Neurologists are medical professionals who deal with diagnosing and treating conditions that are affecting the nervous system. You might be referred to a neurologist if you show any signs of having a neurological problem.
Neurologists take care of a wide range of conditions, such as Alzheimer’s, headaches, nerve damage, and others. You can even have a neurological stroke treatment in Sydney. Visiting your neurologist on time is essential to getting good results, so keep that in mind.
Have an honest conversation with your neurologist
What does a neurologist do?
A lot of people still do not understand what exactly a neurologist deals with. Neurologists deal with evaluation, diagnosing, and treating a wide range of diseases that affect your nervous system. Our nervous system consists of two parts, the central and peripheral nervous system.
The nervous system has a complex nature, which is why after competing for 4 years of medical school to become physicians, neurologists must then complete a 4-year residency. Understanding the nervous system is quite difficult and takes a lot of time.
When to see a neurologist?
- Headaches – if you are experiencing chronic or severe headaches, it is definitely a good time to visit your neurologist. Frequent headaches can also be a cause of concern.
- Chronic pain – if the pain you are experiencing is chronic, and your primary care doctor is unable to help you manage it, then you might want to be referred to a neurologist instead.
- Dizziness – Experiencing the feeling like you are spinning (vertigo) or having an overall difficulty keeping your balance, could be a cause for concern.
- Tingling or numbness – especially when it occurs on just one side of your body and comes on suddenly, that could be a sign of a stroke or a range of other serious conditions.
- Memory problems – if your memory is getting worse, your personality changes, you mix up words, or you are confused often, you should visit your neurologist.
- Movement issues – if you have difficulty walking, shuffling feet, unintentional jerks, tremors, and other things, you might have a nervous system problem.
Frequent headaches are often a cause for concern
What to expect during the exam
Your neurologist will be able to help identify the cause of your issues. Once the culprit has been found, they will provide you with a treatment plan that is tailored to your needs. During the exam, your doctor will use different instruments, such as reflex hammers and lights, to assess the nervous system. Your motor skills, coordination, mental status, and balance will be tested.
There is nothing to be scared of when going to a neurologist consultation. Your neurologist is here to help you, so have an honest conversation. Tell him/her about all the issues you have been experiencing, as that will help them diagnose the main source of your issues.
Once the issues have been found, your neurologist will recommend a couple of procedures that could help you. This all really depends on what kind of an issue you are dealing with, since sometimes there aren’t that many treatment options.
Preparing for your first neurologist appointment
There are some things that could help you prepare for your first appointment. If you have memory issues, writing things down is obviously a good idea. Here is a list that could help you get ready for your first neurologist appointment:
- Bring a list of the issues you are experiencing and want to discuss with your doctor.
- Talk about your overall changes in health.
- If you are experiencing any new symptoms all of a sudden or changes to prior symptoms, make sure to tell your doctor everything. It is good to keep a symptom diary if you are forgetful or if the symptoms are just not consistent.
- If you have realized that you might have some triggers to your symptoms, make sure to mention them.
- Bring test results, lab work, and images that were ordered by other healthcare providers outside of the neurology department.
- Bring a list of all the medicine and products you are taking. This can include anything from prescription medication to vitamins or creams.
- Make sure that you mention your allergies!
- Bringing a relative or a friend with you to the appointment is a good idea. This way you can rest assured that you will not forget what your neurologist has told you.
Final word
No matter what kind of issues you might be experiencing, visiting your doctor is crucial. If you are unsure of which doctor could help you, visiting a general doctor is the first step. Tell them about your issues, and they will be able to tell you which doctor to visit to treat your issues. Do not avoid the inevitable, and schedule a consultation as soon as you feel that something is off.
