PRACTICE DESCRIPTION
What exactly does a neurologist do?
20% of visits to the PCP (primary care physician) involve a neurological symptom. 3 of the top 10 reasons for visiting the PCP relate to the neurological system (backpain, headache, dizziness).
A neurologist works like a detective to help the PCP make the right diagnosis. While a PCP works as a generalist, a neurologist is a physician who specializes in diseases of the nervous system. Over half of my patients come to see me for a temporary condition and are seen for 1-4 visits before being returned to the care of their PCP. Examples of conditions for referral to a neurologist might be carpal tunnel syndrome, benign positional vertigo, Bell’s palsy or transient global amnesia. The remaining patients that I treat have a neurological disease that will require ongoing management. Examples of neurological diseases that I treat include migraine headaches, epilepsy (seizures), parkinson’s disease, and polyneuropathy. I help patients by providing education, referring to appropriate therapists, prescribing medication, and completing any necessary paperwork required by their insurance companies or employers.
The greatest role of a neurologist is helping to make the correct diagnosis. A typical example would be dizziness. Dizziness is a non-specific term that has no medical relevance. Dizziness is a layperson’s term for unsteadiness and must be reclassified as lightheadedness (fainting), spinning (vertigo), or unsteadiness (imbalance). Based on further description of the symptoms along with a physical exam, it might, for example, become possible to reclassify the non-specific ‘dizziness’ as vertigo. At that point, the neurologist works to determine if the problem arose in the inner ear (labyrinth), within the skull (vestibular nerve) or brainstem. Often a diagnosis can then be made or perhaps an additional test will be ordered to corroborate the hypothesis generated by the neurologist. Once a correct diagnosis is made then it becomes easy to provide treatment recommendations as well as a prognosis.
In summary, a neurologist is a physician who specializes in disease of the nervous system. Typical complaints or problems treated by a neurologist include headache, dizziness, worsening memory, double-vision, tingling sensation in a limb, weakness in a limb, and involuntary jerking movements or incoordination of a limb. After obtaining a detailed history, a neurologist performs a lengthy physical examination that involves the entire body. A short list of possible diagnoses is generated and further studies ordered. A neurologist then prescribes medication and/or coordinates further care by referring to appropriate therapists. The patient is then returned to the care of their PCP.
A neurologist works like a detective to help the PCP make the right diagnosis. While a PCP works as a generalist, a neurologist is a physician who specializes in diseases of the nervous system. Over half of my patients come to see me for a temporary condition and are seen for 1-4 visits before being returned to the care of their PCP. Examples of conditions for referral to a neurologist might be carpal tunnel syndrome, benign positional vertigo, Bell’s palsy or transient global amnesia. The remaining patients that I treat have a neurological disease that will require ongoing management. Examples of neurological diseases that I treat include migraine headaches, epilepsy (seizures), parkinson’s disease, and polyneuropathy. I help patients by providing education, referring to appropriate therapists, prescribing medication, and completing any necessary paperwork required by their insurance companies or employers.
The greatest role of a neurologist is helping to make the correct diagnosis. A typical example would be dizziness. Dizziness is a non-specific term that has no medical relevance. Dizziness is a layperson’s term for unsteadiness and must be reclassified as lightheadedness (fainting), spinning (vertigo), or unsteadiness (imbalance). Based on further description of the symptoms along with a physical exam, it might, for example, become possible to reclassify the non-specific ‘dizziness’ as vertigo. At that point, the neurologist works to determine if the problem arose in the inner ear (labyrinth), within the skull (vestibular nerve) or brainstem. Often a diagnosis can then be made or perhaps an additional test will be ordered to corroborate the hypothesis generated by the neurologist. Once a correct diagnosis is made then it becomes easy to provide treatment recommendations as well as a prognosis.
In summary, a neurologist is a physician who specializes in disease of the nervous system. Typical complaints or problems treated by a neurologist include headache, dizziness, worsening memory, double-vision, tingling sensation in a limb, weakness in a limb, and involuntary jerking movements or incoordination of a limb. After obtaining a detailed history, a neurologist performs a lengthy physical examination that involves the entire body. A short list of possible diagnoses is generated and further studies ordered. A neurologist then prescribes medication and/or coordinates further care by referring to appropriate therapists. The patient is then returned to the care of their PCP.
