Dr. Fayaz A. Faiz, MD

Dr. Fayaz A. Faiz Neurologist

Dr. Fayaz A. Faiz is a board-certified neurologist providing diagnostic and continuing care for conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and muscles.

Patients may visit him for headaches, migraines, seizures, dizziness, fainting, memory changes, tremors, numbness, weakness, neuropathy, balance problems, or symptoms that may be connected with a neurological condition.

Dr. Faiz practises in Houston, Texas, with current provider records listing offices on FM 1960 Road West and North Loop West.

A neurological evaluation may involve reviewing the patient’s symptoms, completing a detailed examination, examining previous imaging, ordering laboratory tests, and arranging specialised studies such as electroencephalography, electromyography, or nerve-conduction testing when appropriate.

Patients whose symptoms mainly involve spinal pain, movement, and physical function may also read about Dr. Lan Nguyen’s physical medicine and rehabilitation care.

Doctor Information

Name: Dr. Fayaz Ahmed Faiz, MD
Specialty: Neurology
Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Medical School: Dow Medical College, University of Karachi
Postgraduate Training: St. Francis Hospital and St. Vincent’s Medical Center
Primary Location: Houston, Texas
Current Office Locations: FM 1960 Road West and North Loop West
NPI Number: 1467498642
Language Consistently Listed: English
Additional Languages: Some public directories report Spanish, but patients should confirm availability directly
Accepting New Patients: Current availability should be confirmed with the practice
Telemedicine: Current availability should be confirmed directly with the office

About Dr. Fayaz A. Faiz

Dr. Faiz completed his medical education at Dow Medical College, part of the University of Karachi.

He later completed postgraduate medical training at St. Francis Hospital and St. Vincent’s Medical Center.

Neurologists receive specialised training in diagnosing and managing disorders involving the nervous system. This system includes the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles, and the connections that control movement, sensation, memory, speech, balance, and many automatic body functions.

A patient may be referred to Dr. Faiz by a primary care physician, emergency department, orthopedic specialist, rehabilitation physician, or another healthcare professional.

Some neurological symptoms have a clear cause. Others require several stages of testing because conditions involving the nerves, spine, muscles, circulation, sleep, medicine, and metabolism can produce similar complaints.

Neurological Conditions Evaluated

Dr. Faiz may evaluate and manage concerns involving:

• Headaches and migraines
• Seizures
• Epilepsy
• Dizziness
• Vertigo
• Fainting
• Memory changes
• Dementia
• Tremors
• Parkinsonian symptoms
• Numbness and tingling
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Muscle weakness
• Balance problems
• Gait changes
• Stroke follow-up
• Neck and back symptoms involving nerves
• Sleep-related neurological concerns
• Unexplained changes in coordination or sensation

The most suitable evaluation depends on the symptom pattern, examination findings, age, medical history, medicine use, and previous testing.

Neurological Examination

A neurological examination assesses how different parts of the nervous system are functioning.

Dr. Faiz may evaluate:

• Mental alertness
• Memory
• Speech
• Eye movements
• Facial movement
• Hearing responses
• Muscle strength
• Muscle tone
• Reflexes
• Sensation
• Coordination
• Balance
• Walking pattern

The examination can help identify whether a problem appears to involve the brain, spinal cord, nerve roots, peripheral nerves, muscles, or another system.

A normal examination does not rule out every neurological condition, especially when symptoms occur only occasionally.

Headaches

Headaches can develop from many causes.

Common categories include:

• Migraine
• Tension-type headache
• Cluster headache
• Medication-related headache
• Headache linked with sleep disruption
• Headache related to neck structures
• Headache caused by another medical condition

Dr. Faiz may ask:

• When headaches began
• How often they occur
• Where pain is located
• How long each episode lasts
• Whether nausea occurs
• Whether light or sound worsens symptoms
• Whether vision changes appear
• Which medicines are being used
• Whether headaches interrupt sleep
• Whether the pattern has recently changed

A headache diary can help show patterns involving sleep, meals, stress, activity, menstrual cycles, medicine, and possible triggers.

Migraine

Migraine is a neurological condition that can involve more than head pain.

Possible symptoms include:

• Throbbing or pulsing discomfort
• Pain on one or both sides
• Nausea
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to sound
• Sensitivity to smell
• Dizziness
• Difficulty concentrating
• Tiredness before or after an episode

Some patients experience an aura before or during migraine. Aura may involve temporary visual, sensory, or speech changes.

