What Makes Neurology Complex: Learn About The Medical World

Neurology is that branch of medicine which deals with Neurological disorders of the nervous system, which includes the brain, blood vessels, muscles and nerves. A Neurology specialist is a doctor who is trained to diagnose and treat these disorders.

When a patient seeks consultation with a neurologist, they foremost evaluate whether there is a problem in the nervous system of the patient or not and only after determining the problem, continue with the treatment. 

If you are planning to see a neurologist, you might have a lot of questions in your mind about what will be required of you and therefore, here we will address each of your queries specifically.

1) Would I be referred to a neurologist?

If the general physician believes that the patient has a neurological problem and needs special attention, they may refer the patient to a neurologist. In such a case, they would refer the patient to a specialist who can effectively examine the patient and also provide proper treatment when necessary. 

2) Why would you need to see a neurologist?

A neurologist is trained to diagnose and treat a range of conditions. Here are some reasons to see a neurologist

  1. Neuropathic pain occurs due to any damage that leads to nerve injury and may be sharp, shooting or burning. You may also have neuropathic pain from damage to your brain or spinal cord and occur after a stroke. 
  2. Parkinson’s disease: Parkinson’s is caused by the loss of brain cells which produces the chemical dopamine, which is necessary for body moment. 
  3. Seizures: It’s a sensation in the brain accompanied by uncontrolled moments and at times, may also lead to unconsciousness.
  4. Migraine: A migraine is a severe form of headache that is very disturbing.
  5. Nerve injury: Any nerve injury to the Spinal cord or brain caused by an accident can also lead to a Neurological disorder.

 

These symptoms can lead to memory loss, loss of sensation and visual changes may occur in some patients. Therefore, it is important to get the proper treatment to treat these medical conditions, for which one needs to see a Neurologist.

3) What does a neurologist treat you for? 

A Neurologist treats you for Disorders and Diseases of the nervous system. What to tell your Neurologist depends upon how an individual feels.

Suppose your primary care doctor refers you to a Neurologist. During the first appointment, the neurologist will check out your previous medical reports and have conversations with you to know more about your medical history.

After that, they scrutinize the information in front of them which helps them make decisions. If necessary, a physical examination and neurological exam can also be conducted to know the depth of the problem.

The doctor may also try to reach for the right diagnosis by testing the moments and study the effects of these exams. It can include body moments, breathing, and sense of touch.

During a physical exam, the doctor looks at body movements, studies the posture, sense of balance and any difficulties that the patient may be having in performing a specific task or activity in the exam.

Types of Neurological tests 

  1. Electroencephalogram (EEG): Measuring the electrical activity in the brain from the Electrodes applied on the scalp.
  2. Electromyography and nerve conduction studies (EMG/NCS): Nerves and muscles are tested through Electrodes and fine needles placed on the skin.
  3. Lumbar Puncture: A Spinal fluid sample is taken to determine any serious problems. 
  4. CT, MRI, and PET scanning are some other diagnostic tests. 

The treatment can be dynamic and totally depends upon the patient body and also their past medical history.