When To See a Neurologist

You may have heard the term neurologist or neurology before. And you may be curious to know what precisely a neurologist is and what they do.

Many also have the question about when to see a neurologist. And we have some advice on that below.

When To See a Neurologist

There are a number of situations where having a visit with a neurologist makes sense. 

For starters, your primary physician may refer you to a neurologist. They’ll often do this if you are experiencing symptoms that may have something to do with your nervous system.

Just say, for example, you have been having headaches for days now. And not just simple headaches, but also severe. This is a situation where your primary care physician thinks it’s a good idea for you to see a neurologist. 

Why? Because this may not be just a simple headache. It may be worse than that, and it may have something to do with your nervous system. 

You may also be referred to a neurologist by your primary or chiropractic doctor if you have back and neck problems. An injury to the spine may significantly affect your nervous system. And that needs an immediate checkup from a neurologist. 

Those who are experiencing memory loss may also benefit from visiting a neurologist. Neurologists are often brought in on cases that involve possible dementia or Alzheimer’ Disease. 

If you are experiencing numbness, tingling and/or chronic pain, that’s another time where you might want to see a neurologist. The numbness and/or tingling (if it’s severe or does not go away) could be related to a nerve issue. And in cases where chronic pain is unmanageable, a patient may be referred to a neurologist by their primary doctor.

Experiencing difficulty in moving, such as walking, shuffling your feet, and tremors, may be another reason to contact your neurologist. 

There are many reasons you should see a neurologist, especially if you have symptoms in the nervous system. So as soon as possible, if you think it is necessary to go to the neurologist, then make an appointment. 

What Is a Neurologist?

A neurologist is a type of doctor specializing in diagnosing and treating medical conditions of the nervous system. Neurology is the branch in the medical field that focuses on the nervous system. 

Neurologists study multiple medical conditions that affect the nervous system and how to treat those conditions. They study different kinds of medical conditions in both the Central Nervous System or CNS and Peripheral Nervous System or PNS.

These conditions include Alzheimer’s disease or any dementia, peripheral neuropathy, stroke, severe or frequent migraine, brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, and more.

But their duties do not only involve the diagnosis and treatment of nervous system conditions. Some neurologists may do other things like preparing EEG and EMG/NCS machines if they are needed.

They may also be managing and rounding on patients in the ICU, as well as the emergency room. For nervous system diseases that are not curable, sometimes they provide palliative care.

It is also a neurologist’s job to perform nerve blocks, facet blocks, epidurals, and intra-articular injections. They are also responsible for prescribing medications that treat medical conditions that affect the nervous system, such as migraines.