Dr. Randall J. Wright, MD

Dr. Randall J. Wright Neurologist

Dr. Randall J. Wright is a board-certified neurologist providing diagnostic and continuing care for conditions affecting the brain, spinal cord, nerves, muscles, memory, movement, and sleep.

His clinical background includes general neurology, clinical neurophysiology, sleep medicine, stroke care, and preventive brain health. Patients may visit him for headaches, seizures, memory changes, sleep problems, numbness, weakness, dizziness, tremors, balance concerns, or symptoms that may involve the nervous system.

Dr. Wright’s approach also considers how sleep, cardiovascular health, physical activity, stress, and daily habits may affect long-term brain function. His work combines neurological assessment with practical strategies intended to protect cognitive and physical health.

Patients comparing neurological specialists may also read about Dr. Zachary I. Smith’s neurological care.

Doctor Information

Name: Dr. Randall John Wright, MD
Specialty: Neurology
Additional Clinical Areas: Clinical neurophysiology, sleep medicine, stroke prevention, and brain health
Board Certification: American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Additional Certification: Sleep medicine
Undergraduate Education: Physics, Xavier University of Louisiana
Engineering Education: Electrical engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology
Medical School: Emory University School of Medicine
Residency: Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine
Residency Leadership: Chief Neurology Resident
Fellowship Training: Clinical Neurophysiology and Sleep Medicine
Current Practice: Neuroscience Institute of Houston
Primary Location: Conroe, Texas
Languages Listed: English
Accepting New Patients: Yes, according to current public provider profiles
Patient Age Groups: Adults and older adults

About Dr. Randall J. Wright

Dr. Wright completed undergraduate studies in physics at Xavier University of Louisiana. He also studied electrical engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology before entering medicine.

He earned his medical degree from Emory University School of Medicine and later completed neurology residency training at Baylor College of Medicine. During residency, he served as chief resident.

Dr. Wright continued his postgraduate education through fellowship training in clinical neurophysiology and sleep medicine.

Clinical neurophysiology focuses on how electrical activity within the brain, nerves, and muscles can be measured and interpreted. This training can support the diagnosis of epilepsy, nerve disorders, muscle conditions, and other neurological concerns.

His background in sleep medicine allows him to assess how sleep disorders may affect memory, mood, energy, cardiovascular health, and neurological function.

Dr. Wright has also held medical leadership roles connected with neurology, stroke care, rehabilitation, and brain wellness. His professional activities have included patient care, medical education, public health work, writing, and research.

Neurology Services

Dr. Wright may evaluate neurological concerns such as:

• Headaches and migraines
• Seizures and epilepsy
• Memory changes
• Dementia-related symptoms
• Stroke and transient ischemic attacks
• Parkinson’s disease
• Tremors
• Multiple sclerosis
• Numbness and tingling
• Muscle weakness
• Dizziness and vertigo
• Balance problems
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Sleep disorders
• Neck and back symptoms involving nerves
• Changes in coordination
• Unexplained episodes of confusion

Neurological symptoms can have many possible causes. A careful medical history and neurological examination help determine which tests may be useful.

Some patients need imaging or electrical testing. Others may benefit from laboratory studies, sleep assessment, medication review, or consultation with another specialist.

Neurological Examination

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

Dr. Wright may evaluate:

• Memory
• Attention
• Speech
• Eye movements
• Facial movement
• Muscle strength
• Reflexes
• Sensation
• Coordination
• Walking
• Balance
• Fine hand movement
• Response to visual or physical cues

The examination helps identify whether symptoms may involve the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, muscles, or another body system.

Findings are interpreted together with the patient’s symptom history, medicines, previous conditions, and diagnostic results.

Headache and Migraine Care

Headaches may result from migraine, muscle tension, sleep disruption, medication effects, sinus symptoms, neck problems, or another medical condition.

Dr. Wright may ask:

• When the headaches began
• How often they occur
• Where the pain is located
• How long each episode lasts
• Whether nausea is present
• Whether light or sound makes symptoms worse
• Whether vision changes occur
• Which medicines have been tried
• Whether sleep is disrupted
• Whether a pattern or trigger is noticeable

Migraine symptoms may include throbbing pain, nausea, sensitivity to light, sensitivity to sound, and difficulty completing normal activities.

Some patients experience warning symptoms known as an aura. These may involve temporary visual, sensory, or speech changes.

Treatment may include medicine taken during an attack, preventive treatment, trigger management, sleep support, and changes to daily routines.

Chronic Migraine

Chronic migraine involves frequent headache days over an extended period.

Patients may experience:

• Repeated migraine attacks
• Head pressure on many days
• Sensitivity to light or sound
• Nausea
• Difficulty concentrating
• Missed work or activities
• Frequent use of pain medicine
• Sleep disruption

Dr. Wright may review whether repeated use of certain headache medicines is contributing to a medication-overuse pattern.

