When and why to consult a neurologist
Neurologists treat diseases of the brain and spinal cord, peripheral nerves, and muscles.
Consulting a neurologist is important when experiencing symptoms that may relate to the brain or other parts of the nervous system including nerves and autonomic activity of the body (e.g. sweating, fainting, irritable bowel syndrome, dizziness with change in posture)
Persistent headaches: Especially if they are severe or different from usual headaches.
Seizures: Any unexplained seizure activity warrants a neurological evaluation.
Nerve pain or numbness: Ongoing issues with sensation, tingling, or weakness in limbs.
Cognitive changes: Memory problems, confusion, or difficulty concentrating.
Coordination issues: Difficulty walking, balance problems, or frequent falls.
Vision or speech changes: Sudden changes in vision or difficulty speaking.
Unexplained fatigue: Severe and persistent fatigue that affects daily life.
Family history of neurological conditions
Which diseases and conditions are usually treated by a neurologist?
Some of the most common neurologic disorders a neurologist may treat include:
- Headache/migraine.
- Epilepsy.
- Facial pain syndromes including Trigeminal Neuralgia.
- Multiple sclerosis.
- Myasthenia gravis and myopathies.
- Pain in your neck, back, and spine.
- Parkinson’s disease
- Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias
- Peripheral neuropathy.
- Hydrocephalus including Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.
- Meningitis. Encephalitis.
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Motor Neuron Disease.
- Cerebral aneurysms and arteriovenous malformations
- Brain or spinal cord injury.
- Cerebral palsy and spasticity.
- Concussion
- Sleep disorders.
- Stroke.
- Tremor, dystonia.
- Tumors of the brain, spine, and nerves.
If you're experiencing symptoms that affect your nervous system, consulting a neurologist is a crucial step for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
Which are usual neurological investigations?
Common neurologic investigations include:
Computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-rays, and ultrasound of arteries and nerves.
Electroencephalography (EEG). This test measures your brain’s electrical activity and is used to help diagnose seizures and infections (such as encephalitis) brain injury and tumors.
Electromyography (EMG). This test records the electrical activity in muscles and is used to diagnose nerve and muscle disorders, spinal nerve root compression and motor neuron disorders such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Electronystagmography (ENG). This group of tests is used to diagnose involuntary eye movement, dizziness and balance disorders.
Evoked potentials. This test measures how quickly and completely electrical signals reach your brain from your eyes, ears or touch to your skin. The test can help diagnose multiple sclerosis, acoustic neuroma and spinal cord injury.
Cerebrospinal fluid analysis. This test involves the removal of a sample of the fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord. The test can detect evidence of a brain bleed, infection, multiple sclerosis and many neurological metabolic diseases
Positron emission tomography (PET). This imaging test can show tumors or be used to evaluate epilepsy, brain tumors, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.
Single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) is Particularly useful in diagnosing and monitoring the course of Parkinsons disease and distinguishing it from other similar disorders like Multisystem Atrophy.
Sudoscan : helps in diagnosing sweating disorders like excessive sweating or lack of sweating and in identifying underlying disorders of autonomic neuropathies.
Angiography. Angiography can show if blood vessels in your brain, head or neck are blocked, damaged or abnormal. It can detect such things as aneurysms and blood clots.
Thermography. This test measures temperature changes within your body or specific organs and is used to evaluate pain syndromes, peripheral nerve disorders and nerve root compression.
Polysomnography. This test measures brain and body activity during sleep and helps diagnose sleep disorders.
