Neurology

Neurology is a branch of medical science that is concerned with disorders and diseases of the nervous system. The term neurology comes from a combination of two words - "neuron" meaning nerve and "logia" meaning "the study of".

There are around a hundred billion neurons in the brain, capable of generating their own impulses and of receiving and transmitting impulses from neighbouring cells. Neurology involves the study of:

• The central nervous system, the peripheral nervous system and the autonomic nervous system.
• Structural and functional disorders of the nervous system ranging from birth defects through to degenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease.

Role of Neurologist

A neurologist is a medical doctor who diagnoses, treats and manages disorders of the brain and nervous system (brain, spinal cord and nerves). A neurologist knows the anatomy, function and conditions that affect your nerves and nervous system. Your nervous system is your body’s command center. It controls everything you think, feel and do — from moving your arm to the beating of your heart.

A neurologist is a specialist physician who treats diseases of the brain, spinal cord, nerve and muscle. A neurologist can help identify the cause of symptoms and create a treatment plan for both common and complex neurological conditions.

Responsibilities of a Neurologist

• Diagnose complex neurological problems by listening to the patient's history, as well as by examining them and using appropriate neurological tests
• Run outpatient clinics, where you'll mainly see patients with a chronic condition, i.e. a disease that takes a long time to develop such as Parkinson's and multiple sclerosis, or diagnose rare disease
• Complete ward rounds where you'll look after a caseload of inpatients
• Treat acute conditions, i.e. those that come on suddenly, such as a stroke
• Offer specialist expertise and guidance to other doctors and staff from a range of medical specialties
• Spend approximately half a day a week in academic meetings with neurosurgeons, neuroradiologists and other neurological colleagues for learning and development and to discuss cases as a team, drawing on the expertise of all these specialists
• liaise with other medical and non-medical staff in hospital settings to ensure all of the patients' needs are met
• Keep up your knowledge of the latest treatments for neurological disorders, which have increased s ignificantly over recent years

When do you need to see a Neurologist?

There are six main symptoms if you or any of your near one have it then neurologist is in need:

• Chronic headaches or migraines
  • Your headaches become severe or disabling
  • You’re taking medication for headaches daily
  • You routinely wake up with a headache
  • Your headaches are accompanied by other neurological symptoms, such as vision changes, dizziness, nausea or even seizures (if you start vomiting or lose consciousness, go to the emergency room right away)
  • Your headaches are severe and are accompanied by a sensitivity to light, strong smells or loud sounds, which could indicate migraines
• Out-of-the-ordinary memory problems
  • Difficulty speaking
  • Changes in personality
  • Confusion or disorientation
  • Frequent memory lapses
  • Repeating information or asking the same question multiple times
• Vertigo or balance issues
  • A feeling that either you or the world around you is spinning (vertigo)
  • Loss of balance or unsteadiness (disequilibrium)
  • Faintness or lightheadedness with no obvious cause
  • Feeling like you are falling or are going to fall
  • A floating sensation or dizziness
  • Sensitivity to motion
  • Vertigo or disequilibrium accompanied by other symptoms, including hearing or vision loss, ringing in your ears, ear pain or nausea
• Unusual spells or seizures
  • Violent shaking
  • Uncontrollable stiffening of the body, especially the arms and legs
  • Staring spells (the person isn’t connecting or responding, or seems to be daydreaming)
  • Confusion or disorientation after a seizure (the person doesn’t appear to be “coming out” of the seizure)
  • Loss of bowel or bladder control
  • Falling for no apparent reason
  • Loss of consciousness
• Numbness or weakness
  • Numbness or weakness that comes on suddenly or happens on one side of the body (if you think you are having a stroke, however, go to the emergency room or call 911 immediately)
  • Persistent (over weeks or months) or worsening numbness
  • Chronic muscle weakness or a rapid decline in muscle strength
  • A weak handgrip that’s affecting your ability to eat, write or perform other daily activities
  • Foot drop, or difficulty lifting the front of your foot, which may cause it to drag
  • Lingering numbness and/or weakness after a stroke or injury
  • Numbness and/or weakness accompanied by other neurological symptoms, such as nerve pain or burning
• Sleep problems
  • Prolonged periods of excessive tiredness during the day after getting a full night’s sleep
  • Frequently falling asleep in relaxing surroundings
  • Frequent difficulty falling or staying asleep, especially if you are also having nightmares
  • Sleep problems following the diagnosis of a neurological condition, such as Alzheimer’s disease, epilepsy, a movement disorder or a neuromuscular disorder

What can you expect when you visit a Neurologist?

Choosing a specialist to supervise your overall healthcare is essential. An open relationship with your physician can be a powerful factor in maintaining your physical and emotional well-being for the long term. This article is to assist you in having productive appointments with your neurologist to make sure your questions are answered and you can feel and function better despite your condition.

Your role

Only you know what is going on in your body on a day-to-day basis. Some things may be minor and some may progress over time. Your role is to provide your doctor information about your health, health history, medications and symptoms, and to report any specific changes in your condition since your last medical appointment.

Before your appointment

• Prepare to arrive a little early for your scheduled appointment to provide time to fill out any necessary paperwork and so you can gather your thoughts before you meet with the doctor.
• Bring the name and address of your primary care physician so he can receive a copy of the medical report following your visit. Have your insurance card and doctor’s referral form with you. Bring a record of medical test results and reports related to the condition.
• Have a list of all medications and dosages, including supplements, you are taking, as some medications can interact poorly with others.
• Since some conditions may have a genetic component, find out your family medical history specifically related to walking or coordination problems of family members, including grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, siblings and cousins.
• Keeping a log or journal of your symptoms to refer to is a helpful tool in tracking your condition’s progression and to better determine what treatments or medications are working.
• Be specific in describing your symptoms and how they affect your daily living activities, including estimated periods of time when the symptoms became apparent or worsening. Select the top three symptoms or problems that are most severe to discuss during your appointment.
• Prescribe medication if necessary
• Be prepared to answer: What other medical conditions do you have? Have you had an adverse reaction to any medications? How and when did symptoms of your condition come on? How have your symptoms changed since that time? What activities does your condition make difficult to do? What makes your symptoms worse? What makes your symptoms better?
• If you have recently started a new medication or therapy regimen, be prepared to discuss any side effects or results of the treatment. Have a list of three or four key questions you would like to discuss with your neurologist so you don’t leave the appointment with additional worries.
• If you think you will have difficulty remembering or understanding your doctor’s instructions, bring along a loved one or friend to your appointment to take notes and help ask questions.