What Disorders Are Within a Neurologist’s Specialty?
Neurologists handle conditions that relate to nervous system symptoms such as brain or spinal cord injuries, serious conditions e.g. strokes or chronic nervous system problems such as epilepsy and multiple sclerosis.
Head / Cranial Injuries
In cases of head injury, a neurologist may be necessary to help assess the degree of a patient’s injuries and help devise a proper treatment plan. For instance, people who’ve encountered an accident can suffer from symptoms that last for months. This is also known as post-concussion syndrome. The syndrome may also lead to further symptoms that may require extra evaluation and treatment.
Chronic / Lasting Headaches
Everyone suffers from headaches from time to time. However, people who suffer from headaches on a regular basis may require extra treatment. Your physician may refer you to a neurologist in case you have multiple and random headaches over the week, especially if you’ve been suffering for some time or your symptoms don’t improve with OTC pills or treatments.
A neurologist can also identify the culprit of your headaches and assist you in finding efficient treatments.
Migraines
Migraine incidents are a frequent reason for visits to a neurologist. In addition to being burdensome, migraines can also cause sensitivity symptoms, dizzy spells and nausea. The pain can also exist for several hours and days. A neurologist can offer you a diagnosis and pinpoint any culprits that may aggravate the condition so you can prevent them. They can also give you medication to treat migraine outbreaks.
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic ailment that attacks the spinal cord and brain, leading to weakness, numbness and tingling. Some people also encounter problems with their vision. MS progresses gradually and symptoms can vary from time to time.
A neurologist can offer a diagnosis to help you control your symptoms with proper treatment.
Seizures and Epilepsy
A seizure triggers involuntary movements and weird sensations. It may also cause spells where the patient loses consciousness. Seizures are set off in the brain and can be life-threatening. If you’ve had a seizure, your doctor may tell you to visit a neurologist for further diagnosis. The neurologist will perform tests and scans to pinpoint the triggers of the seizure. They may also diagnose chronic seizure disorders like epilepsy. After you get a diagnosis, your neurologist can give you pills and/or other treatments to help manage your seizures.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s is a disease that emerges when the brain cannot produce enough dopamine to control body motion, leading to tremors, spasms, stiffness and lack of balance. A neurology doctor can test you for Parkinson’s disease and ensure that no other disorder is triggering your symptoms. Once you get a proper diagnosis, your doctor may give you pills and treatments to control the condition.
Stroke
A stroke happens when there is not enough blood circulation to your brain. Without a sufficient supply of blood, brain cells will quickly die. This condition may lead to speech problems, inability to control emotions, and many other problems. After encountering a stroke, you’ll have to seek medical help to restore any of your lost capacities. A neurologist can help evaluate the level of deterioration inside your brain. He or she can come up with a treatment plan according to your symptoms to aid in your recovery.
Other Neurological Symptoms
Neurologists also treat any other neurological ailments like memory loss, dizziness or random pain with no explanation. There are several other symptoms that may make your physician refer you to a neurologist (in Malaysia). There are typically random symptoms that may be triggered by different conditions. For instance, random pain could be triggered by several disorders that make nerves overstimulated, while dizziness could be a sign of an injury or brain inflammation. Memory deterioration can also be a sign to see a neurologist. Your doctor may refer you if you are especially forgetful or struggle to keep your focus and suffer from brain fog. A neurologist can also pinpoint whether the culprit of your symptoms is dementia or any other neurological disorder that affects your memory. He or she may also give you some medication to help slow the development of the disease and manage its symptoms.