Dr. Faiz may assess headache frequency, severity, disability, previous treatment, and whether preventive medicine is appropriate.

Treatment may include medicine used during an attack, preventive treatment, sleep support, trigger management, or another targeted approach.

Chronic Migraine

Chronic migraine involves headaches occurring frequently over an extended period, with migraine features appearing during some of those days.

Dr. Faiz may review:

• Number of headache days
• Number of migraine days
• Medicine use
• Emergency visits
• Missed work or school
• Sleep
• Caffeine intake
• Hormonal patterns
• Other pain conditions

Frequent use of certain pain medicines can sometimes contribute to an ongoing headache cycle.

Treatment may require both reducing acute medicine overuse and beginning a preventive strategy.

Headache Imaging

Brain imaging is not necessary for every headache.

Dr. Faiz may consider CT or MRI when headaches occur with findings such as:

• A major change in pattern
• New neurological weakness
• Persistent confusion
• Abnormal examination findings
• Recent significant head injury
• Certain cancer or immune-system histories
• Another concerning clinical feature

Imaging should be chosen according to the suspected cause rather than used automatically for every episode.

Seizures

A seizure occurs when abnormal electrical activity temporarily affects brain function.

Possible signs include:

• Loss of awareness
• Staring
• Sudden confusion
• Uncontrolled movement
• Stiffening
• Repetitive actions
• Unusual sensations
• Temporary speech difficulty
• Memory loss surrounding the event

Not every episode involving shaking or loss of awareness is caused by epilepsy.

Dr. Faiz may review witness descriptions, previous illness, medicine, sleep, imaging, laboratory results, and events before and after the episode.

Epilepsy

Epilepsy is a neurological disorder involving a continuing tendency to have unprovoked seizures.

Diagnosis may depend on:

• Clinical history
• Witness accounts
• Electroencephalography
• Brain imaging
• Laboratory testing
• Previous neurological conditions
• Family history

Treatment commonly involves antiseizure medicine.

The most suitable medicine depends on the seizure type, age, medical conditions, possible interactions, and side-effect risks.

Patients should not stop antiseizure treatment suddenly without instructions from the prescribing clinician.

Electroencephalography

Electroencephalography, commonly called an EEG, records electrical activity from the brain through sensors placed on the scalp.

It may help evaluate:

• Suspected seizures
• Epilepsy
• Episodes of altered awareness
• Unexplained staring
• Selected sleep-related events
• Certain changes in brain function

A normal EEG does not completely rule out epilepsy because abnormal activity may not occur during the recording.

Longer monitoring or video EEG may be considered when routine testing does not capture the event.

Seizure Medication Management

Antiseizure medicines differ in how they work and which seizure types they treat.

Dr. Faiz may review:

• Seizure control
• Side effects
• Dose timing
• Missed doses
• Kidney and liver function
• Other prescriptions
• Sleep
• Pregnancy considerations
• Changes in mood or concentration

Some treatments require laboratory monitoring.

Patients should bring a complete medicine list because other prescriptions and supplements may change antiseizure medicine levels.

Dizziness

Dizziness may refer to several different sensations.

A patient may describe:

• Spinning
• Light-headedness
• Imbalance
• Floating
• Feeling close to fainting
• Unsteadiness while walking

Possible causes include:

• Inner-ear conditions
• Migraine
• Blood-pressure changes
• Dehydration
• Medicine
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Neurological disease
• Vision problems
• Anxiety
• Another medical condition

Dr. Faiz may assess whether symptoms are triggered by head movement, standing, walking, visual environments, or physical activity.

Vertigo

Vertigo is the sensation that the patient or surrounding environment is moving.

Possible causes include:

• Benign positional vertigo
• Inner-ear inflammation
• Migraine
• Medication
• Disorders affecting balance pathways
• Less common central neurological conditions

Dr. Faiz may examine eye movements, balance, coordination, hearing-related symptoms, and walking.

Treatment depends on the cause and may include repositioning exercises, medicine, balance therapy, or further neurological or ear assessment.

Fainting and Loss of Awareness

Fainting is a temporary loss of consciousness caused by reduced blood flow to the brain.

It may occur because of:

• Dehydration
• A blood-pressure change
• Prolonged standing
• Pain or emotional stress
• Abnormal heart rhythm
• Medicine
• Another medical condition

Loss of awareness may also result from seizures, low blood glucose, sleep disorders, or other neurological causes.

Dr. Faiz may compare the event description with examination findings, ECG results, brain testing, and witness reports.

