Do you often get headaches? Or do you sometimes suddenly feel like you're losing your senses? Maybe your family doctor has told you to see a 'neurologist'. When a doctor says that, many people are a little scared and feel like it's a big deal. But who exactly is a neurologist ? What does he do? Let's talk about this very simply, in a way that you can understand.
Who exactly is a neurologist?
Simply put, a neurologist is a doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases related to our nervous system. When we say our nervous system, it includes the brain, the spinal cord, and all the nerves that run throughout the body. Think of it like the control panel of our body. When there is a problem with it, a neurologist is the one who diagnoses it and helps cure it with medication.
The most important thing is that a Neurologist does not perform surgeries. A Neurosurgeon performs surgeries on the brain or nerves. These two are one and the same. While a Neurologist diagnoses the disease and treats it with medication, if surgery is needed, he will refer you to a Neurosurgeon.
There is also a section called Pediatric Neurologists, who specialize in diseases of the nervous system of young children.
What symptoms should make you see a neurologist?
Your family doctor will usually refer you to a neurologist. The table below lists some of the symptoms that may lead to this.
| Symptom | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Frequent or severe headaches/migraines | Persistent headaches that are not relieved by even a simple painkiller. |
| Numbness or loss of sensation in the limbs | Sudden, unexplained numbness or complete loss of sensation in an arm, leg, or face. |
| Vertigo | Feeling like you're not the one, but the things around you are spinning. Difficulty standing still. |
| Seizures | A state in which the body convulses uncontrollably, whether conscious or unconscious. |
| Memory problems | More than normal forgetfulness, severe forgetting of things, even losing memory of familiar places. |
| Difficulty moving | Tremors, difficulty walking, and slow movements as if the body is stoned. |
| Changes in vision, hearing, smell, or taste | Sudden double vision, ringing in the ears (tinnitus), or loss of smell and taste. |
If you have any of these symptoms, the first thing to do is see your family doctor. He or she will examine you and determine if this is a condition that requires referral to a specialist.
Main conditions treated by a neurologist
There are many diseases that neurologists treat. Some of them are:
- Stroke: A condition that occurs when blood flow to the brain stops or a blood vessel bursts.
- Epilepsy: Frequent seizures /fits.
- Parkinson 's disease: A disease that affects body movements, causing symptoms such as tremors and rigidity.
- Alzheimer's Disease: A disease that severely affects memory and thinking ability.
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS): A disease caused by damage to the protective covering around the nerves.
- Migraine and other severe headaches.
- Peripheral Neuropathy: Conditions such as numbness and inflammation caused by damage to the nerves in the body's limbs.
- Back and neck problems: Pain caused by nerve compression due to conditions such as disc prolapse.
- Infections and tumors of the brain or spinal cord.
What happens when you see the doctor? (Tests and procedures)
There's nothing to be afraid of when you see a neurologist. First, he or she will talk to you carefully and ask you about your symptoms, how they started, your past illnesses, and whether anyone in your family has had similar illnesses.
Then, he or she will examine you. This is called a neurological examination . This includes things like:
- Your mental state (way of speaking, memory)
- Vision and eye movement
- Body strength (limb strength)
- Body balance and coordination
- Reflexes - things like tapping your knee with a small hammer
- Sensation - pricking various parts of the body to see if they feel like a needle
Most of the time, this test alone can give your doctor a good idea of your condition. However, they may need to do a few more tests to confirm it and see exactly what's going on.
| Test | What do you do with this? |
|---|---|
| Imaging Tests (MRI / CT Scans) | These are like taking 'photos' of the brain and spinal cord. They can detect things like tumors and paralysis. |
| EEG (Electroencephalogram) | Small sensors (electrodes) are attached to the scalp and record the brain's electrical activity. This is especially important for diagnosing conditions like epilepsy. |
| EMG / Nerve Conduction Study | It measures the speed and manner in which messages are sent from nerves to muscles. This is done when you have numbness in your limbs or when you think your nerves may be damaged. |
| Lumbar Puncture (Spinal Tap) | A small needle is inserted through a small incision in the lower back to take a small sample of the fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord (CSF). This helps detect things like infections and bleeding. |
How do you prepare before going to see the doctor?
To get the most out of your doctor's appointment, it's important to go in with a little preparation.
- Write down your symptoms: Write down everything you're experiencing in a journal. Write down details like when it started, what time of day it's worse, and whether it gets worse or better when you do something.
- Take your old medical records and medication list with you: Take all the medications you are currently taking (including those for other illnesses), any allergies you have, and any old test reports you have.
- Make a list of questions: Write down the things you want to ask the doctor in advance, otherwise you might forget them.
- If possible, go with a family member: It's easier to remember things when two people are listening. And it's also a relief for you.
- Write down what the doctor says: Write down in a book the doctor's instructions, details about medications, and tests he orders.
Don't be afraid or embarrassed to ask questions. If you don't understand something, ask, "I don't understand, doctor, can you say that again?" This is about your health.
Take-Home Message
- A neurologist is a specialist who treats diseases of the brain, spine, and nerves with medication. They do not perform surgery.
- If you have symptoms such as frequent headaches, dizziness, numbness in the limbs, memory loss, or seizures, first see your family doctor. If necessary, he or she will refer you to a neurologist.
- When you see your doctor, he or she will examine you and may order tests such as an MRI, EEG, or lumbar puncture to confirm the diagnosis.
- Writing down your symptoms and questions before seeing the doctor can make the appointment more productive.
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