor causes anxiety, which... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old male asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Probably not: Mri is a great tool that can pick up small anatomical changes in the spine, such as the c4-5 mild bulge and c5-7 osteophytes in your case. As we age, ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Possibly: 1 study from the uk reported small incidence of patients with temporal lobe seizures when they were diagnosed with large prolactinomas that were infil... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Yes: Dos certainly can give injections if they have received the same training as an md. Many spine surgeons do not perform injections. I typically refer p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 57-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Walking: Typical treatment after laminectomy to prevent blood clots (DVT) include leg compression stockings, sequential compression devices on the legs during ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
See your doctor: The swelling is probably the result of your back spasms. Since you have not responded to medications, see your doctor so that a diagnosis can be made ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 34-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Spinal fluid : In contrast to a meningocele, which is a spinal fluid collection covered by dura that extends beyond the normal areas, a pseudomeningocele is spinal f... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Could be nerve issue: One possibility is nerve irritation in the elbow causing hand and finger symptoms. Your doctor can examine you and determine what the problem is.
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Only one of many sx: There are more benign explanations for the stiff neck, such as tension headache, neck degenerative disc disease, etc. Meningitis symptoms are usually ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
MRI: Consider getting an MRI of the lumbar spine to look at tissues not seen on ct or x-rays. Myeloma is certainly more rare than degen disc disease.
Dis... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Possibly: Your surgeon will be the person to give you some parameters on returning to normal activities and exercise. Typically, once fused, there should be ver... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Treatment for pain: Spinal cord stimulation (scs) involves an implanted electrode (in the neck for arm symptoms, thoracic area for leg and back symptoms) connected to a p... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
6k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Depends: Outcomes from brain surgery depend on location of the lesion, how much normal brain tissue will be manipulated or removed, length of surgery, skill of... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Early studies only: Researchers have looked into stem cell treatment for cp. There are some promising early results. There are no randomized studies, which are the gold s... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Probably not: There are more benign explanations for the symptoms described, such as tension headache, neck degenerative disc disease, etc. Meningitis symptoms are ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 47-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Specialist: If your primary care physician is not able to help, consider an evaluation by a neurosurgeon who specializes in spine, or orthopedic spine surgeon. Th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Clinical exam: Trigeminal neuralgia is a condition where sharp, electrical pain affects the face along one or more of the three branches of the trigeminal nerve. The... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Depends on source: Sharp back or leg pain can be caused by a variety of conditions. If there is an abnormality on x-rays/ct/mri that explains the symptoms, then surgery ... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 25-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Probably: Common side effects after brain bleeding will depend somewhat on the location. Headaches, nausea, vomiting, neck stiffness, poor concentration and mem... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 46-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Blood pressure : You are describing a syncopal episode. This can be due to low blood pressure, medications. Rarely, vertebral artery abnormalities can produce blackout... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 38-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
None: Meningitis is an abnormal infection/inflammation of the covering of the brain. There is no upside to this condition. There are anecdotal reports of br... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.1k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Hydrocephalus : The phrase refers to excess spinal fluid in the brain. Hydrocephalus can be congenital, or acquired. The condition can affect newborns up to older adu... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Conservative Rx: Sciatica is a condition where there is irritation of the sciatic nerve. This can produce pain, weakness, sensory and reflex changes. Because the sciat... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 31-year-old member asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Depends: There are different types of skull fractures. Open versus closed - is the scalp cut and the bone exposed? The skull can have a linear crack, or in pie... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years agoMerged
A 35-year-old female asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Needed for diagnosis: Malaria can affect the central nervous system, causing brain dysfunction for a variety of reasons. Getting spinal fluid by lumbar puncture is sometime... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
5.5k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:
Dr. Tung Nguyenanswered
Neurosurgery 33 years experience
Stroke: Cva typically refers to a stroke. A stroke is the condition whereby the blood flow to the brain is interrupted. There are many possible reasons for th... Read More
Created for people with ongoing healthcare needs but benefits everyone.
4.7k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
399
Thank you notes
Nov 14, 2012
Dr. Ngyuen's collection of answers to brain and spine questions clearly show that he is a conscientious, evidenced-based neurosurgeon.
HealthTap member
Mar 30, 2015
Dr. Nguyen is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Nguyen is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
It has been two months since my accident. I still have almost no hearing in my left ear. I can't exercise much because I broke some bones and tendons. My balance was very bad at first but that got a...Read More
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Saw my neurosurgeon, agrees, MRI scheduled as c8 nerve now affected..
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! I have a cracked skull. And I'm joining boxing. Good or bad? N thanks!
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY
Graduated 1990MD
Residency
OHSU HOSPITAL AND CLINICS
Awards
NH Best Doctor, 2010, 2011, 2012
Most Influential, Third Place, New Hampshire - Summer
2013
Top Neurosurgeon , First Place, New Hampshire - Summer
2013
Affiliations
American Association of Neurological Surgeons / Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Walter Dandy Neurosurgical Society
Publications
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