Interview of the week – Primar Nikolaus Steinhoff: "Music connects brain centers" & More Latest News Here – Up Jobs

Nikolaus Steinhoff is a specialist in neurology and has been medical director of the OptimaMed Neurological Rehabilitation Center in Kittsee since 2014. He talks to the BVZ about his work in the medical facility, the corona virus and its effects on our nervous system.

Who and what is treated in the neurological rehabilitation center in Kittsee?

Nikolaus Steinhoff: Our team of specialists in neurology, psychiatry, internal medicine and general practitioners together with the extremely skilled therapists and nursing staff accompanies our patients from initial admission to discharge. We treat all diseases of the nervous system, be it a stroke, traumatic brain injury, Parkinson’s disease or headaches. Even the most severely affected patients can be neurologically rehabilitated in two dedicated B-beds. In addition, there is the possibility of neurological clarification in two additional dedicated beds.
In all of this, there is no fixed therapy according to a uniform scheme, but the rehabilitation plan is adapted to individual needs in an effect-oriented manner.

As a special hospital, the Kittsee Neurological Rehabilitation Center was open throughout the entire corona pandemic. What effects does the virus have on our nervous system?

First of all, I would like to emphasize the close cooperation with the state of Burgenland. Since the nervous system is often more or less affected by corona disease, neurology plays an important role in post- or long-Covid. Because: The viruses infect vessels that supply the nerves – sometimes directly the nerve cells. Inflammation in the vessels and also the direct reaction of the nerve cells themselves to SARS-CoV-2 lead to nerve injuries, which leads to corresponding functional failures. These can affect both the brain and the peripheral nerve cells. We have recognized that there are regions that like to be affected, such as the limbic system. (Editor’s note: among other things, control of affective and drive behavior, breathing, sleep-wake cycle and motivation as well as coordination of sensory information)

“The symptoms range from tiredness, listlessness, sleep disorders, depression, anxiety to speech, emotional and movement disorders.” Prim Dr Nikolaus Steinhoff, Medical Director of the Neurological Rehabilitation Center in Kittsee

What does Long-Covid mean and since when has it been treated in Kittsee?

Long-Covid is an injury to the brain and/or peripheral nervous system, which in turn leads to failures. But you shouldn’t get too excited about it, because the situation is the same for other diseases. From today’s perspective, the advantage of Covid, as with a traumatic brain injury caused by an accident, as paradoxical as it may sound, is the one-time injury. The nervous system is able to compensate for those failures in the course of rehabilitation. It’s different with strokes and Parkinson’s. We treated the first patient who suffered neurological deficits due to Corona around two years ago, in mid-2020. Since then, our multidisciplinary team has developed great routine and competence in long-Covid treatment. We can already look back on really good successes.

What symptoms do patients come to the rehabilitation clinic with? Can you give examples of typical complaints?

It all depends on which areas and to what extent they are affected. The symptoms range from tiredness, listlessness, memory and sleep disorders, depression, anxiety to speech, emotional and movement disorders. Tingling in the fingers – if the peripheral nervous system is affected – can also be a symptom. What is perhaps important to emphasize here: Of course, I am only talking about neurological symptoms here, other complaints may also arise.

You mentioned at the beginning that each therapy is adapted to the individual needs. What methods are used to treat Long-Covid in Kittsee?

The methods can look very different, they are individually tailored to each patient. A neurological disease is often associated with a great deal of fear and insecurity. On the one hand, as already mentioned, fear is a symptom, on the other hand it also makes you feel insecure. So the cat literally bites its tail. This means that our patients are also given intensive psychological support and treatment. There are basically three pillars on which our methods and treatments are based: physical training, neuro-psychological training and psychological support. More precisely, this means, for example, endurance and concentration training to stimulate the muscles again, physiotherapy, ergotherapy, logotherapy and, very importantly, music therapy. Because music connects our brain centers with each other.

When you look back on the past few years of the Corona pandemic, what have you taken away from it?

We have been able to build up extensive expertise in this area, which now benefits patients with different forms of long-Covid symptoms. Our goal is to help patients who have recovered from corona disease but are still suffering from the after-effects to regain a better quality of life so that they can cope better with their everyday life.