What is neurology?
Neurology is a medical area that deals with diagnosing, treating, and managing disorders related to the nervous system. Neurology treatment may include medications, surgery, rehabilitation, and lifestyle modifications.
Generally, people use the terms neurologist and neurosurgeon interchangeably when referring to medical professionals who treat brain disorders; however, the two professions are fundamentally different.
Neurologist vs. neurosurgeon
You must know the distinction between neurologists and neurosurgeons, as each professional has substantial variations in medical care.
Neurologists focus on identifying and treating neurodegenerative disorders with different medications or treatments requiring constant monitoring. In cases where conditions require surgical interventions, neurologists may refer patients to neurosurgeons for medical care. Some of the significant differences between the two professions are:
i) Diagnosis and treatment
Neurologists diagnose and treat illnesses of the brain and nervous system, neurodevelopmental disorders, learning difficulties, and other central nervous system conditions.
Neurosurgeons attend to people with chronic disorders that impede the nervous system's normal functioning, such as Parkinson's disease, aneurysms, and congenital disabilities.
ii) Conditions treated
Another critical distinction between a neurologist and a neurosurgeon is each specialty's conditions. Epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, peripheral nerve problems, and ALS are among the neurological ailments neurologists generally diagnose and treat.
On the other hand, neurosurgeons treat brain traumas, tumor removal, and carpal tunnel syndrome. Both doctors collaborate extensively to provide the best possible care for their patients. They help by combining medical and surgical methods.
Neurologists and neurosurgeons complement each other's efforts. A neurologist would refer you to a neurosurgeon for surgery when treating a problem, while the former oversees long-term care. Neurologists or neurosurgeons can perform complicated neurological tests. However, only neurosurgeons can use the findings to perform surgery to cure the disease. On the other hand, neurologists can only prescribe medications and overlook long-term monitoring and care.
The education and training of neurologists
Neurologists undergo extensive education and training to become expert neurological doctors.
- Neurologists typically complete a bachelor's degree in science-related subjects, such as biology, chemistry, or neuroscience.
- After completing their undergraduate degree, aspirants attend medical school for four years to become a medical doctor (M.D.) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.).
- Neurologists then complete a residency program in neurology, which typically lasts three to four years and involves supervised clinical training in diagnosing and treating neurological disorders.
- Additionally, some neurologists pursue additional fellowship training in a sub-specialty area of neurology, such as stroke, neuromuscular disorders, or epilepsy.
- To become board-certified, neurologists must pass a certification exam. The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology or the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry conducts this.
- Continuing education and training are also necessary for neurologists to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in the field of neurology.
Subspecialties in neurology
Many neurologists choose to subspecialize in specific areas, focusing on particular neurological diseases. These additional subspecialty training can last between one to three years. Some examples of subspecialties in neurology include the following:
- Behavioral neurology: Some people experience brain conditions affecting their cognitive or thinking abilities or memory. As a result, they get treated by neurologists of this subspecialty when they show symptoms like poor judgment, personality and behavior changes, memory loss, language difficulties, and delusions. Some of the conditions treated by these specialists include mild cognitive impairment (MCI), Lewy body dementia, hydrocephalus, Alzheimer's disease, and autoimmune and inflammatory encephalopathies.
- Child and adolescent neurology: These neurologists focus on treating children with complex brain, spine, and nervous system disorders. They receive training in evaluating and treating children with conditions like autonomic disorders, acoustic neuroma, brain tumors, cerebral palsy, dystonia, and epilepsy.
- Multiple sclerosis and autoimmune neurology: Neurologists specializing in this field help treat people with multiple sclerosis (MS) or related conditions. MS is a condition in which the immune system starts attacking the covering surrounding the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. This damages the nerves that send information from your brain to your spinal cord and other body parts. Other related conditions include transverse myelitis, optic neuritis, central nervous system inflammatory demyelinating disease, and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.
- Neuroimmunology: This subspecialty focuses on diagnosing and treating patients with the most complex or rare neurological disorders caused by inflammation or autoimmunity. Some of these conditions include stiff-person syndrome, paraneoplastic syndromes, neurosarcoidosis, limbic encephalitis, and cerebellar degeneration.