Preventive options depend on headache frequency, other medical conditions, previous treatment, side effects, and patient preferences.

Selected patients with chronic migraine may be considered for injection-based preventive treatment when standard approaches have not provided enough relief.

Seizures and Epilepsy

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

Symptoms can vary. A seizure may cause:

• Loss of awareness
• Staring
• Repetitive movements
• Sudden confusion
• Muscle stiffening
• Jerking movements
• Unusual sensations
• Temporary speech difficulty
• Memory gaps

One seizure does not always mean that a person has epilepsy.

Dr. Wright may review what happened before, during, and after the event. Information from a witness can be especially helpful.

Testing may include:

• Electroencephalography
• Brain imaging
• Blood tests
• Medication review
• Sleep assessment
• Extended neurological monitoring

Treatment depends on the seizure type, cause, frequency, imaging findings, and risk of recurrence.

Electroencephalography

Electroencephalography, commonly called EEG, measures electrical activity in the brain through small sensors placed on the scalp.

It may be used to assess:

• Suspected seizures
• Epilepsy
• Episodes of lost awareness
• Unexplained confusion
• Certain sleep-related events
• Other abnormal neurological episodes

A routine EEG records activity during a limited period. Some patients require longer monitoring because unusual electrical activity may not occur during a short test.

A normal EEG does not always exclude epilepsy. Results must be considered alongside the patient’s history and other findings.

Stroke Care

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

Possible effects include:

• Weakness on one side
• Facial drooping
• Speech difficulty
• Vision changes
• Loss of coordination
• Numbness
• Confusion
• Difficulty walking

Dr. Wright’s professional background includes leadership in stroke care and neurological rehabilitation.

After immediate hospital treatment, neurological follow-up may focus on:

• Identifying the likely cause
• Reviewing brain and blood-vessel imaging
• Managing stroke risks
• Monitoring recovery
• Reviewing medicines
• Coordinating rehabilitation
• Reducing the likelihood of another stroke

Stroke prevention may require cooperation between neurology, primary care, cardiology, rehabilitation, and other medical services.

Transient Ischemic Attack

A transient ischemic attack, often called a TIA, causes temporary stroke-like symptoms.

Symptoms may improve quickly, but the event can indicate an increased risk of a future stroke.

Evaluation may include:

• Brain imaging
• Blood-vessel imaging
• Heart testing
• Blood tests
• Blood pressure review
• Medication assessment
• Diabetes and cholesterol evaluation

The goal is to identify the cause and address risks before a permanent stroke occurs.

Stroke Risk Reduction

Several medical conditions can increase stroke risk.

These may include:

• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Irregular heart rhythms
• Smoking
• Sleep apnoea
• Obesity-related health risks
• Physical inactivity
• Previous stroke or TIA
• Certain blood-vessel conditions

Dr. Wright may help patients understand how these risks affect the brain.

Treatment can include medicine, medical monitoring, sleep care, physical activity, nutrition support, and coordination with other physicians.

Memory Changes

Occasional forgetfulness does not always indicate dementia.

Memory may be affected by:

• Poor sleep
• Medication
• Stress
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Thyroid disease
• Vitamin deficiency
• Hearing loss
• Infection
• Stroke
• Neurological disease

Dr. Wright may ask when the changes began, whether they are progressing, and how they affect daily life.

Family members can sometimes provide useful examples involving missed appointments, repeated questions, difficulty managing money, getting lost, or changes in judgement.

Evaluation may include cognitive testing, laboratory studies, brain imaging, sleep assessment, and medication review.

Dementia Evaluation

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

Symptoms may involve:

• Memory
• Language
• Reasoning
• Attention
• Judgement
• Organisation
• Navigation
• Behaviour
• Personality

Several diseases can cause dementia. Alzheimer’s disease is one cause, but vascular disease, Parkinson-related conditions, medication, sleep disorders, and other neurological illnesses may also contribute.

A complete assessment aims to identify the likely cause and determine whether any contributing factor can be treated.

Care may include medicine, safety planning, management of cardiovascular risks, support for caregivers, and follow-up to track changes.

Brain Wellness and Healthy Ageing

Dr. Wright has a professional interest in protecting brain function through healthy ageing.

Brain health may be influenced by:

• Sleep
• Blood pressure
• Blood glucose
• Cholesterol
• Physical activity
• Social connection
• Learning
• Hearing
• Nutrition
• Tobacco exposure
• Cardiovascular disease

No lifestyle choice can guarantee that dementia or another neurological condition will never occur.

However, managing medical risks and maintaining healthy daily routines may support brain and cardiovascular health.

