Neurologist
A neurologist is a doctor who detects and treats diseases of various parts of the nervous system. The neurologist is responsible for the following parts of the nervous system:
- Brain;
- Spinal cord;
- Peripheral nerves;
- Autonomic nerves.
Previously, a doctor of this specialty was also called a neurologist, but this term is outdated and is no longer used. The patient can receive recommendations for examination and treatment at the appointment of a neurologist at the polyclinic (outpatient). In the case of a disease requiring special examinations and procedures, you can undergo a course of treatment in a specialized neurological hospital. Consultation of a neurologist is also necessary in emergency situations, for example, in the case of a stroke, an attack of neuralgia or seizures. A neurologist helps to distinguish diseases of the nervous system from somatic ones that have "Mask" of nervous diseases.
Today, a neurologist often has a related or narrower specialty, for example, psychiatry, epileptology, or osteopathy.
Examination by a neurologist
At the appointment, the neurologist first asks the patient about the complaints. The most common reasons for consulting a neurologist are dizziness, fainting and headaches, back pain, impaired coordination or sensitivity, memory, vision or hearing disorders, increased sweating, nervousness and irritability, insomnia.
An important role in the occurrence of diseases of the nervous system can be played by a person's lifestyle, working conditions, hereditary burden of some diseases, injuries, concomitant diseases, etc. The neurologist learns about all this when questioning the patient.
During a general examination at a neurologist's appointment, high or low blood pressure can be detected, which can play a role in the occurrence of a stroke, and also be one of the signs of neurocirculatory dystonia.
A special neurological examination gives the neurologist an idea of the functioning of the nervous system. Such an examination should be comprehensive and assess the work of all parts of the nervous system - from the brain to the muscles that are innervated by receptors. In addition, during the consultation, the neurologist will never disregard and evaluate the higher nervous activity.
To conduct a neurological examination, the neurologist adheres to its clear scheme, assessing in order:
- Psyche;
- Cranial nerves;
- Movements;
- Reflexes;
- Sensitivity;
- Coordination;
- Gait.
During the examination, the neurologist will first identify the site of the lesion (topical diagnosis), and then establish a clinical diagnosis based on individual symptoms.
Patients with signs of damage to the nervous system undergo a complete neurological examination. If a person does not make complaints, then a short neurological examination is usually sufficient, which, according to neurologists, takes no more than 3 to 5 minutes. It includes an assessment of consciousness, a study of the mobility of facial muscles and eyes (including the fundus, pupils), speech, muscle strength in the arms and legs, plantar and tendon reflexes, gait and pain sensitivity.
Sometimes, even with severe neurological diseases, it is not possible to identify disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system, for example, outside an attack with epilepsy. In this case, the history of the disease is important for the work of a neurologist.
Additional methods of neurological examination include X-ray, electroencephalography (EEG), echoencephalography (EchoEG), rheoencephalography (REG), Doppler ultrasound (USDG), electromyography (EMG). According to neurologists, modern imaging methods (CT, MRI, USDG) allow more accurate and faster topical diagnostics.
Only after a complete and in-depth examination, the neurologist makes a diagnosis and prescribes treatment. According to neurologists, a difficult and important part of their work is communication with the patient's relatives, who need to know about the prognosis of the disease and the methods of rehabilitation of neurological patients.
Nervous system pathology
Nervous diseases are a fairly common pathology. Most often, a neurologist has to deal with such diseases as:
- Stroke;
- Vestibular disorders;
- Cardiopsychoneurosis;
- Epilepsy;
- Degenerative processes in the nervous system (Alzheimer's disease, etc.);
- Inflammatory processes in the nervous system (neuritis, meningitis, encephalitis);
- Spine diseases (osteochondrosis, hernia);
- Nervous system trauma.
In addition, some diseases of the nervous system have a clear cause-and-effect relationship with somatic diseases of the body.
Children's neurologist
Examination by a pediatric neurologist is included in the examination program for all children under 1 year of age. It is important to do this at such an early date in order not to miss pathological changes in the child's nervous system and not lead to a delay in his development. In addition, the child's nervous system has good restorative capabilities, and timely treatment, according to neurologists, can lead to a complete recovery. If measures are not taken in time, this can adversely affect learning, the ability to concentrate and perseverance in the future.
Only a pediatric neurologist should deal with the nervous system of children, because even many pediatricians find it difficult to distinguish between norm and pathology in the nervous activity of infants. Examination by a pediatric neurologist sometimes reveals malfunctions in the nervous system even in the absence of complaints from the child's parents.
The specificity of the work of a pediatric neurologist is that some of the neurological diseases occur immediately after birth, and therefore difficulties arise in collecting anamnesis and complaints when the baby is not yet speaking. For treatment, the neurologist prescribes drugs that are safe for use in pediatric practice and calculates them based on the child's weight and age.
Good reviews about neurologists who work with children are a sign that the doctor has found a common language with the baby and his parents.
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