Birmingham Functional Neurology Available

Birmingham Functional Neurology approaches complex neurological rehabilitation through targeted, brain-based clinical neuroscience tailored to each patient's physiological profile. Founded and directed by Dr. Brandon B. Arrieta, a board-certified chiropractic neurologist who trained under Dr. Frederick Carrick at the Carrick Institute, the practice focuses on resolving persistent symptoms stemming from concussions, traumatic brain injuries, vestibular disorders, chronic migraines, and autonomic dysregulation. Rather than applying generalized recovery templates, the clinical strategy rests on the premise that no two central nervous systems sustain injury or adapt along identical neurological pathways.

Clinical care begins with an intensive bedside neurological examination designed to evaluate both macro-level systemic pathways and specific cranial nerve nuclei. Dr. Arrieta observes ocular movements, autonomic reflexes, gait dynamics, and vestibular integrity, explaining diagnostic observations in real time so patients gain clarity on how functional deficits correlate with daily symptoms. Because standard diagnostic imaging like MRI or CT scans often reads normal following mild traumatic brain injuries, this functional examination isolates subtle sensory-motor misalignments and autonomic shifts that structural scans routinely miss.

Following the diagnostic baseline, patients engage in one-on-one neuro-rehabilitation sessions engineered to stimulate specific brain areas through neuroplastic adaptation. Therapies range from vestibular and optokinetic exercises to targeted sensory stimulation and autonomic conditioning. Because neural tissue responds rapidly to repeated activation, protocols do not remain static; instead, Dr. Arrieta continually recalculates and modifies exercise intensity, direction, and duration during each visit based on instantaneous physiological responses such as pupil dilation, heart rate changes, and balance gain adjustments.

Prospective patients should anticipate scheduling appointments in advance, as the clinic operates by appointment only from Monday through Thursday between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. To ensure a productive initial evaluation, patients are advised to compile prior neuroimaging disks, laboratory records, and a structured timeline of symptom onset and head traumas prior to their intake appointment. Patients experiencing photophobia or severe dizziness should also arrange transportation for the comprehensive testing session, as in-depth diagnostic stimulation can temporarily fatigue sensitive neurological pathways.