- Neuromuscular disease: Specialists in this field help diagnose and treat conditions that impair muscle function due to issues involving the nerves and muscles in the body. People with these disorders commonly experience muscle weakness. Some of the conditions treated include polymyositis, neuromyotonia, muscular dystrophy, botulism, and congenital myopathies.
Which neuro specialist should you consult?
Here are some conditions in which you may need to visit a neurologist near you:
- Headaches, including migraines
- Seizures or epilepsy
- Stroke or mini-stroke
- Parkinson's disease or other movement disorders
- Multiple sclerosis or other autoimmune disorders affecting the nervous system
- Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia
- Traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury
- Neuropathy or nerve pain
- Sleep disorders, like sleep apnea or narcolepsy
- Brain tumors or other cancers that affect the nervous system
- Infections involving the nervous system, such as meningitis or encephalitis
- Chronic pain conditions, including fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome, affect the nervous system.
People generally visit neurosurgeons on the recommendation of a neurologist. You are required to see a neurosurgeon for any of the following issues:
- Brain tumors or spinal cord tumors
- Injuries to the spinal cord/brain, which require surgery
- Hydrocephalus or excess fluid in the brain
- Cerebral aneurysm or arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
- Parkinson's disease or other movement disorders requiring surgical intervention
- Herniated disc or other spinal conditions requiring surgery
- Carpal tunnel syndrome or other peripheral nerve disorders requiring surgery
- Trigeminal neuralgia or other facial pain disorders requiring surgery
- Chiari malformation or other congenital conditions affecting the brain or spinal cord
- Epilepsy, which is not well-controlled with medication and requires surgery.
As neurosurgery is one of the most advanced and complex branches of medicine, it frequently demands the engagement of a multidisciplinary team of experts. It includes plastic surgeons, orthopedic surgeons, manual therapists, interventional radiologists, etc.
What are the various kinds of tests that neurologists order?
The standard neurological tests assess your balance, gait, reflexes, and coordination. They may also evaluate your mental health, muscle strength, speech, hearing, vision, and sensation. Some of the diagnostic tests include:
1. Biopsy: Involves removal of a tissue piece from the body, typically from muscle, nerve, or brain tissue. This aids in diagnosing various conditions like cancer and inflammatory disorders such as nephritis or hepatitis, tuberculosis, and endometriosis, among others.
2. Electroencephalography (EEG): EEG measures the electrical activity in the brain, assisting in diagnosing seizures, brain injuries, infections (such as encephalitis), and tumors.
3. Electromyography (EMG): EMG records electrical activity in muscles, aiding in the diagnosis of motor neuron disorders, nerve and muscle disorders, and spinal nerve root compression.
4. Angiography: Angiography examines blood vessels in the brain, head, or neck for blockages, damage, or abnormalities. It can reveal conditions such as aneurysms and blood clots.
5. Cerebrospinal fluid analysis: This test involves extracting a little of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It can detect indications of a brain bleed, infection, multiple sclerosis, and metabolic diseases.
6. Imaging techniques (CT, MRI, X-rays, ultrasound): Computed tomography (CT), X-rays, ultrasounds, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are imaging methods used to visualize the brain and detect abnormalities.
7. Electronystagmography (ENG): ENG tests diagnose involuntary eye movement, dizziness, and balance disorders.
8. Myelography: Myelography helps diagnose spinal and spinal cord tumors, herniated disks, and fractures.
9. Polysomnogram: This test observes brain and body activity during sleep, assisting in diagnosing sleep disorders.
10. Evoked potentials: This test measures the speed and completeness of electrical signals reaching the brain from the eyes, ears, or touch, aiding in diagnosing conditions like multiple sclerosis, acoustic neuroma, and spinal cord injury.
11. Positron Emission Tomography (PET): PET imaging can reveal tumors and is used to evaluate conditions such as epilepsy, brain tumors, dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease.