Recommendations should be realistic and adapted to the patient’s age, medical conditions, mobility, and personal circumstances.

Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is a neurological condition that affects movement and may also affect sleep, mood, digestion, and thinking.

Possible symptoms include:

• Tremor
• Slowed movement
• Muscle stiffness
• Smaller handwriting
• Reduced facial expression
• Shuffling steps
• Balance problems
• Softer speech
• Reduced sense of smell
• Sleep changes

Not every tremor is caused by Parkinson’s disease.

Dr. Wright may evaluate the pattern of movement, muscle tone, walking, balance, reflexes, and response to previous treatment.

Care may include medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, exercise planning, and monitoring for non-movement symptoms.

Tremor Evaluation

A tremor is an involuntary shaking movement.

Possible causes include:

• Essential tremor
• Parkinson’s disease
• Medication
• Thyroid disease
• Anxiety
• Excess caffeine
• Neurological injury
• Other movement disorders

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

Treatment depends on the cause, severity, effect on daily life, and other medical conditions.

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is an immune-mediated condition that affects the brain, spinal cord, and optic nerves.

Possible symptoms include:

• Vision changes
• Numbness
• Weakness
• Balance problems
• Muscle stiffness
• Bladder symptoms
• Tiredness
• Coordination changes
• Episodes that improve and return

Diagnosis may involve neurological examination, MRI, blood testing, and sometimes examination of spinal fluid.

Treatment depends on the disease pattern, activity seen on imaging, previous symptoms, and overall health.

Patients may need continuing monitoring to assess whether treatment is controlling new inflammation.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral neuropathy involves damage or irritation affecting nerves outside the brain and spinal cord.

Symptoms may include:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Burning discomfort
• Electric sensations
• Reduced balance
• Foot weakness
• Hand weakness
• Increased sensitivity
• Reduced awareness of temperature or injury

Possible causes include diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune disease, infection, inherited conditions, medication, and nerve compression.

Dr. Wright may recommend laboratory testing, nerve studies, medicine review, or further imaging.

Treatment focuses on the cause when one can be identified and may also include medicine or therapy to reduce symptoms and protect mobility.

Electromyography and Nerve-Conduction Studies

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

They may help evaluate:

• Peripheral neuropathy
• Carpal tunnel syndrome
• Pinched nerves
• Muscle disorders
• Nerve injuries
• Unexplained weakness
• Numbness or tingling

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

Electromyography uses a small needle electrode to assess electrical activity within selected muscles.

The results help determine whether symptoms are more likely to involve a nerve, nerve root, muscle, or another part of the nervous system.

Dizziness and Vertigo

Dizziness can describe several different sensations.

Patients may report:

• Spinning
• Light-headedness
• Imbalance
• Floating sensations
• Faintness
• Unsteadiness

Possible causes include inner-ear disorders, migraine, blood pressure changes, medicine, dehydration, heart conditions, and neurological disease.

Dr. Wright may ask what the sensation feels like, how long it lasts, which movements trigger it, and whether hearing, vision, weakness, or headache changes occur.

Testing depends on the suspected cause and may involve hearing assessment, imaging, balance testing, heart evaluation, or laboratory studies.

Balance and Walking Problems

Difficulty walking may result from problems involving the brain, spinal cord, nerves, muscles, joints, vision, or inner ear.

A neurological assessment may evaluate:

• Step length
• Walking speed
• Foot movement
• Arm swing
• Balance
• Coordination
• Muscle strength
• Reflexes
• Sensation
• Ability to turn safely

Treatment may include medicine, physical therapy, assistive devices, fall-prevention planning, or treatment of the underlying neurological condition.

Patients should explain whether they have fallen, begun holding furniture for support, or reduced activities because they fear losing balance.

Sleep Medicine

Sleep affects memory, mood, concentration, heart health, metabolism, and neurological function.

Dr. Wright’s fellowship training and professional work include sleep medicine.

He may evaluate concerns such as:

• Difficulty falling asleep
• Frequent waking
• Loud snoring
• Breathing pauses during sleep
• Daytime sleepiness
• Restless sleep
• Unusual movements during sleep
• Sleep-related seizures
• Irregular sleep schedules
• Poor concentration linked to sleep loss

A sleep evaluation may include a detailed history, medicine review, sleep diary, home study, or overnight sleep testing.

Obstructive Sleep Apnoea

Obstructive sleep apnoea causes repeated interruptions in breathing when the upper airway becomes blocked during sleep.

Possible signs include:

• Loud snoring
• Witnessed breathing pauses
• Waking while choking
• Morning headaches
• Dry mouth
• Daytime sleepiness
• Poor concentration
• Irritability
• Difficult-to-control blood pressure

Untreated sleep apnoea may affect cardiovascular and brain health.

