The neurologist works within internal medicine and deals mainly with diseases of the nervous system. Closely related is the medical field of psychiatry.
What is a neurologist?
A neurologist diagnoses and treats dysfunctions and diseases of the nervous system. A neurologist diagnoses and treats dysfunctions and diseases of the nervous system. This primarily includes the brain, bone marrow and peripheral nervous system, as well as supplying blood vessels and important tissue structures. Another field includes symptoms and dysfunctions that are based on mental disorders. These can be, for example, paralysis, sensory disorders, pain or sleep disorders. Closely related to this is the field of psychiatry, since some neurological disorders are associated with mental illnesses. Subfields of neurology are neurophysiology, which deals with the nervous system and its functioning, and neuropathology. The latter deals primarily with the pathological organic changes of the nervous system and is considered the theoretical basis for neurology. Neurosurgery includes surgical interventions in the central and peripheral nervous system. A successful medical degree with license to practice medicine is the basis for a specialist training as a neurologist. This must be completed in a corresponding specialist department for neurology as well as for psychiatry. Finally, there is a specialist examination to become a neurologist.
Treatments
Since the nervous system is a very comprehensive area, the clinical pictures are also very diverse. Therefore, only a few examples can be given below. A neurologist is primarily a specialist in all diseases affecting the brain, spinal cord and nervous system. These diseases can be caused by inflammations, genetic defects, injuries, tumors or metabolic disorders. Inflammatory diseases can include meningitis, multiple sclerosis or shingles. A neurologist is also consulted after accidents involving severe injuries such as traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury. Furthermore, care by a neurologist is often advised after strokes, diseases such as BSE, epilepsy and narcolepsy, as well as some tumor diseases that affect the nervous system. Addictive disorders such as alcoholism or drug abuse should also be followed by a neurologist, as withdrawal can cause epileptic seizures, among other symptoms. Painful diseases such as carpal tunnel syndrome, paralysis or a slipped disc are sometimes treated by a neurologist. In most cases, the focus is on medication and monitoring by a neurologist in addition to diagnosis.
Diagnostic and examination methods
Like any specialist, a neurologist first seeks to talk with the patient. He or she takes a medical history and then arranges examinations, depending on the symptoms. After the physical examination, blood samples or tissue samples may be necessary, as well as diagnostics with special equipment. Typical neurological devices here are the EEG (brain wave measurement), EMG (testing the functionality of the muscles) and the NLG (measures the conduction velocity of certain nerves). MRI and CT are also used for more precise diagnosis, especially in the case of injuries, strokes, tumors and inflammatory processes. In addition to this common equipment, a neurologist also uses devices that measure brain performance or provide information about the functioning of the visual, auditory and vestibular nerves. Some clinical pictures are clarified in more detail using ultrasound and color duplex. The neurologist alone cannot always make a diagnosis. In many cases, a multidisciplinary team from different specialties is needed to best help the patient.
What should the patient look for?
A trusting relationship between doctor and patient is also necessary with a neurologist. If the patient does not feel comfortable or misunderstood, this can significantly affect the healing process. The neurologist should therefore be chosen carefully and, if necessary, changed if the relationship is not right. In most cases, the family doctor can be helpful in the search for a suitable neurologist, since he already knows the patient’s medical history and often knows which neurologist is best for the patient.When choosing, the clinical picture should be in the foreground, since neurologists have different specializations. The health insurance company can also be a contact here. In some cases, a second opinion is important, especially if there are uncertainties. The practice equipment or the cooperation with clinics can also be a decisive criterion, depending on the clinical picture, to save unnecessary trips and valuable time.