13. Thermography: Thermography measures temperature changes within the body or specific organs. The test evaluates pain syndromes, peripheral nerve disorders, and nerve root compression.
12. Single-Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT): SPECT imaging aids in diagnosing tumors and infections and helps assess the location of seizures, degenerative spine disease, and stress fractures.
What should you expect from your first consultation with a neurologist?
Once you finalize the best neurologist near you, it is time to understand what to expect during the consultation. Your first visit to a neurologist will likely involve a comprehensive medical evaluation to help the neurologist understand your symptoms and medical history. Here are some pointers you can expect during your first visit to a neurologist:
- Medical history: The neurologist will ask about your medical history, including any previous neurological conditions, surgeries, or hospitalizations.
- Symptoms: The neurologist will enquire about your current symptoms, including when they started, how they affect your daily life, and any triggers that worsen or improve your symptoms.
- Physical exam: The neurologist will perform a physical exam to assess your reflexes, muscle strength, coordination, and other neurological functions.
- Diagnostic tests: The neurologist may order diagnostic tests such as imaging studies (CT scan, MRI) or electrophysiological tests (EEG, EMG) to help diagnose your condition.
- Treatment plan: After diagnosing the symptoms and evaluating the test results, the neurologist will suggest a treatment plan tailored to your needs. This may include medication, lifestyle modifications, physical therapy, or other interventions.
Finding the best neurologist near you in Orlando, Florida
If you've decided to see a neurologist, you would think - which is ideal for you or a family member? What aspects should you check while selecting one? To identify the neurological disease and alleviate neurological disability, you will be relying on your neurologist's knowledge and skills.
How can you locate the most outstanding neurologist for your needs? Start by looking for the information mentioned above on Zocdoc, where you can discover it all and more. Visit the Zocdoc website, make an account, and fill out your request with the ailment and service location. The doctors best suited to your needs will be listed, and you can check all the facts mentioned earlier on one platform.
At Zocdoc, you will find everything about the doctor's training, medical school details, credentials, skills, expertise, and specialization. You can book an appointment with the doctor to explore your options once you have reviewed these details on the profile.
You can further filter the neurologists in your insurance network and book appointments directly from the website to fit your convenience. You can update your Zocdoc account's insurance information to find providers who accept your insurance. Accordingly, you can directly upload a picture of your health plan card on the Zocdoc app to get filtered results. Check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more insurance-related FAQs. You can further read verified reviews by past patients of each provider in Orlando and choose a provider based on their ratings on the profiles.
Booking appointments with the best neurologists near you on Zocdoc is secure, quick, and 100% free!
Alzheimer's disease statistics in Florida
As per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the United States employed over 3,975 neurologists. Amongst them, 64.7 percent of all neurologists were women, while 35.3 percent were men. Over 5.8 million people have Alzheimer's disease in the U.S. This figure is expected to triple by 2026. Official death certificates recorded 122,019 deaths from Alzheimer's disease in 2018. This made it the sixth leading cause of death in the country and the fifth among Americans aged 65 and older.
In 2020, people aged 65+ affected by Alzheimer's disease included 93,000 in the age group of 65-74 (93,000), 240,000 aged between 75-84, and 240,000 in the 85+ age group. These figures are estimated to be 120,000 in the 65-74 age group, 330,000 in the 75-84 age group, and 280,000 in the 85+ age group by 2025.
There were 3,121 more deaths than expected (6,539 in 2019) from dementia in 2020, 18.5 percent higher than the average. Around 15% of patients in hospice were due to the primary diagnosis of dementia in 2017. Alzheimer's disease is the 6th major cause of death in Florida, with 7,031 deaths recorded in 2015.
Sources
Cleveland Clinic
MedicalNewsToday
The Center for Orthopedic & Neurosurgical Care & Research
Alzheimer’s Association[1]
Alzheimer’s Association[2]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Medipulse
Pubmed
Mayo Clinic[1]
Mayo Clinic[2]
Mayo Clinic[3]
Mayo Clinic[4]
Mayo Clinic[5]