Coordination with a cardiologist may be needed when a heart-rhythm cause is possible.

Memory Changes

Memory complaints can have several causes.

These may include:

• Normal age-related changes
• Poor sleep
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Medication effects
• Thyroid disease
• Vitamin deficiency
• Hearing or vision problems
• Stroke
• Neurodegenerative disease
• Other medical conditions

Dr. Faiz may ask about:

• When changes began
• Whether they are worsening
• Which daily activities are affected
• Whether appointments are forgotten
• Whether medicine is taken correctly
• Whether the patient becomes lost
• Whether family members have noticed changes
• Whether personality or behaviour has changed

Assessment may include cognitive testing, laboratory work, brain imaging, and information from a family member when appropriate.

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Mild cognitive impairment describes measurable changes in memory or thinking that are greater than expected for age but do not yet prevent most independent activities.

Some patients remain stable. Others improve when a contributing condition is treated, while some develop a progressive disorder.

Dr. Faiz may evaluate:

• Memory
• Language
• Attention
• Planning
• Daily function
• Medicine
• Sleep
• Mood
• Medical risks

Follow-up over time helps determine whether the condition is stable or changing.

Dementia

Dementia is a general term for a decline in thinking abilities that interferes with daily independence.

It may affect:

• Memory
• Language
• Judgement
• Planning
• Navigation
• Behaviour
• Ability to manage medicine
• Ability to manage finances
• Personal care

Several diseases can cause dementia.

The evaluation aims to identify the likely cause and determine whether a treatable condition is contributing.

Treatment may include medicine, management of cardiovascular risks, safety planning, caregiver support, and coordination with primary care.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological condition and a common cause of dementia.

Early symptoms may include:

• Repeating questions
• Forgetting recent conversations
• Losing important items
• Difficulty learning new information
• Problems managing complex tasks
• Becoming confused in familiar places

Diagnosis is based on the overall pattern, examination, cognitive testing, laboratory work, and imaging.

No single routine office test confirms every case.

Dr. Faiz may discuss treatment options, expected progression, home safety, driving, medication management, and future care planning.

Tremors

A tremor is an involuntary shaking movement.

It may affect the:

• Hands
• Head
• Voice
• Legs
• Other body areas

Possible causes include:

• Essential tremor
• Parkinsonian conditions
• Medicine effects
• Thyroid disease
• Caffeine
• Anxiety
• Another neurological condition

Dr. Faiz may assess whether the tremor occurs at rest, during movement, while holding a position, or during a specific task.

The pattern helps distinguish between different tremor types.

Essential Tremor

Essential tremor commonly causes shaking during movement or while holding the hands in a position.

It may affect handwriting, eating, drinking, or other fine tasks.

Some patients also experience head or voice tremor.

The condition may run in families.

Treatment is based on how strongly symptoms affect daily activities. Mild tremor may require observation, while more limiting symptoms may be treated with medicine or specialist procedures.

Parkinsonian Symptoms

Parkinsonian symptoms may include:

• Slowed movement
• Resting tremor
• Muscle stiffness
• Reduced arm swing
• Smaller handwriting
• Softer speech
• Shuffling steps
• Balance changes

Parkinsonism can result from Parkinson’s disease, medicine, vascular changes, and other neurological disorders.

Dr. Faiz may assess movement, reflexes, walking, muscle tone, medication history, and the progression of symptoms.

Diagnosis is mainly clinical, although imaging or laboratory testing may be used to exclude other causes.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition affecting movement and other body functions.

In addition to movement symptoms, patients may experience:

• Sleep changes
• Constipation
• Reduced sense of smell
• Mood changes
• Fatigue
• Blood-pressure changes
• Cognitive symptoms

Treatment may include medicine, physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and structured activity suited to the patient’s abilities.

Medication schedules may need adjustment as symptoms and daily routines change.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy affects nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

Symptoms may include:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Burning
• Electric pain
• Reduced sensation
• Muscle weakness
• Balance difficulty
• Increased risk of unnoticed foot injury

Possible causes include:

• Diabetes
• Vitamin deficiency
• Kidney disease
• Thyroid conditions
• Medicine
• Autoimmune disease
• Nerve compression
• Inherited disorders
• Other medical conditions

Dr. Faiz may order blood tests and electrodiagnostic studies to help identify the cause and severity.

Diabetic Neuropathy

Diabetes can damage peripheral nerves over time.

Symptoms often begin in the feet and may include burning, numbness, tingling, or reduced awareness of temperature and injury.

