What is a neurologist?

Diseases, disorders, and injuries involving the nervous system often require management and treatment by a neurologist.

Before they can practice, neurologists must:

• He or she graduated from medical school

• Complete a training period

• Receive three years training in the Neurology Residency Program

Neurologist Subspecialties

Since neuroscience manages your whole mind and sensory system, there are numerous conditions that a neurologist can analyze and treat. Many go on to study a specific subset of neuroscience after completing their residency training.

A specialist who may focus their training on:

• Headache medicine

• Neurocritical care

• Vascular (stroke care) neurology

• Autonomic disorders

• Geriatric neurology

• Child (pediatric) neurology

• Neuro-oncology

• Sleep medicine

• Neuromuscular medicine

• Interventional neuroradiology

• Epilepsy

When to see a neurologist

A primary care doctor may refer a person to a neurologist if they develop symptoms that suggest a neurological condition, such as:

• Frequent or severe headache

• Muscle weakness

• Confusion

• Dizziness

• Loss of coordination

• Partial or complete paralysis

• Tactile changes that influence the feeling of touch, vision, smell or taste

WHAT DOES A NEUROLOGIST DO?

Diagnose 

Neurologists are profoundly prepared specialists who can analyze complex conditions through an itemized history and physical assessment, including testing of mental status, vision, discourse, quality, sensation, coordination, reflexes, and step. Indeed, even as medication turns out to be more innovation needy, neurological assessment will in any case be a basic segment of patient assessment.

Performs Tests

It includes some common neurological tests used to complete the evaluation:

• computer-assisted tomography (CAT) or Computed tomography (CT) scans

• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

• Nerve conduction studies and electromyography (NCS/EMG)

• Lumbar puncture (LP) for cerebral spinal fluid analysis

• Electroencephalography (EEG)

Performs Procedures

We are different from neurosurgeons in that we do not perform brain or spinal cord surgery. However, neurologists and neurosurgeons work closely together in many cases, sometimes even in the operating room together.

General neurologists perform several procedures including LP and NCS / EMG. Neurologists trained in the subspecialties also perform intraoperative monitoring of the brain and spine, invasive testing, and endovascular procedures including angiography, aneurysm coiling, botulinum toxin injections, and skin and muscle biopsies.

What conditions do they treat?

Neurologists treat neurological conditions, which are issues that influence the cerebrum, spinal string, and nerves. These terms include:

• stroke

• brain tumors

• brain aneurysms

• epilepsy

• headaches and migraines

• peripheral neuropathy

• sleep disorders

• Neuro degenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease

• Neuro muscular diseases, such as myasthenia gravis, multiple sclerosis (MS), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

• contaminations of the sensory system, for example, encephalitis, meningitis, and HIV

Prepare for Your Neurologist Visit

Helps prepare for your consultation:

• Write down your symptoms and other health information, including medications, allergies, past illnesses, and your family medical history.

• List your questions.

• Send your previous test results to the neurologist, or take them with you.

• Bring a friend or family member along to make sure you don't miss anything.

Your neurologist will likely give you a lot of information, so you may want to take notes. Try not to be reluctant to pose inquiries on the off chance that you are confused about something. Make sure you understand your diagnosis, treatment, and any other steps you need to take.