Diagnosis usually requires sleep testing. Treatment may involve positive airway pressure therapy, changes in sleep position, oral devices, medical risk management, or referral to another specialist.

Insomnia

Insomnia involves continuing difficulty falling asleep, remaining asleep, or returning to sleep.

Possible contributing factors include:

• Irregular schedules
• Stress
• Pain
• Medication
• Caffeine
• Screen use
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Sleep apnoea
• Restless legs symptoms
• Other medical conditions

Dr. Wright may assess sleep timing, daily routines, naps, medicines, and nighttime symptoms.

Treatment may involve structured behavioural strategies, adjustment of contributing medicines, management of another sleep disorder, or carefully selected medication.

Clinical Neurophysiology

Clinical neurophysiology studies electrical activity within the nervous system.

It may involve:

• EEG testing
• Nerve-conduction studies
• Electromyography
• Sleep studies
• Monitoring of neurological function
• Interpretation of abnormal electrical patterns

This field can support the diagnosis of seizures, neuropathy, muscle disorders, nerve compression, and sleep-related neurological concerns.

Test results should be interpreted together with the patient’s history and physical examination.

Brain and Spine Imaging

Neurological evaluation may involve several types of imaging.

MRI

MRI can provide detailed images of the:

• Brain
• Spinal cord
• Nerves
• Discs
• Soft tissues
• Blood-vessel-related injuries
• Areas of inflammation

It may be useful during evaluation of stroke, multiple sclerosis, seizures, memory changes, spinal-cord conditions, or unexplained neurological symptoms.

CT Imaging

CT imaging may be used to assess:

• Bleeding
• Stroke
• Head injury
• Bone abnormalities
• Certain urgent neurological conditions

The most useful study depends on the symptom, timing, medical history, and clinical examination.

An imaging abnormality does not always explain a patient’s symptoms. Dr. Wright may compare the scan with neurological findings before reaching a conclusion.

Neck and Back Symptoms

Neck and back conditions may affect nerves or the spinal cord.

Neurological symptoms may include:

• Pain travelling into an arm or leg
• Numbness
• Tingling
• Muscle weakness
• Reduced grip strength
• Foot weakness
• Balance changes
• Difficulty walking
• Reduced coordination

Dr. Wright may perform a neurological examination and review MRI or other imaging.

Treatment may involve medicine, physical therapy, pain management, or referral to a spine surgeon when significant structural compression is present.

Patients requiring surgical spine assessment may also read about Dr. Daniel H. Kim’s neurosurgical and spine care.

Medication Management

Neurological patients may use medicines prescribed by several healthcare professionals.

Dr. Wright may review:

• Prescription medicines
• Non-prescription pain products
• Sleep medicines
• Supplements
• Previous neurological treatments
• Side effects
• Interactions
• Medicines affecting alertness
• Difficulty following the schedule

Patients should bring an accurate medicine list and explain which treatments have helped, failed, or caused unwanted effects.

Neurological medicine should not be stopped suddenly unless the prescribing physician provides instructions. Some seizure, sleep, and movement-disorder medicines require gradual changes.

Preparing for a Neurology Appointment

Patients can prepare by bringing:

• A current medicine list
• Previous neurological records
• MRI or CT images
• Written imaging reports
• EEG results
• Nerve-test reports
• Sleep-study results
• Recent laboratory tests
• Hospital discharge records
• A list of medicine allergies
• Notes about symptoms

It may help to record:

• When symptoms began
• How often they occur
• How long they last
• Which part of the body is affected
• Possible triggers
• What happens before and after an episode
• How symptoms affect work, sleep, walking, or independence

A family member may be helpful when the patient has memory changes, episodes of lost awareness, or difficulty describing events.

Coordinated Neurological Care

Neurological conditions may require cooperation between several healthcare professionals.

Dr. Wright may coordinate with:

• Primary care physicians
• Neurosurgeons
• Cardiologists
• Sleep specialists
• Physical therapists
• Occupational therapists
• Speech therapists
• Rehabilitation physicians
• Psychologists
• Radiologists
• Other neurologists

Coordination is particularly important after stroke, during dementia care, or when a neurological condition affects mobility, speech, sleep, or independent living.

Patient-Centered Neurology

Dr. Wright provides neurological care based on each patient’s symptoms, examination findings, diagnostic results, medical risks, sleep, previous treatment, and everyday needs.

His clinical background includes general neurology, stroke care, epilepsy assessment, clinical neurophysiology, sleep medicine, memory evaluation, movement disorders, and preventive brain health.

Patients should confirm current appointment availability, accepted insurance plans, telehealth options, diagnostic testing locations, hospital participation, and referral requirements directly with the Neuroscience Institute of Houston.