Care may involve:

• Improving glucose management
• Reviewing foot health
• Treating nerve discomfort
• Assessing balance
• Checking for another contributing cause
• Coordinating with primary care or endocrinology

Reduced sensation can allow wounds to develop without being noticed.

Regular foot inspection and appropriate medical care remain important.

Patients needing specialist diabetes management may also review Dr. Jeffrey S. Brown’s endocrinology profile.

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve becomes compressed at the wrist.

Possible symptoms include:

• Numbness in the thumb and nearby fingers
• Tingling at night
• Hand weakness
• Dropping objects
• Discomfort during driving or phone use
• Symptoms extending toward the forearm

Dr. Faiz may use nerve-conduction testing to confirm the diagnosis and determine severity.

Treatment may include wrist splinting, activity changes, injection, or referral for surgical release when nerve compression is advanced.

Electromyography and Nerve-Conduction Studies

Electromyography and nerve-conduction studies assess the function of nerves and muscles.

Nerve-conduction testing measures how quickly electrical signals travel through selected nerves.

Electromyography records electrical activity within muscles using a small needle electrode.

These tests may help evaluate:

• Peripheral neuropathy
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Pinched spinal nerves
• Nerve injuries
• Muscle disease
• Unexplained weakness
• Numbness and tingling

The results should be interpreted alongside symptoms and the physical examination.

Cervical Radiculopathy

Cervical radiculopathy occurs when a nerve root in the neck becomes irritated or compressed.

Symptoms may include:

• Neck pain
• Shoulder-blade discomfort
• Pain extending down an arm
• Hand tingling
• Finger numbness
• Arm weakness
• Reflex changes

Possible causes include a herniated disc, arthritis, or narrowing around the nerve.

Dr. Faiz may use examination, MRI, and electrodiagnostic testing to determine which nerve is affected.

Treatment may involve medicine, physical therapy, spinal procedures, or referral to a surgeon.

Lumbar Radiculopathy

Lumbar radiculopathy affects nerve roots in the lower spine.

Symptoms may include:

• Lower-back pain
• Pain extending into a leg
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Leg weakness
• Changes in reflexes
• Difficulty standing or walking

The condition is often called sciatica when symptoms follow the sciatic nerve pathway.

Treatment depends on the cause, severity, duration, and whether progressive weakness is present.

Muscle Weakness

Weakness may result from conditions involving:

• The brain
• Spinal cord
• Nerve roots
• Peripheral nerves
• Neuromuscular junctions
• Muscles
• Metabolism
• Medicine

Dr. Faiz may assess whether weakness is sudden or gradual, affects one side or both sides, and occurs continuously or after activity.

Testing may include blood work, MRI, nerve studies, or other specialised assessment.

The distinction between weakness and tiredness is important because they may have different causes.

Balance and Walking Problems

Balance depends on cooperation between the brain, inner ears, vision, nerves, muscles, joints, and blood-pressure control.

Walking problems may result from:

• Neuropathy
• Stroke
• Parkinsonian conditions
• Inner-ear disease
• Muscle weakness
• Spinal conditions
• Joint disease
• Medicine
• Vision changes

Dr. Faiz may examine stance, stride, turning, reflexes, strength, sensation, and coordination.

Treatment may include addressing the underlying condition, physical therapy, balance training, medicine review, or use of an assistive device.

Stroke Follow-Up

A stroke occurs when blood flow to part of the brain is blocked or when bleeding occurs within or around the brain.

After emergency treatment, neurological follow-up may focus on:

• Identifying the likely cause
• Reviewing brain imaging
• Managing recurrence risks
• Monitoring movement and speech
• Assessing swallowing
• Reviewing memory and mood
• Coordinating rehabilitation
• Reviewing preventive medicine

Risk reduction may involve treatment of high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, heart-rhythm disorders, or blood-vessel disease.

Dr. Faiz may coordinate with cardiology, primary care, rehabilitation, and vascular specialists.

Transient Neurological Symptoms

Temporary weakness, numbness, speech difficulty, or vision loss may result from several causes, including migraine, seizure, nerve compression, or a temporary interruption in brain circulation.

Dr. Faiz may review:

• Exact symptoms
• Duration
• Which side was affected
• Whether speech changed
• Whether a headache occurred
• Whether awareness was altered
• Cardiovascular risks
• Previous episodes

Even when symptoms resolve, the underlying cause may still need assessment.

