Tell them what they really want to know. YOUR SYMPTOMS: "Tell me the story of your symptoms, not what other people have told you about your symptoms," Dr. Gronseth says. "Be as specific as possible and concentrate on when the symptoms started and how they progressed."
When you see the neurologist, they'll talk with you about your medical history and your symptoms. You'll also have a physical exam that focuses on your brain and nerves. The neurologist may check your: Mental status.
Some of the most common neurological disorders include Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, migraines, multiple sclerosis, and stroke.
a nerve conduction test (NCS), where small metal wires called electrodes are placed on your skin that release tiny electric shocks to stimulate your nerves; the speed and strength of the nerve signal is measured.
There is no need to prepare for a neurological examination. The doctor will try to reach the right diagnosis by testing normal movements and reactions.
Examples of symptoms include paralysis, muscle weakness, poor coordination, loss of sensation, seizures, confusion, pain and altered levels of consciousness.
Chemical and metabolic testing of the blood can indicate some muscle disorders, protein or fat-related disorders that affect the brain and inborn errors of metabolism. Blood tests can monitor levels of therapeutic drugs used to treat epilepsy and other neurological disorders.
These disorders include epilepsy, Alzheimer disease and other dementias, cerebrovascular diseases including stroke, migraine and other headache disorders, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, neuroinfections, brain tumours, traumatic disorders of the nervous system due to head trauma, and neurological disorders as ...
Injections, such as peripheral nerve injections and epidurals may be recommended. We also offer spinal cord stimulation, an implanted device, which sends electrical pulses to the spinal cord to mask the pain. In some cases, surgery will be necessary.
Mental status testing can be divided into five parts: level of alertness; focal cortical functioning; cognition; mood and affect; and thought content.
Specificity of the individual tests ranged from 74–100%. Overall, the neurological examination accurately identified 61% of patients with a focal lesion, with a 16% false positive rate (table). The side of the lesion was correctly identified in 96% of cases.
A series of questions and tests to check brain, spinal cord, and nerve function. The exam checks a person's mental status, coordination, ability to walk, and how well the muscles, sensory systems, and deep tendon reflexes work.
Among the most common are epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and stroke.
Neurological disorders are central and peripheral nervous system diseases, that is, they occur in the brain, spine, and multiple nerves that connect both.
A posturography test indicates which parts of your balance system you rely on most. Electronystagmography and videonystagmography. Both tests record your eye movements, which play a role in vestibular function and balance. Electronystagmography uses electrodes to record eye movements.
MRI can describe nerve lesions in areas that are difficult to localize using electrodiagnostic studies8,19,20 or visualize using ultrasound. Depending on the specific clinical question, MRI or ultrasound can be a peripheral nerve imaging modality of choice.
Nerve pain often feels like a shooting, stabbing or burning sensation. Sometimes it can feel as sharp and sudden as an electric shock. You may be very sensitive to touch or cold. You may also experience pain as a result of touch that would not normally be painful, such as something lightly brushing your skin.
Neurologists have the advantage of knowing the health of the patient's nerves and muscles. In many cases, acute pain is due to strains, muscle damage, or nerve damage. This means the neurologist can then use non-surgical options to treat the condition.
1. Headache. Headaches are one of the most common neurological disorders—and there are a variety of different kinds of headaches, such as migraines, cluster headaches, and tension headaches.