Sleep and Neurological Symptoms

Sleep problems can affect memory, concentration, headaches, mood, and movement.

Dr. Faiz may ask about:

• Insomnia
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Loud snoring
• Breathing pauses
• Unusual movements during sleep
• Sudden daytime sleep episodes
• Restless legs
• Medicine affecting sleep

Some sleep concerns require referral for a sleep study or assessment by a sleep medicine specialist.

Restless Legs Symptoms

Restless legs syndrome causes an urge to move the legs, often accompanied by uncomfortable sensations.

Symptoms commonly:

• Begin during rest
• Become worse in the evening
• Improve temporarily with movement
• Interfere with falling asleep

Possible contributing factors include low iron, kidney disease, pregnancy, medicine, and other medical conditions.

Dr. Faiz may review symptoms, laboratory results, sleep patterns, and medication before recommending treatment.

Neurological Imaging

Neurological imaging may include:

• MRI
• CT scanning
• Blood-vessel imaging
• Spine imaging

MRI provides detailed images of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and many soft tissues.

CT is often useful when rapid imaging is needed or when bleeding, fracture, or another urgent concern is suspected.

The correct study depends on the symptoms and clinical question.

An abnormal imaging finding does not always explain the patient’s symptoms. Dr. Faiz may compare the scan with the examination before deciding whether it is clinically meaningful.

Laboratory Testing

Neurological symptoms may sometimes result from medical conditions outside the nervous system.

Laboratory testing may assess:

• Blood-cell counts
• Glucose
• Kidney function
• Liver function
• Thyroid function
• Vitamin levels
• Inflammation
• Infection
• Autoimmune conditions
• Medicine levels

The tests selected depend on the symptom pattern.

Broad testing without a clinical reason may produce confusing results, so evaluation should remain focused on the most likely causes.

Medication Management

Neurological medicines may affect attention, balance, sleep, mood, blood pressure, or other prescriptions.

Dr. Faiz may review:

• Dose
• Timing
• Treatment benefit
• Side effects
• Kidney and liver function
• Drug interactions
• Adherence
• Changes in symptoms

Patients should bring a complete list of prescription medicine, non-prescription products, vitamins, and supplements.

Neurological medicine should not be stopped suddenly unless the prescribing clinician provides instructions. Abruptly stopping selected seizure, headache, or movement medicines may cause symptoms to worsen.

Preparing for a Neurology Appointment

Patients can prepare by bringing:

• A current medicine list
• Previous neurology records
• Brain or spine imaging
• Written imaging reports
• EEG results
• Nerve-test results
• Hospital discharge documents
• Laboratory reports
• A list of allergies
• A symptom timeline
• Family neurological history

It may help to record:

• When symptoms began
• Whether they are constant or intermittent
• Which body areas are affected
• Whether weakness or numbness occurs
• How long episodes last
• Which activities trigger symptoms
• Whether medicine has helped
• How symptoms affect work, sleep, walking, or daily tasks

Patients should bring actual imaging files when available, not only the written report.

Bringing a Family Member

A family member or trusted person may be helpful when the patient has:

• Memory concerns
• Episodes of lost awareness
• Seizures
• Fainting
• Speech difficulty
• Behavioural changes
• Trouble recalling the symptom timeline

Witness information can help Dr. Faiz understand events the patient could not observe or remember.

The patient should still be included directly in explanations and treatment decisions whenever possible.

Coordinated Neurological Care

Neurological conditions may require cooperation with:

• Primary care physicians
• Cardiologists
• Neurosurgeons
• Orthopedic physicians
• Physical medicine specialists
• Endocrinologists
• Ophthalmologists
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Speech therapists

Coordination is particularly important when symptoms may arise from several conditions or when neurological illness affects walking, communication, swallowing, or independent living.

Patients requiring surgical evaluation of a spinal or structural neurological condition may also review Dr. Daniel H. Kim’s neurosurgical and spine care.

Patients comparing another Houston-area neurologist may read about Dr. Zachary I. Smith’s neurological care.

Patient-Centered Neurology

Dr. Faiz provides neurological care based on each patient’s symptoms, neurological examination, previous imaging, laboratory findings, medical history, medicine use, and functional needs.

His clinical work may include headache treatment, seizure evaluation, memory assessment, tremor care, neuropathy testing, balance evaluation, and management of neurological symptoms involving movement, sensation, or awareness.

Patients should confirm current appointment availability, accepted insurance plans, office locations, telemedicine options, testing services, language assistance, and referral requirements directly with the practice.